(3 out of 5 stars)

Edward Norton now stars as the mean green experiment gone wrong, and surprisingly fits the role well. He brings depth to the character that Eric Bana and Ang Lee could not five years ago. Ed Norton shows us a Hulk who wants desperately to seek a fix, but then ultimately sees how he can use this “problem” for the good of others. This is the Hulk we wanted to see five years ago.

The reason this version is far superior to the previous is story and character. The Hulk needs to embrace his Hulkness, instead of fighting it; he needs to understand it. The story is written beautifully by showing this growing character within the Hulk, and showing how the army just wants to use it as the next crazy super soldier experiment.

We no longer have to deal with the Hulk swinging a tank around by its gun, and instead get to see the Hulk show brute force in his anger. This Hulk also has resolution that the previous version did not. Hulk sees how he can become good (and become part of the Avengers as we will see in 2011). The Hulk just doesn’t go and hide; he fights for what he believes in which is initially a cure, and then finally is a way to embrace this so called “problem.”

The Incredible Hulk is every bit as good as Iron Man. It is a simple comic book which does not have a ton to offer, but that is where the movie gets it right. It’s not a complex story; it is simple, and Bruce does in fact have to deal with this greenness inside, and that struggle also provides a way to keep the Hulk from just destroying things and helps the viewer want him to become the superhero that we all know he will ultimately be.

Similar recommended titles: Iron Man and Spiderman