Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some frightening sci-fi images, and brief suggestive content.
Directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen (The Transporter)
Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, William Hurt
Finally the Hulk done right!!
In this new beginning of Marvel’s most recognizable character, The Incredible Hulk, we find scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) in Brazil desperately seeking a cure to the force of rage that lives within him. Living in the shadows–cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler)–Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and exploit his power. As all three grapple with the secrets that led to the Hulk's creation, they are confronted with a monstrous new adversary known as The Abomination (Tim Roth), whose destructive strength exceeds even the Hulk's own.
Like Iron Man (see the review here), this Marvel Superhero movie is AMAZING!! The action is non-stop and the director took great care to stay true to the beloved comic books. Honestly that has been my biggest beef with most comic book movies…the directors want to make the characters theirs. Tim Burton just about ruined Batman and don’t even get me started on the Joel Schumacher’s installments. So let me be one of the many that will say, “Thank you Louis Leterrier, nice job!!”
As far as the cast, Liv Tyler and William Hurt are perfectly cast as Betty Ross and her father, the General, but its Edward Norton and Tim Roth that take it to the next level. Both of these guys are on my top ten actors list and did not disappoint here at all.
If you are a fan of the Hulk, I’m pretty sure you have already seen it (you might have even painted yourself green for the midnight showing). But if you are just a casual fan or somehow you don’t even know who the Hulk is, go check it out, it is a very fun two hours.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
I’m good with the PG-13 rating in the sense that most of the violence is that “comic-book” violence and not graphic at all. The one scene of “brief suggestive content” is definitely on the clean side and fairly harmless. Most younger viewers will find the Hulk (and especially Abomination) to be pretty scary but teens will be fine.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
