What Do The Critics Say?

"Structurally, The Incredible Hulk is a fairly straightforward superhero movie. The final battle, recalls one of those Japanese monster-a-thons where giant creatures collide. And it's a lot more kinetic (and shorter) than the climactic conflict in Transformers. The Incredible Hulk builds to this, and it doesn't let us down. The Incredible Hulk provides Marvel with its second superhero hit of the summer. For comic book fans, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk represent a solid one-two punch." James Berardinelli REELVIEWS "If you like your toys big, your explosions loud and your Hulk MAD, The Incredible Hulk will likely smash that other Hulk out of your memory. Though its final battle turns the movie into a video game, it's still the kind of showdown from which you won't want to look away." Matt Pais METROMIX "The ending battle between The Hulk and Abomination is one of the most spectacular and exciting things I've ever seen on screen. If the downtown Los Angeles robot battles of Transformers impressed you, this puts those to shame." Jeff Otto REELZCHANNEL "There's enough adrenaline pulsating throughout this bang-up Marvel Comics adaptation to erase 2003's Hulk from memory (Ang who?)." Andrea Gronvall CHICAGO READER "The Hulk franchise was reeling after a boring, psychological probe into the mind of a guy who can turn into a towering giant with anger management issues in Ang Lee’s 2003 snoozefest, "Hulk". But what Lee completely missed was that audiences want to see some action in their Hulk movie. Brace the box office as 'The Incredible Hulk' smashes its way through a rock 'em, sock 'em romp sure to please audiences. Leterrier deftly keeps Bruce interesting while making the audience anticipate the next Hulk incident and the action never disappoints when the Hulk emerges." Jeffrey Lyles MARYLANDS COMMUNITY GAZETTE

"Five years after Ang Lee attempted a stylistically and narratively daring reimagining of what a comic-book movie could be, the big green gamma-guy returns to the screen in a purer, more unadulterated, vastly more entertaining form. Leterrier's film begins with one helluva bang (courtesy of Stark Industries, natch) and, like the Hulk's alter ego, Dr Bruce Banner, it never stops moving." Marc Savlov AUSTIN CHRONICLE "The Hulk looks pretty damn good and the final fight will make diehard fans and new fans satisfied. Norton brings a dimension that elevates the Hulk making Stark look like a billionaire with a mid-life crisis. There comes the time when they have to deliver the CGI and they do. The Hulk and The Abomination destroy a city." Victoria Alexander FILMSINREVIEW "If it's not the best Superhero film since ''Batman Begins'', it's still an early contender for one of the Best Films of the Year. This Hulk is Incredible!" Clint Morris MOVIEHOLE "A solid superhero fantasy that gains added depth from a strong cast." Vicky Roach DAILY TELEGRAPH "The new Incredible Hulk movie couldn’t be more different to its 2003 predecessor. An excellent Edward Norton replaces Eric Bana as Hulk/Bruce Banner. Much more action-packed and entertaining than the previous Hulk movie. With The Incredible Hulk Marvel has done it again." James O'Ehley SCI-FI MOVIE PAGE "It turns out Marvel Studios knows how to make solid movies out of Marvel Comics. This movie emphasizes action over introspection, but star Edward Norton, who reportedly tinkered more than a little with the script, makes certain the hero still broods over the curse of his cells poisoned by gamma radiation. A neat thrill ride with an intelligent script by Zak Penn and smart, well-paced direction by the French director of 'The Transporter' series, Louis Leterrier." Kirk Honeycutt HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

