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This week, I decided to spend $6 on a Matinee to see The Incredible Hulk. The funny thing was the same night I went to see it, Sci-FI HD showed “The Hulk” the 2003 Ang Lee version. So I thought, what the hell, lets lay out Ten Reason why the Incredible Hulk just obliterates The Hulk. I figure thats enough intro, so lets jump right in…

#1 Casting

When watching the two films, one thing is apparent, and thats the casting. Now Eric Bana might have fit the “Traditional” Live action Bruce Banner, but he couldn’t come close to being as good a Bruce Banner as Edward Norton. When I first heard Edward Norton was going to be the next “Hulk” I was like WTF? Are you serious? I mean, I have always loved Edward Norton and he’s one hell of an actor, but I just didn’t think it would work. Boy was I wrong! Norton’s performance was so good, it really made the movie work. Eric Bana’s performance left a lot to be desired in my opinion, after watching, and keep in mind I have seen the guy in nothing else, I just thought he was a bad actor.

#2 Directing

If you’ve watched the 2003 version directed by Ang Lee, you might have come away with similar opinions. To me, it was a classic case of a director trying too hard. All the cut screens and scene wipes were annoying and really got in the way of the movie, something that does NOT happen in The Incredible Hulk. The 2003 version at a lot of points lacked emotion, lacked music, just plain lacked everything. When you make a comic book movie, you gotta understand what you’re doing, something I think Ang Lee did not understand, and not that its his fault. I personally think it was a bad choice in hiring the director. The 2008 version’s direction is along the lines of other great comic book movies and doesn’t get in the way of what it is.

#3 The Script

Now, I never read the comic books, so I don’t know which script was more accurate to the comics, but one thing I do know is the new version handles script and plot developement much better. The story in the 2003 version is just boring. The way his powers were triggered was a stupid and hokey scene, and the whole backstory with his father, and the eventual “enemy” at the end was just boring and not well worked out. The new version jumps right in, keeps the plot simple as far as how he gains his powers, and moves forward quickly into the main plot of the film and does and excellent job in developing the eventual enemy worthy of the Hulk, The Abomination. Casting again did a great job, and Tim Roth was excellent as a foe and he progressed nicely through the film.

#4 CGI (Computer Graphics)

Granted 5 years have past, but the Ang Lee Version of the Hulk was just not realistic looking, and was almost funny compared to the 2008 version. Again, 5 years have passed, but CGI was pretty decent in 2003, and I think it fell below even the current standards at the time. The fight sequences, especially vs the Abonination were awesome, and nothing in the 2003 version could compare.

#5 Film Length and Pacing

This one might go back to the script, but what the hell, I think it can have its own category here. The Hulk started off extremely slow, and took a long while to develop the characters and plot, and way too long before the eventual emergance of the Hulk. The Incredible Hulk took the approach of jumping right in, and the plot moved along the whole time, never leaving you bored like the 2003 version. Also the first glimpse of the Incredible Hulk were much more suspensefull and fun than the previous version, leaving you sitting waiting to finally get a full glimpse at the green beast.

#6 William Hurt

Now don’t get me wrong here, the father in the first film was very well cast, and although I can’t remember that guys name, I love that guy. William Hurt though adds so much to any film he’s in. He’s got a presense and always delivers no matter what the role, and does an excellent job here.

#7 Re-Watchability

This is always an important thing for movies such as this, because a movie like this people will see in theatres multiple times, especially when you are talking about die hard comicbook fans. The Hulk was very long and way too drawn out with too many lulls throughout the flick. The Incredible Hulk is a ride that keeps moving throughout the entire running time, and you will always be entertained whether the Hulk is on the screen or not, something the 2003 version severly lacked.

#8 Banner becoming Hulk Progression

In Ang Lee’s version, The Hulk just seemingly knows his powers right off the bat and theres no “Getting used” to any of it. The progression of Nortons character feeling out his Hulk side and learning to tame and harness it is a whole lot more fun to watch. Although the Abonitation seemingly was like the 2003 version Hulk already knowing what it could do. But I guess he also went through various treatments and kind of became the abomination more slowly and was a lot more aware of what it would do, so I understand that a bit more.

#9 Lower Expectations = More Enjoyment

Because of the 2003 film, most moviegoers who saw the first film walked in with low expectations. The complete opposite of the 2003 version. So you were able to go in, sit, watch, and enjoy how good it really was and walked out completely satisfied, whereas when the first one came out, there were very high expectations, and you walked out more than likely dissapointed.

#10 The Final Battle

The final battle in the first film wasn’t much of a battle, and was just kind of stupid, at least that was my feeling while watching it. The new version has just an awesome battle between basically Hulk, and Hulk Plus, where of course the underdog Hulk wins. It was an excellent ending to a very well paced, well casted, well directed, and just an overall enjoyable film.