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Marvel Studios has released their second film of 2008, and while not as highly anticipated as Iron Man, there is a lot of buzz surround The Incredible Hulk.
Marvel has decided to reboot the Hulk franchise, ignoring Ang Lee’s Hulk movie which was not well received at all. This time around, Louis Leterrier (The Transporter 1 and 2) is at the helm, and there is much more action as a result.
This film is very much an homage to the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferigno TV series from the 1980s. Many images in the film are straight out of the show, as well as the Hulk’s origin. Even the theme music makes an appearance. But there are also a lot of comic book references as well, including the Mr. Green/Mr. Blue exchange from Bruce Jones’ “Return of the Monster” storyline, and cameos by some familiar comic characters.
Banner is in hiding after his first Hulk-out, where he nearly killed his girlfriend, Betty, and her father, General Thunderbolt Ross. But he’s slipped up, and now the General is closing in, which gives the movie a Fugitive-type feel. To help hunt Banner down, General Ross assembles a team of specialists, including Emil Blonksy, a life-long soldier who loves a challenge. After Blonsky sees the Hulk first hand, he wants to do whatever it takes to bring him down, including being injected with the Super Soldier Serum (hinting at the upcoming Captain America film). This gives him enhanced strength and speed, but it’s not enough for Blonsky. So he’s infused with some of Banner’s blood and becomes the Abomination, and monster bigger and badder than the Hulk. This sets up the film’s final confrontation between the two monsters.
All of the roles from the first film have been recast, with Edward Norton playing Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, and William Hurt as General Thunderbolt Ross. Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs) plays the Emil Blonsky/The Abomination. Marvel has done it again with the casting, and everyone plays their roles perfectly. Norton really shines as Banner, and it’s great that he gets a chance to strut his stuff in an action/comic book movie.
The Hulk looks like he’s supposed to this time – Nine feet tall, green and mean. The film makers were able to capture more emotion in this Hulk which should make him more acceptable as a CGI character. The CGI Hulk didn’t bother me at all, but the Abomination was a bit much. He really looks nothing like his comic book counterpart, and more like a mini-Godzilla crossed with something out of a horror movie.
The best parts of the film are when Banner is on the run. That’s not to say that the Hulk scenes were bad – most of them weren’t – but one of the things that made the Hulk TV show work well was the Fugitive aspect of it, and it works well here, too.
The weakest part of the movie is the big Hulk/Abomination battle. Maybe it was the CGI, maybe it was that seeing two monsters beat the tar out of each other can only go so far, but it just didn’t work for me. The final scene of the movie also seemed forced and out of place. I think that it would have worked better a little earlier than where it showed up. Despite that, it’s a great scene for the fans.
Since I’m a movie score nut, I’ve got to deduct points again for the music in the film. Much like Iron Man, the music has no themes for any of the characters, nothing that you walk away from the film humming, (except a few bars from the Hulk TV show). It would be nice to see a recognizable name composing music for future Marvel films, because so far, they’ve been pretty lame.
Overall, The Incredible Hulk is far superior to the Ang Lee Hulk movie. It’s faster paced, more engaging, and just plain fun. Fans of the TV show will like it, fans of the comic books will like it, and even casual fans should enjoy it.
I’m giving the Incredible Hulk a B rating.
Thanks for reading.
Marc Bowker
Sideshow Movie Collectibles
Marvel Captain America 25 The Death Of The Dream
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Captain America #25: The Death of Captain America (Marvel Comic Book 2007 – Variant Cover) $3.25 Captain America Steve Rogers is shot and killed in this key issue. Things had already been bad for Cap. He had been declared a fugitive after the Superhero Registration Act demanded all heroes be registered by the federal government. Captain America, seeing this as an invasion of civil rights, led a resistance against this movement, chronicled in Marvel Comic’s “Civil War” series. After Captain Am… |
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Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America — Wolverine (Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America) $1.50 How will Wolverine react to the death of one the most beloved characters in the Marvel Universe? He ain’t buyin’ in! Join Logan as he tries to track down the truth behind what really happened to Captain America, and he’s not going to be happy when he does! The secret story that will transverse the post Civil War landscape and stars Marvels most popular characters begins here! How do people with … |
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Captain America #25: Death of Captain America (The Director’s Cut – Marvel Comics) $1.98 Go behind the scenes on one of the most important issues in Marvel history! The events in CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 have been covered in news outlets nationwide, and this bonus edition brings you closer to the tragedy than ever before. Representing the already classic CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 in its entirety and featuring Ed Brubaker’s complete script and other extras. 64 PGS… |
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Captain America Indestructible Shield Briefs for men $12.99 These 95% cotton/ 5% spandex briefs for men feature Captain America’s Indestructible Shield on a blue background with red trimming. Machine washable with functional fly and exposed Captain America Trademark elastic waistband. |
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DC Comics – Batman Comic Book Insignia Fleece Lounge Pants for men $19.99 These lounge pants for men feature Batman’s Trademark Comic Books Insignia and Classic Logo in an all-over print on a warm and cozy black fleece fabric. They are machine washable, have a button fly, a covered elastic waistband with drawstring tie. |