In The Beginning With his off-the-chart strength, size, durability, speed and fighting skills, The Hulk has achieved the enviable status of one of the most popular Super Heroes of the last century. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character debuted in May 1962 in a series of Marvel Comics. A young writer, Lee had just finished the first of the Marvel line of books with a then unknown team called the Fantastic Four, and he was looking for a hero who wasn’t as handsome or pretty: someone, or something, totally different who could capture the imagination of Marvel’s readers. Lee and Kirby wanted a "misunderstood hero." Lee remembers: "I had always loved the old movie Frankenstein. And it seemed to me that the monster, played by Boris Karloff, wasn’t really a bad guy. He was the good guy. He didn’t want to hurt anybody. It’s just those idiots with torches kept running up and down the mountains, chasing him and getting him angry. And I thought, 'Wouldn’t it be fun to create a monster and make him the good guy?'" Wondering how to bring a new twist to Mary Shelley’s classic character as imagined by director James Whale in 1931, Lee recalled another favourite from his childhood: Robert Louis Stevenson’s half-man/half-monster, depicted in director Rouben Mamoulian’s 1931 classic, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. "I combined Jekyll and Hyde with Frankenstein," Lee tells, "and I got myself the monster I wanted, who was really good, but nobody knew it. He was also somebody who could change from a normal man into a monster, and lo, a legend was born." Lee and Kirby imagined Dr Bruce Banner, a nuclear physicist who was forever changed after a freak accident during the testing of an experimental bomb that showered his body with gamma radiation. (Notably, Lee, a big fan of alliteration [think Sue Storm, Scott Summers, Peter Parker], preferred to give his heroes the same first initials in both their names, therefore Bruce Banner was born.) Whenever seriously angered, adrenaline would course through Banner’s body and he would morph into the fearsome Hulk, a creature of limitless power and endless aggression. When enraged, he became a brutal menace to society, but would learn to use his powers to help the weak and helpless. Dr Banner would spend the rest of his life battling to control the fury of his alter ego and do good with The Hulk. Though the series was initially cancelled in March 1963 after six issues, The Hulk immediately went on to guest star in "Fantastic Four #12" and, shortly thereafter, became one of the first members of The Avengers, appearing in the first two issues of that famous series. Two years later, he turned up opposite Giant-Man in "Tales to Astonish (#59)", earning his own story in the very next issue. By 1968, the popularity of the character caught on with audiences across the globe. The Hulk had taken over the entire book of "Tales to Astonish", which was then renamed "The Incredible Hulk". The series ran all the way to issue #474, when it ended its publication in 1999; it was quickly relaunched in a new series titled "The Hulk". With issue #12, the name was changed back to "The Incredible Hulk", and the title remains one of the most prominent in the Marvel library today. For almost half a century, audiences have responded to the fact that Bruce Banner and The Hulk are two sides to the same man. They have been fascinated by the idea that he represents the extremes of the id and superego that Freud believed controlled us all. When Banner is The Hulk, his consciousness is buried in the monster, and he has next to no control over his green counterpart’s actions. Fifteen years after his introduction, The Hulk’s immense popularity generated a successful CBS television series, produced by Universal Television. In 1977, the show The Incredible Hulk, which starred a professional magician Bill Bixby as David Banner and a young bodybuilder named Lou Ferrigno as "The Hulk", was imagined. The series, which premiered in the USA on the 10th March 1978, was a huge hit that enjoyed a five-season run before being cancelled in 1982. Ferrigno appeared in all eighty-one 81 episodes, while Bixby appeared in eighty. Six years after the cancellation, the devotion of legions of fans prompted the network to create three more telefilms: "The Incredible Hulk Returns" (1988); "The Trial of the Incredible Hulk" (1989) and "The Death of the Incredible Hulk" (1990). On the 21st of November 1993, Bill Bixby, who appeared in such well known television series as "My Favorite Martian" (1963-1966); "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" (1969 - 1972): "Ironside" and "Goodnight, Beantown", passed away from prostate cancer, ending that legacy of The Incredible Hulk on television. A New Beginning Marvel executives and the producers were adamant that the story they wanted to tell in "The Incredible Hulk" was about the heroism Banner would learn from grappling with the creature inside him. But, true to the roots of "The Strangest Man of All Time" whom Lee and Kirby created, Banner never set out to be a hero; indeed, this role was forced upon the brilliant researcher who longed for a quiet life of complicated hypotheses. Stan Lee explains: "Banner was looking for a way to cure himself from being The Hulk. All he wanted to do was to be able to be somewhere in a laboratory and be left alone long enough so he could work on a cure. He was a scientist, but he was never able to do that. There was always something happening." Indeed, the bad guys just never let him be." "The key phrase on this film is Hulk is Hero," says President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige. "We’ve already explored some of the darker, angst-ridden sides of The Hulk. This time around, it’s about the wish fulfilment of being able to tap into strength within you, something stronger than yourself. But if harnessed the right way, and if you’re the right person, it’s a strength that can be used for the power of good. It’s a universal notion and one of the reasons that The Hulk is one of the most popular characters of all time." To bring this new chapter in the saga of Bruce Banner and his green-skinned alter ego to the big screen, the producers began their search for a director who shared their vision for a new path for the franchise. The search quickly ended after they met with French filmmaker Louis Leterrier, best known for the action-packed films that launched the career of international action star Jason Statham, "Transporter" and "Transporter 2", as well as the critically acclaimed martial-arts film "Unleashed", starring Jet Li, Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman. "From the beginning, we all agreed that Louis was a natural fit," says producer Gale Anne Hurd ("Aliens", "The Abyss" & "Terminator 1, 2 & 