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The problem is not the effects so much as how they're used. The Hulk may not look as realistic as Gollum did in Lord of the Rings, but he's believable enough through today's motion-capture and computer animation techniques. Yet once we reach the finale's inevitable slugfest, it plays out like the WWF gone CGI—characters bash each other, things go boom, and (how typical) a lot of it is too quickly paced to follow.

You won't like this guy when he's angry

Many are saying that this film is more exciting than its predecessor, but I'm not so sure. It took 45 minutes for the Hulk to appear last time, with a total of 3 or 4 action sequences. The Hulk appears earlier in this film—though mostly in shadow, and there are also 3 or 4 action sequences total. All in all, The Incredible Hulk follows a predictable pattern of talk, chase, "Hulk smash," repeat. And with action as staged as this, I found myself longing for more context and character development (like Iron Man).

Too bad we never quite find it. Norton gives it his best shot, appropriately noble and introverted. But after the film's promising introduction, he's reduced to alternating between expressing worry and running. Tyler fares worse, with a performance that often reminded me of Julie Haggerty's Elaine from Airplane (i.e. wide-eyed concern). Her chemistry with Norton's Banner is nil, which nearly kills our investment in both leads.

Meanwhile, Roth glowers in a thinly developed part at best, and though the always capable Hurt seems to be on the verge of something greater, his unsympathetic character spends most of this movie barking orders: "Send in the tanks! Fire all missiles! Where's my gunship?!?!" It's less the actors' fault than the limitations of the script. Only Tim Blake Nelson stands out, infusing personality into his part as a sort of academic mad scientist.

In the first ten years of Hulk comics, even though it was an instant hit, there was an ongoing struggle among creators and fans to find the right tone—from the look of the Hulk (ugly vs. statuesque) to his personality (mindless brute vs. eloquent scientist).

So is it any wonder then that 'ol green skin is having similar trouble finding his way on the big screen? Both Hulk movies actually have more in common than people want to admit, struggling between character study and monster smackdown. We'll finally get a great Hulk movie when filmmakers strike that perfect balance of brain and brawn. This film struggles with both, and though it's certainly watchable, it's no more incredible than its predecessor.

Talk About It

1. Do you believe Bruce Banner acts honorably in distancing himself from others, including those he loves? In what ways is he hurting himself and his chances of finding a cure? Is there a lesson here for finding support in community, or is Banner right to distrust others?
2. How does Banner control his stress and anger? What does the Bible say about giving in to anger? Does Banner's struggle with himself parallel other conditions and urges that we struggle with?
3. What drives General Ross's relentless pursuit of the Hulk? Is it vengeance? The search for the perfect weapon? Whose best interests does he serve—his country's or his own? Do you think he has a change of heart and realizes he has made a mistake? If so, at what point?
4. Does the Hulk represent a dark side of Bruce's character, or is he a completely different entity? If completely different, where does his personality come from and what does he represent? If it's part of Bruce's character, what does that say about the complexity of man's psyche? How does that compare to Paul's description of our own "dual" nature in Romans 7:14-25?

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