Two and a Half Growls for "The Incredible Hulk"

I've always had a soft spot for "The Incredible Hulk." Maybe because I was a small, thin kid who was picked on. Or because I've seen my share of miscreants in urban traffic and subways. Whatever the reason, there's a part of me that finds something appealing about the notion of turning into a green monster in order to save the world from bad guys. Although by no means a film classic, the latest incarnation of "The Incredible Hulk" pays homage to that fantasy and more. It is a vast improvement over the cinematic monstrosity that Ang Lee peddled in 2003.

"The Incredible Hulk" is excellent escapist fare for the summer season. The New York Post gives it two-and-a-half stars, an assessment with which I agree. "The Incredible Hulk" stylishly combines elements of the Marvel comic with the Bill Bixby-Lou Ferrigno television series that ran on CBS from 1977 to 1982. You don't need to be familiar with either to enjoy the film, but it helps.

The first few minutes of the "Incredible Hulk" retell the story of Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton), a scientist who, while searching for a medical boon to humanity, inadvertently unleashes an inner beast. Banner's first metamorphosis occurs after he's poisoned by a unique burst of gamma radiation.

The rapid sequences of mini-scenes is set to a rousing musical score sans dialogue. When the Hulk escapes from the laboratory, a fiery explosion kills two scientists and seriously injures Banner's girlfriend, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler). As in the television series, the creature is wanted for murders that he didn't commit, but instead of being pursued by an investigative reporter, here he's chased by General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt), Betty's father, who wants to use him as a weapon. The general is aided in this endeavor by a psychotic special forces officer named Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). Tim Blake Nelson provides comic relief as a kooky scientist who tries to cure Banner.

Hurt's General Ross, though ruthless, is fairly convincing as a military man. Blonsky, on the other hand, is so crazed that it's hard to believe the U.S. government would keep him in uniform. When he learns the Hulk's secret, Blonsky tracks down the scientist trying to cure Banner and forces him to inject the commando with serum derived from Banner's blood, creating the Abomination.

In-between the suspenseful chase scenes, "The Incredible Hulk" has some nice, subtle touches. We see the resourceful Banner as a Johnny-On-The-Spot mechanic at a Brazilian juice factory. When Banner accidentally spills some of his blood, he makes an heroic effort to prevent it from contaminating any products. Banner's relationship with Betty is poignant and reminiscent of Bill Bixby's star-crossed marriage to Mariette Hartley in the television series. Another borrowing from the series is"David's Song," a plaintive piano score epitomizing Banner's lonely, fugitive life.

Edward Norton and Liv Tyler have good chemistry and will appeal to young audiences. There's a funny scene in a motel room where Banner nearly has a metamorphosis when Betty arouses him.

Previous versions of the Hulk show him driven by rage or emotional distress. In a high-tech variation on this theme, the current creature appears when Banner's heart rate exceeds 200 beats per minute. As a result, the good doctor monitors his cardiac activity with a pocket-sized device.

Call me old-fashioned, but I still think that Bill Bixby and Mariette Hartley had more gravitas. Norton has a high-pitched, yuppyish voice which doesn't seem quite right for Banner.

The creatures are animated and well-detailed, but subtleties are lost by not using real actors. The Hulk is rather handsome in his dark green muscularity. A witness to a Hulk episode calls him "beautiful." The Abomination, by contrast, is hideous. Pick the politician you despise most and imagine him or her enraged. Then imagine that person on gamma, and, voila, you have a picture of the Abomination.

Lou Ferrigno, who played the Hulk in the television series, has a cameo role as a security guard. He looks like he could still play the green guy.

The climactic battle between the Hulk and the Abomination on the streets of Harlem is a work of heart-pounding artistry. As in the comic book, but not the television series, the Hulk has limited language ability. It isn't surprising that one of the few words he utters is "smash." Most of the time, he growls or roars, which, depending upon your point of view, is either terrifying or delightful.

A brief appearance by Robert Downey, Jr. in his Tony Stark role from "Iron Man" begs for a crossover sequel.

"The Incredible Hulk" runs 114 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for violence and sexuality.