3"). "It was obvious from his previous films that he had a great sense for tremendous action and stylish camera work, but when we met him, we realized that he shared our passion for the genre. He really, really loved these characters." "Louis really understands the depth of the character of The Hulk, as well as the tradition the character is steeped in," notes producer Avi Arad ("Ghost Rider", "Spider-man 1, 2 & 3" & "Iron Man"). "And being French, he claims the love story comes naturally to him." "Being French, I was not so exposed as a young kid to comic books, basically because we had only the French and Belgian comics," Leterrier said. "But the TV show was huge in France, and that shaped my strongest memories of The Hulk." When it came to casting "The Incredible Hulk", Leterrier and the producers were determined to assemble a troupe of actors who would deliver an adrenaline-fuelled summer film distinguished by solid performances. "Audiences these days are extremely discriminating," says Hurd. "It’s no longer enough to have great CGI characters and really terrific visual effects. You have to have a story that’s powerful and characters that you care about and a journey that’s worth taking. Even though we have great source material to draw from, from the many years that "The Incredible Hulk" comic has been running, you have to sift through that and find the best story to tell and the best actors to tell it." The team would search for a performer who was not only capable of conveying scientist Bruce Banner’s brilliant intellect and dark conflict, but an actor who understood everything about The Hulk’s universe and would contribute creatively over the course of production. After the filmmakers met with two-time Academy Award nominated actor Edward Norton ("Primal Fear' [1996] & "American History X" [1988]), the search was over. "Bruce Banner is a very complex character, and therefore a very complex role," Feige notes. "When Edward came on board, it totally upped the ante; we knew he’d be able to bring a whole new dimension to the character. He’s one of the most exciting actors of his generation. His immense talent and his ability to transform into a particular role made him the ideal choice to take on the character of Bruce Banner/The Hulk." "Edward is not one-dimensional. He likes things that aren’t necessarily on the surface. He likes to go deeper and find things that are mythic. With a larger-than-life character like The Hulk and a larger-than-life villain like The Abomination, he’s got a really terrific canvas to explore the material in a really enormous way," Hurd offers. "When Louis and I talked about it, he was aesthetically drawn to the same things I was," Norton said. "His reference points were more films like Alien and other films that were not too bright and glossy: that had some grit to them. He talked about using handheld cameras a lot and about having the visual experience be dirty. By that he meant not always perfectly composed, but there’s a certain sense of chaos and horror-film aspect to it. I liked that a lot." One piece of "The Incredible Hulk" that has endeared the saga to fans for so long is the love story between Banner and his former Harvard co-ed/girlfriend (and wife in certain chapters of The Hulk TV series), brilliant biologist Betty Ross. To play the pivotal role of Betty, the filmmakers turned to 2004 Screen Actors Guild Award winning actress, Liv Tyler Feige notes: "Her roles in such blockbusters as "The Lord of the Rings" and indie favourites like "Stealing Beauty" have helped her develop a unique blend of dramatic and action-adventure experience that is perfectly suited for taking on the role of Betty Ross." Hurd, who worked Tyler when the actress appeared in the action hit "Armageddon" recalls: "We really needed someone who could step up to the role; someone who could bring the right combination of intelligence and strength to the character. She had to be fearless but, at the same time, have a vulnerable side. Liv is perfect; she’s smart, accessible and beautiful; the embodiment of the character." What Tyler wasn't aware of was the the physicality the role demanded. "Even on The Lord of the Rings, I didn’t really do this," the 1999 Russian Guild of Film Critics Golden Aries Award winning actress ("Onegin") said. "I was reacting to things that weren’t there, but I wasn’t necessarily interacting with things that weren’t there. I was never physically carried off by something." "Once we had Edward and Liv, we had to find Liv’s father. Since Liv is a beautiful, tall woman, we couldn’t get a little, round general," Leterrier said. "I had to find a mountain of a general, as Thunderbolt Ross was this big, scary mountain of a man in the comic books. I wanted somebody who is rare, somebody you are not expecting and who hasn’t been in these parts before." Oscar winner and huge Hulk fan William Hurt proved to be the ideal choice. "I found the comics deeply moving," BAFTA and Cannes Film Festival Best Actor winner Hurt ("Kiss Of The Spider Woman") recalls. "I believe in The Hulk, absolutely. That’s why I did the movie. My son is an even bigger fan; he knows everything about the series. We spent hours talking about Ross's development and the relationship between Betty and Banner." Hurt describes his character as a conflicted man. "He’s caught between his love and loyalty to his daughter and to his country. And he’s obsessed with stopping Bruce Banner and his alter ego." Every good hero needs a villain and while Banner has General Ross, Banner's alter ego needed something more visually monstrous. The Hulk finds himself taking on one of the most formidable adversaries from the comic series. General Ross may be Banner’s greatest nemesis, but he’s not alone in his quest to destroy The Hulk; The Abomination has him in his sights as well. The filmmakers cast British actor Tim Roth ("Reservoir Dogs", "Pulp Fiction" & "Dark Water" ) as Emil Blonsky, a special ops soldier with a thirst for domination and glory, who after being exposed to the same gamma radiation that transformed Banner, eventually becomes The Abomination, a foe dwarfing The Hulk in both temperament and power. "Blonsky is an action man who is unimpressed by anything," 1996 BAFTA winner Roth ("Rob Roy") said. "He’s seen it all; he’s tired, and then he sees The Hulk. He realizes that there is a whole new game, and he wants to be part of that. He wants to own the power." Tim Blake Nelson ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?", "The Good Girl" & "Holes") was cast as cellular biologist Professor Samuel Sterns, the man who may hold the key to Banner’s quest for a cure. In Marvel lore, Sterns eventually becomes the massive-craniumed evil 'Leader', future foe of The Hulk. "Sterns is brilliant, but he is also ethically challenged", notes Nelson. Synopsis

