The film is no longer mandated to be under 2 hours, allowing the story and characters more time to develop.
Visual effects by Industrial Lights & Magic (ILM).
Music by John Powell (The Bourne Trilogy,
X-Men: The Last Stand,
United 93, and
Happy Feet)
Fresh off his 2006 Oscar nomination for
Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón’s script rewrite retains a majority of Zak Penn’s original plot and story but punches up the dialogue to further explore the human drama between characters like Bruce and Betty, and her new boyfriend Leonard Samson who goes by the nickname ‘Doc’.
Cuarón’s visual style and aptitude for dramatic action, particularly with big budget CGI as in
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, further enhance the final film.
Instead of a montage origin sequence to open the film, we instead see the fateful gamma experiment that first transforms Banner into Hulk. Betty Ross is present along with her father General Thaddeus Ross and Glen Talbot (minor Easter Egg cameo for fans).
- Talbot’s story & character can be explored in later sequels or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Pasdar was appearing on NBC Universal’s Heroes at the time, a great opportunity for cross-media synergy).
After the moody and atmospheric opening—SMASH CUT to an opening credits sequence covering the next five years with Banner on the run from General Ross and S.H.I.E.L.D. using a variety of footage, newspaper clips, redacted security files, etc.
Nick Fury replaces General Greller (Peter Mensah) as the one who introduces General Ross to Emil Blonsky, a Russian S.H.I.E.L.D. assassin. As such, General Greller doesn’t appear in the film.
Fury tasks Maria Hill to be his eyes and ears on Ross & Blonsky and report back any progress on the hunt for the Hulk. She essentially replaces Ross’s assistant Major Kathleen Sparr from the original film, providing exposition, etc.
The ‘Days Without Incident’ visual gag is showcased as tally marks in Banner’s private journal. After he buys new clothes in Guatemala following the bottle factory incident, he picks up a new journal too and writes his first tally.
Hulk doesn’t talk during the bottle factory incident to add to the horror-like imagery as he’s shrouded in shadow and mystery when Blonsky first encounters him. But he roars “Hulk Smash!” once he transforms at the Culver University battle, and his speech evolves throughout the remainder of the film as Banner accepts his alter ego from basic ‘Hulk strongest there is,” etc. to something more akin to
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes by his final confrontation with Blonsky in Harlem.
- We need to connect with the Hulk as a character—especially during large CGI action sequences, fun Hulk-isms & personality through dialogue will endear us to him with laughter and cheers.
S.H.I.E.L.D. plays a large role in initially aiding General Ross capture Banner. When Fury learns Blonsky has taken the super soldier serum, he becomes suspicious of Ross and turns to Banner in Act III to save New York City.
- Ultimately, Fury doesn’t have the proof to implicate Ross in Blonsky’s actions as the Abomination so he’s still able to ascend to Secretary of State by the time of Captain America: Civil War.
Emil Blonky’s final form as the Abomination is more comic-accurate like his recent
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cameo.
Tony Stark still has a cameo appearance but rather than occurring at a dive bar, the scene begins amidst a press conference event as the billionaire philanthropist vows to help rebuild a devastated Harlem. Tony remarks loving New York and thinking of moving here, hinting at the future Stark Tower in
The Avengers.
- Stark jokes with Ross on stage (namedropping the iconic ‘Thunderbolt’ nickname) as he glad-hands gathered politicians and military officials amongst camera flashes—think the end of Iron Man 2 with Gary Shandling’s Senator Stern.
The final shot of the film is Bruce Banner, isolated in a cabin in the Canadian wilderness, looking into the camera as his eyes flare green.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK WILL RETURN.
.
