Trailer Tuesday: The Incredible Hulk

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Most of you superhero junkies with an Internet addiction have probably already seen the trailer for The Incredible Hulk, which debuted online last week.

Frankly, I'm rather indifferent. Iron Man and The Dark Knight (hell, even Spider-Man 3) raised the bar for superhero movie trailers, highlighting a cynical sense of humour, complex psychological darkness and exciting action respectively. By comparison, The Incredible Hulk seems to be just going through the motions, making sure we know who the cast is (Edward Norton replacing Eric Bana as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler replacing Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross, and William Hurt replacing Sam Elliott as General Ross) and laying out the plot step by step.


Admittedly, it's the generic plot summary that is annoying me the most: Bruce Banner has a problem with his big green alter ego. Bruce Banner seeks help from friends to eliminate the Hulk forever. Bruce Banner is pursued by the military. Bruce Banner is caught by the military. An evil enemy more powerful than the Hulk is created (Tim Roth as Abomination). Only Bruce Banner can stop Abomination. Bruce Banner ignores his chance for a cure. Bruce Banner deliberately unleashes the Hulk. Steroid-saturated CGI-humanoid Smackdown follows.

The film can only end one way: with Hulk victorious. Cue ordinary citizens realising that the green giant isn't so bad. Bruce Banner bids Betty Ross goodbye. Bruce Banner goes on the run again. But now Bruce Banner is a bit more comfortable with his Hulk persona.

*Yawn*

Look, I'll probably end up seeing this film anyway, but my moderate enthusiasm (I've never liked the one-dimensional Hulk comic character) has taken a bit of a knock. When you're "rebooting" a film franchise that's only 5 years old (Ang Lee's Hulk came out in 2003), you expect something new and exciting. Not something so generic. So colour-by-numbers.

It was obvious that Marvel would want another Hulk movie to counter Ang Lee's overt artyness, and provide more "Hulk smash!" action for young male viewers. So now the director of the ridiculous, if action packed, Transporter movies is at the helm. Still, Louis Leterrier doesn't seem to have added any flavour to proceedings. The Incredible Hulk looks like a dumbed down take on a dumb hero.


The Incredible Hulk opens in North American and South African cinemas on 13 June.

Comments

Dante said…
I still don't see why they are rebooting the series?

Apparently Punisher will also be a reboot. WTF!

They are cashing in on consumers who will abviously go see them because they are big fan boys/girls (i don't discriminate) of the character.

OMG HULK RULEZ.
1:09 PM
Pfangirl said…
Well, Punisher has been rebooted already, so I'm not too concerned about that... but Hulk just seems to arb. Plus, I really don't like his shaggy hair look ;P
7:45 AM
Anonymous said…
Admittedly there is not much to explore with the Hulk in terms of character and story. That being said, what never has ever explored, and I hope they do this in the movie, is that as powerful and destructive Hulk is he can pick up something as fragile as a kitten and cradle it tenderly. These are facets that have been explored in the comics and to an extent the T.V. show but not so in movies. That alone can add a depth of humanity and complexity that can surprise even the most jaded movie goer.

And yes, I do want to see tremendous property damage in a crowded metropolitan area.
11:39 PM
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