"The Incredible Hulk" kicks off a thrilling, new, explosive and action-packed epic of one of the most popular super-heroes of all time. In this new beginning, scientist Bruce Banner is desperately hunting for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: The Hulk. Living in the shadows, cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross, Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross, and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power. As all three grapple with the secrets that led to The Hulk's creation, they are confronted with a monstrous new adversary known as The Abomination, whose destructive strength exceeds even The Hulk's own. Banner must make an agonizing final choice: accept a peaceful life or find heroism in the creature inside.

The Verdict "At last, a panacea for all the woes created by the first attempt to get 'The Hulk' on to the bigscreen and win over comic book and TV series fans. Forget that abysmally disappointing effort and be comforted by the fact that "The Incredible Hulk" will satisfy your needs. This is the 'real deal' we all longed for, thanks to Director Louis Leterrier. The exceptional Mr Edward Norton heads up the cast as Bruce Banner in a performance that gives the iconic character the credibility and empithy he deserves. Academy Award winner William Hurt's portrayal of Banner's arch-enemy Gen Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, is one that is sure to have Hulk fans absolutely hating his guts. There's no doubting Marvel Studios are on a winner with "The Incredible Hulk", which contains all the elements needed to keep cinemagoers glued to the screen and, at films end, demanding a sequel. The finale`, in which 'The Abomination' and 'The Hulk' do battle on the streets of New York is superb. It provides a head to head battle more spectacular than those recently witnessed in "Iron Man" and "Transformers". Add to this, stunning locations and seemless CGI-FX which can't be faulted. Intrigue, romance, action, betrayal, redemption: it's all here in "The Incredible Hulk". Very recommended. 4 STARS." Crew Bytes "THE INCREDIBLE HULK" was .......
directed by Louis Leterrier ["Danny the Dog" and "Transporter 2"]; screenplay by Zac Penn ["X-Men 2", "Fantastic Four" and "X-Men: The Last Stand"]; supervising art director Daniel T Dorrance ["Saving Private Ryan", "Collateral" and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"]; costume design by Renée Bravener ["Four Brothers", "Brokeback Mountain" and "16 Blocks"]; production design by Kirk M Petruccelli ["Blade", "The Patriot", "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" and "Ghost Rider"]; set decoration by Carolyn 'Cal' Loucks ["Glitter", "Don't Say A Word" and "Shall We Dance"]; director of photography Peter Menzies Jr ["Lara Croft: Tomb Raider", "Four Brothers" and "Shooter"]; original music by Golden Globe winner Craig Armstrong ["The Bone Collector", "The Magdalene Sisters", "Ray" and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"]. Who's Who?

Edward Norton Liv Tyler Tim Roth Tim Blake Nelson Ty Burrell William Hurt Christina Cabot Peter Mensah Lou Ferrigno Paul Soles Débora Nascimento Greg Bryk Chris Owens Al Vrkljan Adrian Hein John MacDonald Shaun McComb Simon Wong Pedro Salvín Julio Ceasar Torres Dantas Raimundo Camargo Nascimento Nick Alachiotis Jason Burke Grant Nickalls

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Bruce Banner Betty Ross Emil Blonsky Samuel Sterns Dr Samson Gen Thaddeus Ross Major Kathleen 'Kat' Sparr General Joe Greller Voice of The Incredible Hulk/Security Guard Stanley Martina Commando #1 Commando #2 Commando #3 Commando #4 Commando #5 Helicopter Soldier Grad Student Tough Guy Leader Tough Guy #1 Tough Guy #2 Tough Guy #3 Communications Officer Helicopter Pilot

Run Time 112 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2008 - Paramount Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©2008 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian, International, Copyright & Trademark Laws.