The age-old argument of Ang Lee's HULK: love it or loathe it? It's a bit like the Jets and the Sharks, if the Jets were people who hated the film, and the Sharks were four guys standing in a corner trying not to advertise themselves too much. Though I haven't seen the first film since its cinema release -- and I'm well aware I could feel very differently about it if I were to watch it again -- I loved the hell out of it. I described it as a work of art at the time, and I stand by that

But it is what it is, and that is ANG LEE'S TOME ON THE SOUL OF MAN THAT'S STILL BETTER THAN LUST CAUTION. And that's fine. I love that take on Hulk, but I'm equally glad that we're getting the "proper" Marvel Hulk. One that will fit neatly into the current wave of Marvel movies that we're getting. That would be this one, then.

With lots of heavy SFX action, strong characters, and a healthy (but not overpowering) subtext, INCREDIBLE HULK stands proudly alongside IRON MAN. I was sceptical at those who were saying IH was just as good as IRON MAN, but it is. Almost. IRON MAN benefits from Stark's roguishness, his alcohol-swigging, womanising, smart-assery ways. That charisma knocked it up several notches, if for no other reason than a playboy with a wicked sense of humour was a nice change from the everyday-person-wrestling-with-inner-demons-and-new-powers storyline.

Not that there's not a lot left to be done with it. Norton's take on Bruce Banner is a little devoid of humour (I'll come back to that), but still captures the spirit of a man absolutely terrified of what's within himself. None of the inner demon themes from Ang Lee's HULK are abandoned, but they're definitely framed within a more lighthearted and actiony film. William Hurt makes for a terrific General Ross, Liv Tyler is solid (if a little underwritten) as Betty Ross, and Tim Roth is awesome as a soldier who feels his body is wearing out on him. I know nothing of the Abomination's history, but I like the counterpoint his character provides to Banner. If Banner is the man wrestling with his inner self, then Blonsky is the man wrestling with his outer body. That new element -- the physicality of these beasts being just as important as their mentality -- basically sums up what this new version is trying to do.

To touch on the humour point again, for some reason the jokes in this feel a little forced, like when a drama on TV decides it's time to lighten things up a bit, and suddenly writers and actors who clearly know nothing about comedy are squeezing schtick out every pore? Yes? No? Anyway, it's a bit like that. Not all the time, but a couple of moments everything just felt the tiniest bit awkward.

That's probably the only thing that didn't work for me. Everything else is so well-handled -- particularly the opening sequences with Banner trying very hard to control himself, the city-destroying fight, and, of course, the cameo-at-the-end-that-everyone-already-knows-about -- that I either need to now leave you with lots of spoilers, or simply a "go see it".

I will say this, though: if I felt underwhelmed by anything, it's that enormous glut of brilliant comic book films we're now presented with. Ten years ago, a film like this would be the only thing we would talk about. Now, it arrives alongside so many other contenders for the title of "Best Superhero Movie", that it's difficult not to feel just the smallest bit oversaturated. But hey, if that's the price we pay for an overabundance of quality, then so be it. I know I wouldn't have it any other way.

Peace out,

Latauro

AICNDownunder@hotmail.com