I still haven’t seen Eric Bana’s version of The Hulk but I probably won’t ever see it, as I heard it was so bad, the director had to redeem himself by making a gay movie. But that’s just me. So what dragged me to the cinemas to see the second movie?
Edward Norton, of course! For that fact alone, this movie gets a 4/5 rating! *throws out Edward Norton shaped chocolate cookies* He sure does put the ‘incredible’ in the title. Incredible is right.
But seriously, this movie is just another proof of how bankable this actor is when it comes to choosing his films. Obviously, this one reads the script before signing in, unlike some other Hulk I could mention. He gave the Hulk a more human feel to it (him?). We saw how hard his struggle was and we root for him during the extensive chase sequences. And you can also see just how involved he was with the whole production, and face it, he’s Edward Norton. You just can’t expect anything less.
Anyway, this movie is surprisingly good. And if you have incredibly low expectations, be prepared to be blown out of your seat. The story is a prime example of how you can never go wrong with a simple plot. After all, it IS a Marvel movie. It doesn’t need any kind of deep emotional and philosophical conflicts as with other movies.
I must say, Marvel Enterprises are on a roll with choosing their directors here. Director Louis Leterrier gave the material justice by painting it with a more realistic and humanistic hue. He’s obviously a professional, because only a true professional, at least I think so, can work with someone with Edward Norton’s caliber. The scenes were meticulously done, probably to keep the whole movie away from wherever the first one took it. So far away, in fact, that his movie can completely stand alone without the help of the first one, which, I’m guessing, was sort of kind of the point. Bold move, considering that it is Hollywood.
And they could not, not, not have cast a better Betty Ross. No offense to the first actor who played the role, but seriously, this chick has the most calming voice in the whole of Hollywood that made her the only logical choice. And I say this without any hint of bias or partiality just because she’s part of the LOTR trilogy. No. Liv Tyler has acting chops and, although this probably wasn’t the best film to flex said chops, she still was believable in the role. There was even one instance in the film when she screamed “Daaaadd!” that it actually took me a few seconds for everything to click. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I seriously did not see that twist coming. It was just too bad that she and Ed Norton don’t generate that much chemistry.
William Hurt as General Thunderbolt, I found, quite unbelievably enough, was quite a compassionate character. You can understand exactly where all the other pieces of his life pull and tug on this man. You can see the strains of being both a general and of being a father. Tim Roth as Blonsky was unexpected for me, in a sense that I didn’t really expect a man of his age to be traipsing around the screen half naked and doing things that a twenty-two year old actor probably would have difficulty in doing. But, he is the anti-Hulk in this movie and an effective one at that, as you see just where the effects of the drugs begin and where the character’s motives end.
Apparently Marvel Enterprises has found the perfect formula for their movies to sell: just give the villain exactly what the hero has and let them duke it out in the middle of a famous city. Of course, make the villain a bit more powerful so we’d have drama. And then, just when the hero’s this close to being pummeled onto the asphalt, let then get some sort of adrenaline kick so he beats the bad guy. The end. And they all lived happily ever after. Which, surprisingly enough, works quite well.
Okay, now onto the bad part. These past two Marvel movies has blown me away. Up until the part where we get to the ending. Personally I didn’t get it. What the hell was that, ruining a perfectly good movie with that kind of sequence? I’m supposing they’re trying for the cliffhanger approach (after all, it’s never really a good idea to close off a deal until it’s really closed in this business) but it just didn’t work for me.
And then, lo and behold! Retribution cameth in the form of one Robert Downey Jr.! The mere sight of him in that impeccable suit and that weird goatee he has was enough to make me forget about the disappointments the ending made. And then he actually spoke! My heart afflutereth.
4/5. Because Edward Norton and Robert Downey Jr. were BOTH in it.
P.S. does anybody know if they’re trying to assemble The Avengers?
