The Incredible Hulk (2008)

User Review

• 

  Barneyonmovies

  5 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: Much like with 'Iron Man' just before it, the thing that works about Marvel's 'The Incredible Hulk' is the character stuff, as there are some attempts here to make you care about this Bruce Banner. Edward Norton delivers a great performance when he's given the chance, and there are some scenes in which emotional depth is developed rather well and the torture of this age-old character who only wants to avoid the fight becomes very clear.
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The central problem though is that all of that stuff doesn't even begin to get enough attention, as the majority of the film sees Banner on the run from evil with just a few proper character scenes in between. As a result, when the final act does see him come round to the idea of using The Hulk for good, the whole thing feels forced as we haven't got to understand him properly. None of that is helped by a lack of tangibility in the action department either as you never truly feel the torture of the unhinged threat that lies within Banner (in fact most of the action sequences feel celebratory more than anything), and all in all it winds up a thoroughly mediocre comic book movie and a bit of a disappointment after the huge success of Iron Man.
  VERDICT: There are some successful attempts at characterisation here, but overall 'The Incredible Hulk' is a weightless comic book movie that's just too concerned with its plot and lackluster set-pieces over than its interesting central character.

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