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Captain Morgan – A Little Captain In You Boxer for men $12.99 These boxer shorts feature the Trademark Captain Morgan image and the dictionary definition of captain. The rear poses the question ‘Got A Little Captain In You?’ on a blue background. |
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Captain Morgan – Team Captain lounge pants for men $17.99 These lounge pants for men feature the Captain Morgan image and Original Spiced Rum trademark logos on a heather gray background. |
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Captain Morgan – Party Captain Boxers for men $12.99 These boxers feature the Trademark Captain Morgan image and the rear reads ‘READY TO PARTY’ on a black background. |
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Marvel Comic Strip Characters Lounge Pants for men $17.99 These knit lounge pants feature the Marvel Comics Super Heroes in a colorful collage of comic strip action. |
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Captain Morgan – Original Planksta boxer shorts for men $11.99 These boxer shorts feature the Captain Morgan logo and the Captain’s treasure chest on the front. The rear says ‘Original Planksta’ and ‘Captain Morgam Original Spiced Rum’. All is on a black background. |
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Superman – Comic Strip Explosion Boxers for men $12.99 These boxers for men feature Superman’s ‘S’ Shield over a colorful ‘explosion’ of comic strip action. They are machine washable, have an open edge fly and a covered elastic waistband. |
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Captain Morgan Born to Rum lounge pants for men $17.99 These lounge pants for men really capture the essence of Captain Morgan. These pants feature everything from Captain Morgan himself, his pirate ship, ‘Born to Rum’, pirate head with swords and more on a black background. |
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DC Comics – Superman Comic Shield Lounge Pants for men $17.99 These lounge pants feature the comic version of Superman’s ‘S’ Shield outlined in white in an all-over print on a Superman trivia background. |
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Bazooka Joe – Comic Strips All-Over boxer shorts for men $12.99 These boxer shorts feature lots of funny Bazooka Joe comic strips, like the ones enclosed in Bazooka Bubble Gum wrappers. |
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Swinging Captain Morgan boxer shorts for men $11.99 These boxer shorts feature Captain Morgan swinging on a rope with the logo on the front. The rear says ‘Mix It Up ‘. All is on a tie dye blue background. |
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Peanuts – Snoopy the Pirate Captain T-Shirt for men $15.99 These T-Shirts feature Peanuts’ Snoopy character wearing an eye patch and a sea captain’s hat with a Pirate Danger Signal . These T-Shirts are preshrunk, machine washable and easy to care for. |
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Captain Morgan – Big Pirate w/ Rum boxer shorts for men $11.99 These boxer shorts feature the Captain on the front along with his pirate ship and rum bottle and read ‘CM’ on the rear on a black background. |
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Captain Morgan’s Parrot Bay Big and Tall Boxers for men $14.99 These boxers for men feature Captain Morgan under a coconut palm with a barrel of rum on a navy background. |
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Emily the Strange – Get Lost Get Even Comic Lounge Pants for women $17.99 These lounge pants for women feature Emily the Strange famous sayings such as ‘Get Lost!’ and ‘I may be lost But I Always GET EVEN’. These fun, comic book style pants have an exposed elastic waistband. Machine washable and easy care. |
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Captain Morgan Roll the Dice and Get Spiced lounge pants for men $16.99 These lounge pants feature the Captain Morgan Logo, Dice, and read ‘Roll the Dice and Get SPiced’ in an all-over print on an orange background. |
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Pirates of the Caribbean Captain Jack 3 Pair Pack Boys Briefs for boys $6.5 This boys underwear 3 pack features briefs with Captain Jack Sparrow and his Pirates of the Caribbean friends in action scenes. They are machine washable, have a functional fly and an elastic waistband. |
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South Park – Don’t Kill Kenny Lounge Pants for men $17.99 These lounge pants for men feature colorful comic strip style South Park frames and read ‘DON’T KILL KENNY’. |
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Peanuts Characters Then and Now Boxers for men $12.99 These boxers feature a glimpse at Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and Pigpen ‘then and now’ in comic strip style on a blue background. |
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South Park – Don’t Kill Kenny Boxers for men $12.99 These boxer shorts feature colorful comic strip style South Park frames and read ‘DON’T KILL KENNY!’. |
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Disney – Mickey Mouse Animated Expressions Lounge Pants for men $17.99 These lounge pants for men feature Mickey Mouse’s comic expressions that made him the much loved icon of the Walt Disney Company. |
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I Heart America boxer shorts for men $11.99 These boxer shorts for men feature ‘American Flag’ heart images scattered in an all-over patriotic print on a white background. |
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Marvel Comics – Spider-Man and Friends 3 Pack Briefs for boys $6.5 This boys underwear 3 pack features briefs with Spider-Man action scenes with his Comic Book Friends like The Thing, Silver Surfer, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Machine washable with functional fly and elastic waistband. |
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Marvel Heroes Spider-Man Comics Drawstring Capri for women $17.99 These lounge pants for women feature Marvel Heroes Spider-Man character in comic book action frames. They are capri length with a wide red drawstring waistband. Machine washable and easy care. |