The Incredible Hulk (Blu-ray) Blu-ray, 2008

All-action Marvel Comics blockbuster in which scientist Dr.Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) searches for the cure to his life-transforming alter-ego. Scouring the globe, searching for the antidote that will prevent him from changing into The Hulk, Banner (Norton) is forced to keep a low profile, lest the military authorities that seek to exploit his powers finally catch up with him. In an ironic twist, he longs to be with the only woman he has ever loved, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), who just happens to be the daughter of his chief military adversary, General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt). Having finally decided to return to civilisation, Banner discovers that there's an even bigger and more dangerous enemy on the block - The Abomination (Tim Roth). A primal beast even more powerful than The Hulk, this new foe, the result of a foreign agent being exposed to an even larger dose of the radiation that created The Hulk, is unable to revert back to human form. Now the stage is set for the titanic battle of the two heavyweights, with New York the setting for the ultimate showdown.

The Ang Lee film of the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Marvel Comics anti-hero was controversially received (although the film has much to offer, and it's a brave and ambitious a... more >

The Ang Lee film of the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Marvel Comics anti-hero was controversially received (although the film has much to offer, and it's a brave and ambitious attempt). But now the film arm of Marvel have had another shot at the property -- and (of course) it's got to be very different from the previous attempt, right? Surprisingly enough - wrong! Once again, a serious actor (here, Edward Norton) has been chosen to play Bruce Banner (before he returns into the rampaging behemoth the Hulk), and the angst of the character (no pun intended) is conveyed (as one might expect) with actorly skill. There is strong support, too, from William Hurt, Liv Tyler and Tim Roth (who is transformed into the Hulk's monstrous nemesis, The Abomination). The principal difference between Leterrier's film and Ang Lee's is the placing and staging of the special effects sequences, and there is no doubt that the new version wins pretty comprehensively in this area. The battles between the Hulk and the military are done with tremendous panache, and the final battle is a real showstopper. There is a Blu-Ray version, but picture quality on the regular edition is astonishingly good. Another crowd-pleasing touch is the 11th hour appearance of Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man), something of a curtain raiser for Marvel's other big budget movie of the season. < less

View all 501 of Barry Forshaw’s reviews