More time could have been spent developing these characters (depending on what rumours you believe, Norton has distanced himself from the film due to a dispute over the final cut), but I think it was the right decision to keep this movie moving, which serves the dual purpose of never making the audience wait too long for the next action scene and keeps the pacing of a chase movie (which is one of the film's many nods to the Hulk TV series). Banner is a man on the run, not just from the army but also from the monster within, and the pacing helps reinforce this idea even if the film doesn't have a whole lot of time to dedicate to it.

As far as effects go, they get the job done. The CGI Hulk is convincing enough, and about as good as we're going to get at this point (possibly the best we'll ever get, what with the uncanny valley and all). The problem is that he doesn't look anything like Norton, unlike 2003's CGI Hulk, which bore a pretty good resemblance to Eric Bana. However, the biggest success of the CGI Hulk comes with his battle with the CGI Abomination. A lot of films that climax with CGI creature battles end up feeling removed, but in The Incredible Hulk, the action feels more immediate and visceral. It feels like real pain and fury is being inflicted on both characters, leaving me flinching at times from the impact on screen.

So there you have it, a Hulk movie that delivers everything one would expect from a Hulk movie. The only real complaint I have is that it ONLY delivers that which you'd expect from a Hulk movie, and nothing more. Louis Leterrier and Marvel Studios have delivered a film to meet expectations, but don't do much to exceed them, resulting in a summer blockbuster that hits the right notes while exhibiting no ambition to strike a new chord.

Directed by: Louis Leterrier

Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, William Hurt