Time to go back to the movie that is not actually a Marvel movie. We are in a middle of a plague so it's not like there is anything better to do. As soon as that Universal logo shows up, you know it is not exactly a Marvel, even though the Marvel logo shows up next. It wasn't as bad as I remembered, but it wasn't a Marvel masterpiece either. It was not as good as any of the other phase 1 movies though.
The Incredible Hulk was directed by Louis Leterrier ( Transporter 2 , Clash of the Titans) and stars Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, William Hurt as General 'Thunderbolt' Ross and Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/Abomination. We all know by now that Edward Norton was the one who was really was in control of this movie. So you can blame him for how it turned out. Also this movie is super connected to the MCU, I completely forgot about that.
This movie came out only five years after Ang Lee's Hulk movie so Marvel decided to skip the introduction. The movie starts with Banner turning into the Hulk for the first time straight at the beginning of the movie and with a first-person shooter video game style. The CGI is so terrible and choice of filming is so bad that it puts you off from the start. We see that everyone around got injured including Betty Ross when Hulk snaps. Just to remind you why Thunderbolt Ross hates superheroes.
Hulk escapes and Banner then moves to Brazil to try and live a normal life, while searching for a cure along with Mr. Blue. Whom he writes to on a computer. While in Brazil he works in a juice factory, or radioactive juice from the color of it. After he gets a cut at work, a drop of him blood ends up in a bottle. Which Stan Lee drinks and according to one of Thunderbolt's military workers, causes him to Hulkout. Also notifying the army where Banner is currently working.
Along with a coworker, Thunderbolt assembles a team that includes Blonsky as their leader. They are tasked with getting Banner back alive. Apparently, Thunderbolt decided to take out the Super Soldier program from the basement and try and create new super soldiers. He told Banner that they are working on immunity to radiation exposure, but the experiment failed which caused Banner to become the Hulk. I guess he shouldn't have tried it on himself, but then again he had no idea what he was working on. I don't think that is actually logical. Now Thunderbolt wants to capture him and turn him into a weapon. How Weapon X of him.
Also, how stupid of Thunderbolt not to tell Blonsky what he is getting into. At first when they go after Banner, who is just a really smart guy who is in top shape, we get a lot of running. Then a few workers from the factory who don't really like Banner see him, and decide to beat him up. Unleashing the Hulk. Then the team has difficulty trying to catch him now and he gets away. They had to receive clarifications that it is Banner. So damn.
In order to improve his situation, Thunderbolt decides to try out another phase of the super-solider program on Blonsky. Not a great idea. I guess he forgot that the secret ingredient to Captain America was his good heart. Something which Blonsky lacks. Along with sanity.
Meanwhile, Banner goes back to the U.S. in order to see Mr. Blue in person about a cure. Yet he runs into his former love, Betty Ross, Thunderbolt's daughter. I have a feeling that this is the reason why Thunderbolt hates superheroes so much. His daughter's love for the man who hurt her. Not from logic, but from his formal experience. Ross was injured when Banner first turned into the Hulk. I don't think Thunderbolt recovered well from that experience. Even though Ross has a new boyfriend now, she doesn't care and wants to be with Banner now that she sees him.
Unfortunately, the army catches up to them. When Banner thinks that Ross is in danger, he turns into the Hulk. But this time, the army is prepared. They have supersonic devices loaded on tanks. The kind that we will see later on in the MCU. It almost neutralizes Hulk, but all it takes is a cry from Ross and he teasers those tanks into pieces. He also hits Blonsky pretty hard after Blonsky teases him, but Blonsky is no longer human so he recovers pretty fast. Along with all of this mayhem, Hulk saves Ross. Literally, as she is caught in the line of fire accidently, because her father wants her to see the Hulk in action. Well, she does. And on top of his cruelty, he saves her and takes her to the mountains. Where she sees the sensitive side of Hulk.
Later when he returns to being Banner they both go on the run. He is experienced at that. No credit cards, no cellphones. They sleep in motels that take only cash and don’t ask questions. Although they can't have a physical relationship because of Banner's condition. They focus on finding Mr. Blue (played by Tim Blake Nelson). When they do, they realize that he is crazy. He saved all of Banners samples. He thinks you can use it to cure cancer and what not. But Banner needs to recover so they allow him to use the treatment that he invented on Hulk. Yeah, on Hulk. And it works. Although it only works once apparently.
Then the army shows up and arrests Banner at last. Ross is furious with her father telling him never to call her his daughter in his life. Maybe that's why he never mentions her going forward. Blonsky doesn't care that Banner was arrested, he has another plan in mind. He asks, Mr. Blue to turn him into something similar to the Hulk. He wants that supply of endless power. Thus, Abomination is created. Suddenly, Thunderbolt is getting a lot of worried calls about Hulk when Banner is sitting next to him. Yeah. The super-solider program was meant for the kind hearted, not the crazy kind who simply want more power.
Abomination wants a real fight. The military is hardly that. Banner volunteers to fight him as the Hulk, he thinks that he can control the Hulk enough for that. Thunderbolt allows this. So, Banner jumps off the plan and crashes. So yeah, the treatment was not permanent and Hulk shows up. Reminds me a bit of Captain America: Winter Soldier when Steve jumped off the plan with no parachute. At first Hulk is no match for Abomination, until Abomination tries to harm Ross. Then Hulk is super smart and tough. It is a bit annoying I have to admit, that Ross is the motivation for everything. Especially, since Marvel didn't keep her or mention her ever again. Hulk wins and Ross cries that Hulk shouldn't kill Abomination. He doesn't. So apparently Abomination still exists in the MCU.
Hulk runs away and Banner starts a life of living on the run. The movie ends with him doing relaxation exercises and the movie hints that now he can control his anger and transformation now.
The post-credit scene shows Thunderbolt in a bar. Drinking what looks like the juice that Banner made in the factory in Brazil. I guess that once it was meant to be a hint for Red Hulk. Then Tony Stark shows up. They banter a bit about each other's problem. Then Stark says that they are putting a team together. The scenes ends when Thunderbolt asks who is "we". Not the most impressive post-credit scene. Especially since Stark doesn’t do recruitment, despite his military background, plus he didn't agree to the Avengers initiative yet. But, Thunderbolt is the only thing that survived this movie and moved on the MCU. Probably because William Hurt is so awesome in this role.
Sure Edward Norton is a great actor, but do I miss him as the Hulk? Not really. He is replaceable. I would love to see a Liv Tyler/Betty Ross cameo someday, but I think that that ship has sailed with Avengers: Endgame. Now it just feels strange that no one ever mentions her. Even as an explanation for why Thunderbolt is so angry.
I can't say that this movie was terrible. But I also can't say that I feel bad that this movie never got a sequel. The CGI was not great. The plot was kind of ok. The idea of making it more horror was interesting, but wasn't well or fully executed. But, it just lacks the Marvel magic. Maybe because aside from the Weapon X and super-soldier I feel like this movie doesn't connect to the MCU. Maybe because they recast Banner. Maybe because Abomination was not a good third-act villain. It is just a movie that doesn't stick with you. But it is an ok movie. I expected so much worse. It was fun and nothing more.
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