Writer: Cammy Zulkifli

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Watch this if you liked: "Hulk" and "Iron Man".

Since "Spider-Man" sparked the trend of dishing out bigger sequels than its predecessor, this sequel to 2003's "Hulk" is certainly squeezing every bit of juice left from the first movie to create a worthy successor, aptly titled "The Incredible Hulk". The film's new leading man Edward Norton, who plays Dr. Bruce Banner (also known as The Hulk) in the film, along with co-writer Zak Penn, salvaged the remnants of Ang Lee's celluloid disaster that is "Hulk" and repackaged the concept, thus creating a solemn, less comic-like film. Of course, based on the success of "Batman Begins", a film that respectfully ignored the colourful concept of its previous movies, "The Incredible Hulk" seems to be the blockbuster sidekick, following a marketing trend rather than innovating but still packs a good dose of action and rumble.

Taking over from where Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly left off, Norton writes himself into the film with Liv Tyler as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross, Bruce Banner's perpetual love interest. "Hulk" director Ang Lee's direct-from-comic interpretation is completely stripped under the new direction of Louis Leterrier, who makes the sequel substantially more sombre and dim, although not necessarily darker.

The film's hero Bruce Banner is now in hiding in the hills of Brazil, isolating himself from those who pursue him for his unusual genetic make-up for the purpose of destruction, as well as to protect Betty's well-being - mainly from himself. However, an accident at the soda plant where he works points the US military to his location and Bruce again plays fugitive, running from his imminent fate as a lab rat for the military.

The first half hour could have been a scene from such spy thrillers like "The Bourne Ultimatum", with Bruce literally running from his pursuers and jumping across the hilly rooftops of Rio de Janeiro while armed enforcers sneak up from behind every wall. As he dodges every confrontation, Bruce is also in contact with a mystery man only known as Mr. Blue, who secretly assists him in finding a cure for his monstrous condition. With nowhere else to go, Bruce returns to Culver University to attain the last of his genetic data, and comes across his lost love Betty, who is now happily attached to another man.

While Betty's new beau could have been a dramatic subplot to the linear storyline, it was quickly dismissed as her attention focused onto Bruce just as fast as you could say "Hulk", and her man didn't seem to mind the fact that his girl is running away with a green-eyed monster, putting herself in danger while at it. As Bruce locates Mr. Blue, his one and only hope for a cure, the mystery man turns out to be an over-zealous scientist at a peer university, whose over-excitement clearly outweighs his professionalism.

Amidst the nationwide chase, Tim Roth plays Emil Blonsky, an aged but skilled military assassin sent to recover Bruce at all costs. Although at first his directive was as simple as hunting the Hulk down, soon he begins to bear a motive of an 'abominable' sort. A patriot and a "fighter" to the last fibre, Blonsky becomes obsessed with the power that Bruce possesses, wanting to become the ultimate soldier. Roth exudes a sinister disposition above his well-developed character and fits the part of a villain like a glove, lending an equal measure of competition for Hulk.

Blonsky's transformation is chilling and The Abomination is a frightening creature next to the somewhat childlike green monster, designed very similarly to Ripley's alien child in "Alien: Resurrection", only bigger.

"The Incredible Hulk" is not without its share of action and destruction, while some scenes warrant a few giggles especially when Betty buys Bruce a pair of the "stretchiest" pants she could find, and a love scene gone wrong when Bruce can't get "even a little bit excited". But the most noteworthy moments are indeed the cameos by Stan Lee and Robert Downey Jr. (who makes a brief appearance as none other than "Iron Man" Tony Stark of Stark Industries). Unfortunately, this small continuation is less inventive than desired, and comes across as yet another "The Fugitive" with larger-than-life monsters. It's nothing we haven't seen yet, but fans of the comic will adore a re-run.

Cinema Online, 23 September 2008