The Incredible Hulk (2008) [Blu-ray]
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close  The Incredible Hulk (2008) [Blu-ray]
Rated:  PG-13 
Starring: William Hurt, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Edward Norton, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell.
Director: Louis Leterrier
Genre: Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller
DVD Release Date: 10/21/2008

Tagline: On June 13, get ready to unleash the beast.

Academy Award® nominee Edward Norton stars as scientist Bruce Banner, a man who has been living in shadows, scouring the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with his most formidable foe: the Abomination - a nightmarish beast of pure aggression whose powers match the Hulk's own!

Storyline: Depicting the events after the Gamma Bomb. 'The Incredible Hulk' tells the story of Dr Bruce Banner, who seeks a cure to his unique condition, which causes him to turn into a giant green monster under emotional stress. Whilst on the run from military which seeks his capture, Banner comes close to a cure. But all is lost when a new creature emerges; The Abomination. Written by Graham Kroon

Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, October 19, 2008 -- Something really bad is about to happen here.

Audiences will remember the first decade of the 21st century for large-scale, big-budget comic book cinema adaptations. Like the B-grade Science Fiction films of the 1950s, the gritty dramas of the 1970s, or the big muscle action films of the 1980s, this decade will instantly recall the wave of Spider-Man, Batman, Iron Man and X-Men films, timed to greet summertime audiences, becoming almost an annual right of passage. Summer almost feels incomplete without a handful of these comics-turned-films, and the summer of 2008 proved to be, perhaps, the best yet. Three films -- Iron Man, The Dark Knight, and The Incredible Hulk -- served notice that the genre is here to stay, and that it is only getting better. Like any successful cinematic venture, however, nearly countless wannabes and second-rate films begin to emerge, trying to earn a chunk of Joe Movie's entertainment dollar, and the lesser attempts certainly dilute the overall quality of the genre's offerings. Films like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Daredevil miss the mark and sour some in the audiences to the point that the mere preview for the latest superhero outing just might do nothing more than cause the eyes to roll and the wallet to remain firmly closed in pocket. Director Ang Lee's crack at the superhero market, with his 2003 film Hulk, was another in the growing string of failed comic book to silver screen projects. Although it earned plenty of money and valiantly strove to literally bring a comic book to the big screen through its unique visuals, the film was overlong and tedious, the franchise already on the precipice of failure. Enter Marvel Studios, and five years later, Bruce Banner and the Hulk are back, bigger and better than ever, in a film with a genuine story, fine acting, a quick pace, a manageable runtime, incredible special effects, and marvelous sound design. Though certainly the least of the three major comic book adaptations to be released this past summer, The Incredible Hulk remains one of the best of the decade and now arrives on a Blu-ray disc as powerful as the Hulk itself.

Bruce Banner (Edward Norton, The Italian Job) is a man on the run from the United States Government, and is currently working in a bottling factory in Brazil. He was once a brilliant scientific mind who worked on exciting and groundbreaking projects, including the development of a shield to protect individuals from the harmful effects of gamma radiation. Confident in his work, Banner himself became a test subject of his own serum and discovered a most unwanted side effect. When his heart rate increases to around 200 beats per minute, his body transforms into a larger-than-life creature known as the Hulk, a beastly, muscular, athletic being immune to the effects of most weapons and possessing incredible strength and agility. Banner has traveled to Brazil in search of a cure to his transformations and to evade those like General "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt, Mr. Brooks) who considers Banner Government property and an important scientific breakthrough, one that could lead to the creation of a race of practically indestructible super soldiers. When Banner's location is revealed, Ross sends a team of commandos, led by Major Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth, Youth Without Youth) to Brazil to capture Banner. Banner barely escapes, and returns to the United States in search of further answers regarding his condition. He reunites with his former girlfriend, and General Ross' daughter, Betty (Liv Tyler, Reign Over Me). Only one step behind, Ross continues his pursuit of Banner, but with the help of a newly energized and dangerous Emil Blonsky.

The Incredible Hulk is pure entertainment. An action movie lover's delight, the film features some of the most ferocious, exciting, and hyper-realistic action sequences this side of Iron Man and Transformers. It demolishes the Ang Lee version in every facet of its existence, particularly in its well-staged, loud, and kinetic action, and unlike that previous 2003 film, The Incredible Hulk is a blast to watch. The sequence where the Hulk takes on the military and, for the first time, the enhanced Emil Blonsky in broad daylight on the campus of Culver University serves as the film's finest. A treat for the eyes and a strain on the ears, the senses become overwhelmed by the magnitude of the sequence, and the scene will no doubt become a staple in the steady diet of action segments fans turn to on a regular basis, and home theater aficionados and retailers alike will marvel at the scene's incredible visuals and sound present on the Blu-ray. The special effects are also far superior in this version. The Hulk appears more realistic rather than looking like a cartoon, and more importantly, all of the effects integrate seamlessly into the film, and never once is the audience taken out of the film through the use of shoddy visuals, so that in this respect the film remains of a very high quality, similar to Iron Man.

