When the film opens, Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is in hiding somewhere in Brazil hunting for a cure from the radiation that turned him into the green rage known as THE INCREDIBLE HULK. 

Just like the scientist, this film hides from Ang Lee’s flop made not too long ago.  There is no reference in this new version to the old one and all characters in this latest version are played by different actors.  Yet, it could still be a sequel to the first considering how the film starts.  The only similarity between the two films is that the green monster first appears one hour into the movie.

As Louis Leterrier’s (Frecnh director of the two TRANSPORTER films) version progresses, it is obvious that his version, co-written by Norton and X-Men’s Zak Penn is an all out action fest with no care for narrative, character development or plot detail.  In other words, this film should cater totally to Marvel comic book fans who want action and no story distractions.  Marvel are violent minimal story comic books compared to the d.c. (SUPERMAN, BATMAN) franchise where story counts.

Leterrier’s lack of interest in the film’s continuity is disturbing.  Take the segment where Bruce meets Betty in the diner.  He sees her with her date.  He disappears out the back.  He is now walking outside in the rain.  They meet up on the bridge.  What happened to the boyfriend?  How does she know where he is?

The little story left concerns Banner’s meeting up with lost love, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) and a fight with a ruthless foe known as The Abomination (Tim Roth also showing his pecks).  William Hurt as Betty’s father cannot bring any interest to the story as is seen as a cardboard figure.  Cameos by Stan Lee (so common now) and by other hulk actors (Bill Bixby, seen on the television and Lou Ferrigno) fail to surprise viewers as much as expected, though a last surprise at the end seem to invoke some cheers at the end of the film during the promo screening.

The fight sequences are incredible – they should be – with the two monsters pounding, grunting, stomping and throwing vehicles or whatever gets into their way.  This brings the feel to the hulk comic books, the few that I have read.  But this cannot satisfy the other portion of non-comic book fans that fill this summer’s movie going audience nor beat the energy of say, Michael Bay’s TRANSFORMERS.  With BATMAN, THE AVENGERS and TROPIC THUNDER on the way, the film industry might be heading towards comic book overload.