Marvel had another go at the Hulk about the Ang Lee/Eric Bana take which no one much seems to like. It's a really solid film - I went in with no expectations, and liked how the film dispensed with an origin story (there is an opening credits montage which summarises everything) and plunged into a sort of Jason Bourne film, with Edward Norton living in Brazil, on the run, trying to find a cure. This section is awesome - location shooting helps, the pace is fast, Norton is a strong actor, the reveal of the Hulk is extremely well done.
As the movie progresses it gets more generic and less interesting. The second Hulk sequence takes place in America, where Norton tries to reconnect with Liv Tyler, and is chased again. This feels like a repeat, I guess with the twist he runs off with Tyler, after which the film turns into King Kong... which actually is kind of interesting.
Hulk transformation #3 has him captured. Hulk #4 involves him deliberately transforming to take on Tim Roth who is a hulk.
The casting for this felt a little off. Norton is fine, and I guess Tyler is okay in what is really a thankless part. William Hurt is an accomplished actor but looks ill at ease with his false moutasche - and I HATED how there were no consequences for his actions; if he wasn't killed he should have at least been imprisoned. Tim Roth looks good in black holding a machine gun but I didn't totally buy him as an uber warrior - he gets too many long shots which show how smart he is, the English accent (though covered with a line) does feel clunky (should've just made him a mercenary) and the idea of him bulking up... it didn't ring true. It's like weedy guy one vs weedy guy two - it maybe would've felt better if the guy had been huge and thus feeling he has to overcompensate against the Hulk.
Having said that I really liked the final fight. Though why didn't the Hulk kill him? Is that personal growth? But they've established no one else can take on the other guy?
Ah, anyway. I did enjoy it.
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