One of the forgotten films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the second entry, which arrived just six weeks after Iron Man in 2008. The Incredible Hulk starred Edward Norton and was the only MCU film distributed by Universal Pictures. That’s the reason it’s not available on Disney Plus or other streaming services; I rented it on Amazon Video. I hadn’t seen this movie in 10 years, so I remembered little beyond the basics. There is a lot to like in this take on the character from Director Louis Leterrier and Writer Zak Penn. But it’s also uneven and can’t stick the landing in the last act.
I should also mention the Ang Lee film Hulk from 2003. That ambitious origin story has many fans but fell a little short at the box office, and the initial plan was to do a sequel. Marvel ultimately regained the rights, and the sequel became more of a reboot/sequel (or “requel”). Edward Norton would take over for Eric Bana, and this film mostly works as a standalone with a different cast. Norton reportedly rewrote much of Penn’s script, though it’s hard to say exactly how much. Various stories have appeared about why Mark Ruffalo replaced him in The Avengers, including this one.
While the controversy and recasting signal issues with The Incredible Hulk, they also make it interesting to revisit. I still consider it an important part of the character’s journey to Avengers: Endgame. This Bruce Banner is still in denial about his condition and trying to eliminate it. He’s working to control his emotions and hiding out in Brazil from General “Thunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt). This is not the typical superhero story because the biggest enemy for Banner is what lurks inside him.
In Case You’re Just Joining Us…
There are many superhero origin stories, including the 2005 film. The decision to not include scenes of Banner’s infection makes sense. We catch glimpses during the credits, which show Norton, Hurt, and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross. It’s a little disjointed, and I believe that is by design. We are left to wonder just how destructive the Hulk was after the gamma radiation changed Banner. There is a quick reference to Stark Industries in these flashbacks, which places this story in the MCU.
The early scenes in Brazil present Norton as slim and frail; he’s just one guy living his life and staying out of trouble. He works in a bottling plant, reads books, and watches TV while monitoring his vitals constantly. Interactions with an unseen Mr. Blue show Banner’s efforts to find a cure. I appreciate the down-to-earth vibe of these early scenes. There is a scare when his blood drips into a bottle (which ultimately dooms his time here), yet it feels realistic. Norton is the right actor for this style, and we can easily believe him as Banner.
The chase through the streets of Brazil seems more like a Bourne film than a Marvel action scene, and that’s a good thing. It is the best set piece in the movie, and long shots of the favela again stress Banner’s lack of size. We also meet Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky in this chase, which doesn’t waste much time revealing the Hulk. We are only 23 minutes into the movie at this point, though we don’t get a full view of the green giant. The cat-and-mouse approach of this first act gives way to near-horror for a moment, but we’re still on board for Banner’s quest.
Running from The Hulk
There are fun nods to past versions of the Hulk, including Lou Ferrigno’s appearance as a security guard. Norton distracts him with a pizza, and there’s a tongue-in-cheek tone. Banner also buys stretchy pants and gets his iconic purple pants from Betty later. Stan Lee makes a quick cameo as an unfortunate soul that drinks the soda contaminated by Banner’s blood. These touches might seem a little too cute, but they help to lighten the mood of a pretty bleak story. Another cool example is Paul Soles (the voice of Banner in the 1966 Hulk animated series) appearing as his friend Stanley.
Ross also gives a plot dump to Blonsky and references the Super Soldier program from World War II. Fans will recognize that Captain America was part of that program, though his results were much better. This mention sets the stage for the upcoming film Captain America: The First Avenger, though it won’t arrive until 2011. There aren’t many ongoing arcs for the MCU here, but Ross mentions a SHIELD operations database. Ross does actually return in the future but not until 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.
Banner spends the middle act continuing to run from the monster inside of him. He reconnects with Betty, who is now dating nice guy Leonard (Ty Burrell!). Hope arrives with data that Betty saved, but Ross and Blonsky interrupt their plans. This leads to a major battle at a university with the Hulk out in the open during the day. The effects are impressive, and there is more excitement here than in the final battle. It’s interesting to note that Ross purposefully reveals the Hulk with tear gas, which seems idiotic even with a super powered Blonsky. It also doesn’t have the desired effect of scaring Betty, who remains on board with Banner’s quest.
The Hulk vs. The Abomination
Tim Blake Nelson is the perfect choice to play Mr. Blue, aka Samuel Sterns. He’s fascinated by Banner’s condition but doesn’t seem to have moral reservations. Tests to cure Banner have promise, but Ross again stops those plans. Blonsky enlists Sterns to gain more power, which creates the ugly menace The Abomination. The weirdest part of this scene is the creepy smile on Stearn’s face in a quick shot. Banner’s blood infects him and creates something different. Nelson was set to return as “The Leader” in a sequel, so this was a set-up for a new villain. There’s always a slim chance the MCU might circle back to him in the future.