Underneath all the action and special effects of The Incredible Hulk is a dramatic tale of a man in search of who he is, what it is he has become, and how to control it for the sake of others, and for himself. The character of the Hulk seems like a metaphor for the monster inside many of us, a beast full of rage and anger for some, perhaps an inner struggle with an addiction for others, or even of regret or remorse that may control the lives of so many. Bruce Banner goes to great lengths to tame his anger, his inner beast, his destructive power that all too often controls him and harms others, sometimes those deserving of their fates, sometimes those whom he loves. Ultimately, the one whom the Hulk hurts the most is Banner himself, the man who, in this case, means well but cannot consistently retain a psychological equilibrium. Such harm is not always skin deep -- a bruise or a broken bone. His anger takes an emotional toll on his well-being, and on Betty as well. It is also the love, the understanding, the loyalty of another, and the dedication to a cause, which serves as perhaps the best weapon against the inner monster that is always prepared to spring to life and do its harmful deeds. The Incredible Hulk is a fine action film, but it also offers a deeper meaning and presents complex ideas and perhaps even personal reflections to those audience members who choose to see past the superficial story and excitement of the film.

With Iron Man and now The Incredible Hulk, Marvel Studios has proven capable of creating films that not only excite and entertain, but do not approach their subject materials with a heavy hand. Both films are accessible to longtime fans and newcomers who have never flipped through a comic book before, capturing first-rate action sequences but never leaving viewers confused as to the origins or motivations of the characters. The interconnection of the stories in the Marvel universe is yet another way through which the studio is reaching out to its fan-base while at the same time also creating new fans through their films. This interplay piques the interest of non-fans, excites the longtime, knowledgeable fans of both the films and the comics, and creates a common thread between films of uncommon characters. Not only has Marvel Studios taken the first steps in creating a complete cinematic universe featuring its most cherished characters, but the studio has taken care to ensure that the films themselves are of the utmost quality. Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk offer viewers incredibly orchestrated and well-photographed action, but they also take the time to establish characters, make them people about whom the audience cares and with whom they connect, and provide plenty of drama and emotion that improves upon the story, makes it more urgent and thoughtful, and plays to the intelligence of moviegoers. Each shot or line of dialogue serves a purpose, integrating into the story and working as a building block to create the drama necessary to support the action. Nothing is superfluous, nothing is insulting or poorly thought out. The films are carefully and lovingly crafted. They are action films first and foremost, but they ensure that the action plays into the story, not vice versa.

The Incredible Hulk is a fine example of a comic book movie done right. It offers amazing visuals and plenty of action, but, more important to the story, never falters in the areas of character development and narrative, which are crucial in creating a more fulfilling cinematic experience. The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and The Dark Knight are all shining examples of the comic book-based movie done absolutely right, and 2008 will be remembered as one of the best years the genre has seen to date. Universal brings The Incredible Hulk to Blu-ray in a package that is a definite must-own. Featuring excellent video quality and a reference-grade soundtrack that raises the bar for action movie extravaganza mixes, not to mention a jam-packed supplemental section, a digital copy of the film, and a unique green-colored Blu-ray case, the disc is impossible to resist. The Incredible Hulk comes highly recommended!

(Based on Comic Book)

Cast Notes: Edward Norton (Bruce Banner), Liv Tyler (Dr. Elizabeth 'Betty' Ross), Tim Roth (Maj. Emil Blonsky), William Hurt (Gen. Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross), Tim Blake Nelson (Dr. Samuel Sterns), Ty Burrell (Dr. Lennord Samson), Christina Cabot (Major Kathleen 'Kat' Sparr), Peter Mensah (General Joe Greller), Lou Ferrigno (Voice of The Incredible Hulk / Security Guard), Paul Soles (Stanley), Débora Nascimento (Martina), Greg Bryk (Commando #1), Chris Owens (Commando #2), Al Vrkljan (Commando #3), Adrian Hein (Commando #4).

IMDb Rating (12/14/14): 6.9/10 from 268,606 users
IMDb Rating (10/23/08): 7.4/10 from 48,676 users

Additional information
Copyright:  2008,  Universal Studios
Features:  • Animated Comic
• Picture in Picture
• Alternate Opening
• The Making of Incredible
• Becoming The Abomination
• Anatomy of a Hulk Out
• Scene Explorer
• Deleted Scenes
• Feature Commentary with Director Louis Leterrier and Tim Roth
• Includes Digital Copy Of The Incredible Hulk
Subtitles:  English SDH, French, Spanish
Video:  Widescreen 2.35:1 Color
Screen Resolution: 1080p
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Audio:  ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Stereo
ENGLISH: DTS HD 5.1
SPANISH: DTS 5.1
FRENCH: DTS 5.1
Time:  1:53
DVD:  # Discs: 1 -- # Shows: 1
UPC:  025195041331
Coding:  [V5.0-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC
D-Box:  Yes
Other:  Producers: Gale Anne Hurd, Kevin Feige, Avi Arad; Directors: Louis Leterrier; Writers: Zak Penn; running time of 113 minutes; Packaging: HD Case.

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