The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk has plenty of super heroic action, as well as a great sense of humor about its origins and roots. Ang Lee famously said that his arty, brooding 2003 take on the classic Marvel Comics character was an attempt "to make a delicacy out of American fast food." Apparently, the higher-ups at Marvel -- who self-financed this newer version -- figured they could make more money with a simple meat-and-potatoes action film, which is what director Louis Leterrier gives us. There's even romance between Banner and his long-lost love, Betty (Liv Tyler), a scientist who happens to be the daughter of his nemesis, General Ross. Add in Roth's bad guy, a military man so obsessed with stopping the Hulk that he turns himself into something worse, and you have all the standard-issue elements of the modern comic book action film.

And that's all you have. While there are plenty of operatic fight sequences and extraordinary special effects -- and Norton is effective as a super heroic variation on The Fugitive -- The Incredible Hulk never really takes any chances or truly delivers anything other than loud fistfights and visions of mass destruction. It doesn't have either the style and panache that made Iron Man stand out, or the vision and visual style that Christopher Nolan brought to Batman Begins. The Incredible Hulk is a fairly good summertime action film designed more to make money than a statement, and it's certainly competent and confident in the execution of those modest aims. There's plenty of room left for a sequel if it's a hit, but it's hard to say whether there's room for a so-so superhero at a box office increasingly crowded with comic-book heroes.