The Incredible Hulk falls apart during its final battle, which becomes two massive CGI creations pummeling each other. Tim Roth makes for an interesting villain until he transforms into The Abomination. I like the idea of Banner dropping out of a plane and hoping he changes into the Hulk, but the fight is forgettable. Part of the challenge is the nighttime setting, which makes everything murkier. There is a “Hulk! Smash!” moment here, but that’s about it.
The most interesting part of the battle is the way that Betty talks down the Hulk before he kills Blonsky. Tyler does a good job with a character that’s pretty thin on the page. It’s not hard to believe that Betty could be the one person to connect with the Hulk. It’s also a surprising ending for Blonsky, though he hasn’t returned since this point. Hulk jumps across buildings and escapes to a life that’s unclear. When Banner looks at the camera and transforms, he seems to have new control over the monster. He no longer seeks a cure and looks ready to accept his fate.
The Next Step for The Avengers
The Incredible Hulk doesn’t have a post-credits scene (at least in its current version), but it’s really just a placement change. The final scene with Ross before the credits fulfills that role. He sits in a bar and drinks away his memories of past mistakes. Hurt conveys just the right sense of frustration and stubbornness at this point. He even tells the bartender to “reload” his drink, which seems right for the serious guy.
Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark for a brief chat and clarifies that he put the Super Soldier program on ice. This quick conversation really just adds a new piece to The Avengers. Stark talks about putting together a team, which leads Ross to respond “who’s we?” It’s a quick moment but confirms that Banner will be part of the super team. Just seeing Stark reminds us that we’re seeing part of a larger story in the MCU. The Hulk will return, though he will look very different at that time.
A Different Home for The Incredible Hulk
Despite being part of the MCU, the Hulk has no presence at Disney’s theme parks. Universal retains the rights to the character for theme parks east of the Mississippi. The Hulk actually is a key part of the Islands of Adventure park at Universal Orlando. The Incredible Hulk Coaster is the central attraction in Marvel Super Hero Island and is one of the park’s largest structures. Universal refurbished the coaster in 2016, and it remains a top attraction.
The original launch is one of the best of its kind and includes a stunning look at the park as you turn upside down. It’s incredible and one of the most thrilling moments that I’ve experienced on any coaster. Nothing can live up to that start, but the rest of the coaster is still a lot of fun. The storyline of Ross turning you into the Hulk is also a surprising theme. We may turn into a monster, but we’re going to enjoy this coaster! This B&M coaster isn’t the tallest or fastest ride out there, but it definitely packs a punch especially if you aren’t a thrill junkie.
Rankings
Another benefit of watching two MCU films is the chance to rank them. Let’s do this! Along with listing the films, I’m also including lead characters, villains, other supporting characters, Stan Lee appearances, and post-credit scenes. I’ll look for other categories to add in the future to make this project even more fun. Supporting characters may also move around the rankings as they appear in more films in the MCU.
The Movies
1. Iron Man
2. The Incredible Hulk
Lead Characters
1. Tony Stark/Iron Man
2. Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Villains
1. General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (The Incredible Hulk)
2. Obediah Stane (Iron Man)
3. Emil Blonsky/The Abomination (The Incredible Hulk)
Key Supporting Characters (Not Villains)
1. Pepper Potts (Iron Man)
2. Agent Coulson (Iron Man)
3. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Iron Man)
4. Betty Ross (The Incredible Hulk)
Stan Lee Appearances
1. Wearing a bathrobe as “Heff” at a party (Iron Man)
2. Drinking contaminated soda (The Incredible Hulk)
Post-Credit Scenes
1. Nick Fury introduces himself and The Avengers Initiative (Iron Man)
2. Tony Stark meets Ross in a bar and tells him about the team (The Incredible Hulk)
Favorites
Now it’s time to just focus on The Incredible Hulk for one last time. I enjoyed a lot of this film, and it deserves more attention for what it does right. On the other hand, this isn’t one of the high points of the MCU. I’ll be curious to see how it holds up as my rewatch continues. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite parts of this movie.
- Scene: Bruce stays off the grid and lives his life in Brazil as a normal guy
- Character: General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (a three-dimensional villain!)
- Shot: The Hulk faces down Blonsky, who looks tiny compared to the massive green guy
- Action Scene: Ross and Blonsky chase Banner across the rooftops of Brazil
- Surprise: My investment in the story and search for a cure during the first hour
Next Time on Friday Night Movies
I’m excited to catch up with Iron Man 2 on the next step of my MCU rewatch, and I’ll see Fantasia from Disney’s animated features. My next film is a Wild Card with Disney’s 1950 live-action adaptation of Treasure Island. I’ll join Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver as we search for Captain Flynn’s treasure. There’s so much to do in so little time.
What do you think about The Incredible Hulk? Do you have any suggestions for this project? Leave your comments below!
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