Review of the Incredible Hulk (2008)

If you buy tickets to The Incredible Hulk expecting the kind of cute plastic many hero movies provide, you will be sorely disappointed. This is not a children's movie. I repeat, this is not a children's movie. There were several children under 12 in the theater with me and not one of them looked happy on the way out. The general consensus was that the parents regretted bringing them and wouldn't if they'd known what to expect. It's gritty, graphically violent, and so intense that full grown adults were injuring each other in the parking lot after seeing it.

I have to admit, I went to this movie a little grudgingly. I was sure it was woefully miscast, and the previews led me to believe they'd dropped the ball with effects and plot. I am happy to admit I was wrong. Some wonderfully creative and detail oriented people really went to town creating this film.

One warning before you read this. I didn't go to a weekend matinée, but a midnight premiere. The atmosphere is quite different and has an intensifying effect. Anyone other than long time fans of the characters may find this review a bit exaggerated. Don't forget your grain of salt.

Cast
Everyone in this movie did a beautiful job with their characters. Once you throw them together in the gritty universe of this movie, you can't imagine anyone else doing the job. The actors threw themselves into the roles wholeheartedly, and they are an exceptionally talented group to begin with. They drew in the audience so well that people were laughing, gasping, and exclaiming regularly. No one even cared because we were all thinking the same thing.

Sets
While some of the sets are your typical city and burbs, there were some great surprises. The area the movie begins was unique and intriguing. There was architectural or other visual interest to every scene. The scenery not only added interest but intensity to the film. I was both surprised and impressed with the sets, though I would have liked it better if every location was surprisingly unique.

Action
Dark, graphic, gritty, and intense. There was little to no blood or emphasis on wounds because they truly didn't need it. Such shock value techniques would have lessened the impact. During the battle scenes, and there were several, the audience was practically electric. I'm a stoic movie goer, and even I was sitting on the edge of my seat with my mouth gaping. I cringed and groaned, held my breath and gasped suddenly. Several audience members even had a hard time staying in their seats. Blood and gore would have tempered our reactions with "ewww" and the sudden realization that we were just sitting in a movie theater.

Plot
This is where the film falters. The plot didn't have any glaring holes, but it felt like they started working before they had the final draft. The basic plot is solid and interesting. The details along the way often feel like they don't connect well. It's not quite enough to be confusing, but it often feels uncomfortable. Like when you bang together two puzzle pieces that don't quite fit together. The end product works well enough, though, and they don't get distracted from the larger plot.

Overall, this was a very good movie. If you enjoy hero flicks, and liked Fight Club or Pulp Fiction, you'll enjoy this movie. The sarcastic humor and cynicism are meant for an older audience, as are the intense battles and general feel of the film. It was a well made hero flick for grown ups.