Title: The Incredible Hulk
Time: 113 min.
Studio: Marvel Studios/Universal
Rating: PG-13
SRP: $29.99/$34.98 (Regular/Special)

FEATURE: B+
The Incredible Hulk occupies a strange place in the hierarchy of comics-related movies released this year. There are a ton of comics films that have come out, and are coming out, but Hulk came out sandwiched between the biggest of the big name comics movies– Iron Man and The Dark Knight. To call those two films “juggernauts” would be underselling both of them. The Incredible Hulk was immediately put into the unenviable position of coming out between two of the biggest films of the year.

For my money, The Incredible Hulk held its own very well. It avoided the risks of getting too far from the Jekyll & Hyde foundation of the Hulk and told a very straightforward movie with plenty of depth for those who care to pay attention and look for it.

Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner is as perfect a portrayal of the character as you’re likely to see. He hits many of the high notes from the comics, such as the intense level of self-control Banner must maintain, or the wish to get rid of the Hulk by any means necessary, and even brings a few more traits to light. His self-control extends past his emotions and into everything that could possible spread his problem. When he bleeds, he isolates and purifies the blood. Norton brings a lot to the character of Banner, and delivers a great performance because of it. The quirks, mannerisms, and even vocal inflection sells the character.

Norton’s other half, rather than the Hulk, is Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky. While he’s been changed up from his comics incarnation, the change is largely for the better. Blonsky is calm, self-assured, but still in search of glory. If I had to put a word to him, I’d say that he’s hungry. He wants to be better, bigger, faster, and stronger, to borrow a cliche, and he eventually downs the Super Soldier Serum to get it done.

The most interesting part of the movie, at least the most interesting part that didn’t involve the Hulk, was the dichotomy between Banner and Blonsky. Banner is quite literally on the run from the monster inside him. He has let the monster dictate the course of his life, and has spent his time running from the monster itself. Blonsky, on the other hand, embraces his inner monster to the point of being the monster himself. Everything he does, he does in pursuit of power. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between them, but that’s a minor quibble.

Of course, what is a movie about the Hulk without smashing? The Incredible Hulk delivers on that point, as well. Seeing the Hulk in action is a huge thrill, thanks in no small part to the lifelike animation provided by Rhythm & Hues. Hulk’s muscles stretch beneath his skin, rainwater pools and runs realistically, and an angry Hulk is one to behold.

PRESENTATION: B
The edition I reviewed came with three DVDs in total- one for the feature, including commentary, a bonus features disc, and a third disc with a digital copy of the movie. The third disc is in a white envelope tucked into the inside, while the other two discs are in your standard two-disc DVD configuration.

The menus for the DVDs are simple, but attractive. There is a loop of a vaguely hexagonal DNA matrix, with points on the matrix serving as menu items. Selecting a point pops up a new menu. It’s pretty much exactly what I look for in DVD menus. They are simple, but attractive, and there is not a long animation involved when selecting an option. Getting into the movie or adjusting options is quick and easy.

I’m a big fan of the new trend of including digital copies of movies with the DVD release. iPods or other portable media devices are a huge market, and making it easy on users to view movies on the go can only lead to good things.

EXTRAS: A
There is a lot to like on this DVD, not the least of which is the fact that there are a ton of extras. There are featurettes on how the Hulk was animated, characters were cast, and comic book connections. It is a very thorough offering, and one I’m glad to see happen on DVD as well as on Blu-Ray, rather than just on the Blu-Ray disc.

The evolution of the Hulk in particular was an interesting feature, as we get to see how they modeled the Hulk, what designs were almost used, and a good look at the power of the software and hardware Rhythm & Hues used. Could we have had a gray Hulk? Definitely.

The commentary is between director Louis Leterrier and Tim Roth. Edward Norton is noticeably missing, but the commentary doesn’t suffer for his absence. Leterrier and Roth talk like old friends, and there are a lot of jokes and laughter. If you watch commentary for technical details, there are plenty of those, but the majority of the commentary is of the fun variety. Special mentions are given to guest actors, notable scenes, or fun memories from the shoot. I like hearing technical details about how certain shots were pulled off, or previously unknown homages, but hearing the crew having fun with the commentary is just as good in my book.

OVERALL: B+

I found The Incredible Hulk to be almost just what I wanted out of a film about the Hulk. The proportion of smashing to acting is very reasonable, the visual effects are as great as anything else, and it doesn’t outstay its welcome. It’s a fine addition to any collection, and the DVD’s extras and commentary make for worthwhile repeated viewings.