The Incredible Hulk (2008) or, Hulk 2: The Hulk vs. Abomination!

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A seemingly shameful co-star Edward Norton stands in the shadow of his incensed monstrous alter ego on this very dark poster for Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk

Bruce Banner has isolated himself in Brazil, where he is nevertheless discovered by the US military, who are eager to use his gamma-induced mutation for weapons purposes. Banner's attempts to squelch his green fury fails, and he instead finds that he has to fight the Russian-born madman Blonsky.

 

The Incredible Hulk is written by Zak Penn (Elektra (2005)), based on the Marvel Comics character created in 1962, and directed by Louis Leterrier (The Transporter (2002)). It is a kind of reboot of the character, following Ang Lee's Hulk (2003).

On the back of the unfair reception of Lee's fantastic film, it must be said that Leterrier's fanboy appeasement version here is not a gamma ray better.

There's great action, good-looking effects and some neat cast choices: William Hurt (The Village (2004)) as the cynical general is on-point; Liv Tyler (Ad Astra (2019)) is dishy, - but lacks the depth Jennifer Connelly supplied in Lee's film, - and Edward Norton (Primal Fear (1996)) and Tim Roth (The Misfits (2021)) as his enemy are good.

The Incredible Hulk is very cheesy and has thin spots, (as when Hulk towards the end quells a helicopter fire with a clap), and the monster battle climax lacks dramatic air. But it is an entertaining spectacle.

 

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Louis Leterrier: 2013 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED VI]

Now You See Me (2013) - Cocky stars trapped in empty construction

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
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Clash of the Titans (2010) - Leterrier's CGI-stuffed remake is surprisingly good

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 137.5-150 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 264.7 mil. $

= Big flop (returned 1.76-1.92 times its cost)

[The Incredible Hulk was released 6 June (Colombia) and runs 112 minutes. Norton, who was not Leterrier's first choice for Banner, was very active in the making of the film, writing his own script, disagreeing with the actual film's ending and runtime, and eventually got denied credit for this writing. Shooting took place from June - October 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, California, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, British Columbia and in Ontario, including in Toronto. The film opened #1 to a 55.4 mil. $ first weekend in North America where it spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#5), grossing 134.8 mil. $ (50.9 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 15.1 mil. $ (5.7 %) and Mexico with 12.6 mil. $ (4.8 %). The film also reportedly made at least 80.3 mil. $ on the North-American home video market alone. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2.5/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. The Banner/Hulk character was subsequently laid to rest until The Avengers (2012) and its sequels, then portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, but has not had a character-focused feature since The Incredible Hulk. Leterrier returned with Clash of the Titans (2010). Norton returned in Pride and Glory (2008); Tyler in Super (2010); and Roth in Skellig: The Owl Man (2009, TV movie), Sea Wolf (2009, miniseries) and theatrically in King Conqueror (2009). The Incredible Hulk is fresh at 67 % with a 6.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of The Incredible Hulk? 

One Night at McCool's (2001) - Stars shine in Zwart's under-appreciated farce

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Liv Tyler will catch most people's attention, lounged forward showing cleavage in a jaguar-patterned dress on this poster for Harald Zwart's One Night at McCool's

Buxom beauty Jewel wrecks havoc on several men's lives in connection to one fateful night at McCool's.

 

One Night at McCool's is written by Stan Seidel (True Colors (1991-92)) and directed by great Dutch filmmaker Harald Zwart (Hamilton (1998)).

It is a hilarious farce, which interweaves one out there cliche to the next in an inventively written and clever script. There's a colorful team of characters, good pacing and cool music, (a Johnny Cash song and a rad shooting in the end to The Village People are highlights.)

A fantastic cast really kicks butt here: Michael Douglas (Summertree (1971)) wins just by the hairpiece he dons here alone as a hitman but of course the legend backs it up with gusto; Liv Tyler (Silent Fall (1994)) is gorgeous and extremely sexy; John Goodman (Argo (2012)) is wonderful as a religious policeman; Paul Reiser (Red Oaks (2014-17)) plays a lawyer with a gigantic ego; and Richard Jenkins (The Mod Squad (1999)) is a bowl of laughs as a Catholic priest.

 

Watch Zwart and Tyler in the latter's hair, makeup and wardrobe test for the film here

 

Cost: 18 mil. $

Box office: 13.5 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.75 times its cost)

[One Night at McCool's premiered 19 April (UK) and runs 92 minutes. Shooting took place from August - November 1999 in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #11 to a 2.5 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it grossed 6.2 mil. $ (45.9 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 1.8 mil. $ (13.3 %) and France with 483k $ (3.6 %). Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. Zwart returned with Hamilton (2001, miniseries), A-ha: Forever Not Yours (2002, music video) and theatrically with Agent Cody Banks (2003). Tyler returned in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Matt Dillon (The House That Jack Built (2018)) in Deuces Wild (2002); and Douglas in Don't Say a Word (2001). One Night at McCool's is rotten at 33 % with a 4.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of One Night at McCool's?