The Incredible Hulk

OK, we are going to forget Ang Lee's Hulk from 2003. Shouldn't be too hard since it was so utterly forgettable. I was very disappointed in that one. Ang Lee did amazing things with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, so I was hopeful when I heard he would be bringing one of the most well-known comic book characters to life. Boy were my hopes dashed.

This year we were "blessed" with director Louis Leterrier's version of the big green guy. The Incredible Hulk was much better than its predecessor. Edward Norton did a good turn as Dr. Bruce Banner, harking back to Bill Bixby in a way. Bixby's character from the television series was such a mild-mannered, likable guy; and Norton exudes the same type personality. Liv Tyler does a good job as well as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross. She and Norton seem to fit pretty well together, and I hope both return for any future sequels. (Come on. You know there's going to be a sequel.)

I have to say I loved the bit of a nod to the old series and Bill Bixby. First, as Norton is flipping through channels on the TV, he comes across a rerun of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Bill Bixby's series that ran from 1969 - 1972. Then at one point when Norton is walking down the road, we hear the familiar music that played at the end of each episode of the old series as Bixby left town. And Norton trying to say the old "Don't make me angry" line in Portuguese was hilarious.

This movie was great visually, and the storyline was well done. Stan Lee made his usual cameo appearance, and Lou Ferrigno was there as well. (Yes, they were both in Ang Lee's version as well, but we're forgetting that one. Remember?) William Hurt did well as General Ross, and Tim Roth was wonderfully power hungry as Major Emil Blonsky. (No redeeming qualities there.)

I wish I had seen this movie in the theater instead of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, but there's not much I can do about that now. It is definitely worth renting, and possibly buying. And watch the end for a tie-in with another summer hit. The way comic books work, they could make endless movies from the world of Marvel. (Hopefully they'll be good ones.)