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With one summer blockbuster under their belts, Marvel Studios pulls no punches and swings into summer with hopes for a second heavyweight box office title in The Incredible Hulk.
Starring Ed Norton (who co-wrote the script), Liv Tyler, William Hurt and Tim Roth and directed by Louis Leterrier (Unleashed and The Transporter films), The Incredible Hulk delivers the drama expected of its high-caliber cast as well as the action expected from a film whose title character stands 10 feet tall and throws fork lifts and cars as if they were toddler's toys.
Enter the 20 year special forces veteran Emil Blonsky (Roth) who, after a brief encounter with the Green Goliath, finds himself in search of the same destructive power wielded by Banner's alter ego and throw in Banner's former research partner and the General's daughter Betsy (Tyler) and audiences have themselves a film featuring enough drama, action, and suspense to make even non-comic fans cheer.
While more impressive CGI effects have graced the big screen before, the Hulk looks his comic counterpart and makes for an imposing and impressive sight. Likewise the Abomination - whose look changed drastically from the comic - comes across as both terrifying and intimidating. More akin to a villain in a horror film than a comic movie, the Abomination's post-transformation body cries anger, vengeance, power and hate.
With solid acting and an above par story, gone are the days of Ang Lee's disappointing radioactive monster. Screenwriters Norton and Zak Penn along with director Leterrier have seemingly established a firm foothold for the Jade Giant in Marvel Studio's new big screen universe. Should the studio wish to again bring the Hulk back to the box office, plenty of options await as the film will no doubt leave some sharp-eyed comic fans wondering "What if?" when they see a few cameos by various Marvel heroes and villains.
With Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk only the first of a variety of Marvel Studio films hitting theaters in the coming years -- the current list includes Iron Man 2 and Thor in 2010 and Captain America and The Avengers in 2011 -- Marvel Studios could create what all comic and film fans have wanted for years: one comprehensive massive Marvel big screen universe full of fandom's favorite funny book characters.
With this film and its anticipated success, Hulk fans can at least expect their favorite purple-pants wearing green giant to be right there when the time comes for something to be broken, torn apart or smashed entirely. The Incredible Hulk is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some frightening sci-fi images, and brief suggestive content and is opens today at a theater near you.