The Incredible Hulk (2008)

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I think to review this movie fairly, it should be mentioned that when it was released, it was still part of a little test run, attempting to launch the MCU, and as far as we were concerned, it was just the next superhero movie; another attempt to bring the Incredible Hulk to the big screen, and hopefully a better attempt than whatever that 2003 Ang Lee disaster was. We now know Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk throughout the MCU, but in this film, Edward Norton takes on the role, and for my money, does a good job.

I think the film's real draw today, however, has more to do with it being not a Hulk origin story (which we can glimpse in the film's opening credit sequence), but a movie about Bruce Banner's struggles with his Jekyll & Hyde-like condition and his search for a cure. The film opens with Banner hiding in South America, corresponding with someone named "Mr. Blue" in search of said cure. In the meantime, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt) actively hunts Banner with a desire to harness his gamma radiation, which he believes could be the key to a *new* Super Soldier Serum.

As Banner (going by "Mr. Green") and Mr. Blue correspond, Blue requests that he come home to New York to meet and work together on formulating a cure, as he can't help him without a hands-on approach. Going home, however, means putting himself and others in danger, namely his former flame, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), who also happens to be the General's daughter, complicating things quite nicely. But of course, Bruce Banner is suffering, so he's willing to do whatever it takes to find a solution to his ailment.

Meanwhile, General Ross brings a war-hungry soldier into play named Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), using a variant of the Super Soldier Serum on him to be able to fight the Hulk and attempt to bring him down, as he's just too much for his general army. This unorthodox testing, however, leads Blonsky to crave excessive power, and, with a drug addict's mentality when it comes to the Serum, he eventually becomes The Abomination, culminating in a fun climactic scene: a one-on-one monster fight in the middle of Manhattan.

I will credit Ed Norton for giving a good performance throughout the film, but as we all know at this point, his role as Banner wasn't meant to last. Between Norton's differences with the studio and some CG that hasn't aged incredibly well, this chapter in the MCU isn't often regarded as a high-ranking Marvel title. Personally speaking, however, I go against the grain on a lot of people's perspectives when it comes to 'Hulk' here. The MCU has definitely come up with worse titles over the years. In its entirety, I actually like this movie and find it works for a time when the MCU was still on the horizon, as opposed to what it has become.

The only honest criticism I have of it is that I didn't realize I had it until Ruffalo took things over. The way the Hulk character has played out since the first 'Avengers' movie feels a little more self-aware and has a humorous edge to him. Despite this film working fine for what it is, returning to its more serious, dramatic tone can be a little jarring. And although I enjoyed Norton's performance here, I'd be lying if I said I didn't like Ruffalo's performance more. To be fair, though, nothing about the future of the MCU could have been known at this point.

On the whole, I place this movie as an upper-middle title within the MCU. There's only so far you can take a Jeckyll & Hyde concept blended with a creature feature before things start to feel cliché. On the other hand, the Bruce Banner side of this is pretty solid, and I feel like they made the right decision by focusing more on Banner than Hulk. That's all just my opinion, though, and I tend to find most people see this movie as just plain old news at this point. I have to admit that, although I enjoy this movie, I get where they're coming from.

3/5

PRE-CREDIT SCENE: Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross sits at a bar, drinking shots and contemplating his newfound "incredible" problems. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) enters and informs him that a team of special people will be put together, hinting once again at a possible 'Avengers' movie that will at least feature Iron Man and the Hulk.

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