Several things have become clear during recent weeks. One of which is that I am one of a ever diminishing few that have fond feelings for Ang Lee's The Hulk (2003). Marvel is still smarting from the audience backlash for what I thought was a step forward in character development in the comic genre. Take out mutant poodles and Nick Nolte and you've got yourself a really good movie.
The Incredible Hulk (2007) is the antithesis of the its predecessor. It tries to straddle both priorities - character and audience pleasing action. It ends up just doing okay on both accounts. The talented cast is given little to do except run or look frightened. The dialogue is average. The action is promising until the CGI Hulk starts to take center stage. It all culminates in a CGI blowout as The Hulk takes on his uber-villain, The Abomination. Truth is that I couldn't muster any interest in these two CGI goliaths colliding. I checked my watch. A CGI-heavy battle can be done well, the obviously CGI'd Kong and dinosaurs of 2005's King Kong left me riveted. Note to team Marvel: watch Iron Man again...and King Kong (for how to do a beauty and the beast cave scene right)...and any Edward Norton movie to see how to utilize your star. Kudos though to the heart monitor for building suspense. It almost worked.
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