I’m really torn about this review, in large part because there are good reasons to see this movie in the theater even though ultimately it ends up being a flawed film. So, let’s start with the good.

Ed Norton plays a good Bruce Banner, and his way of playing the character gives it the right sense of nerdy scientist. Liv Tyler and the rest of the cast also do a good job with their parts in the film. The special effects were incredibly good, with some impressive scenes throughout. We’re at a point where two CGI monsters can fight it out on the streets of Harlem and have a believable environment around them, interacting with live actors and real effects seamlessly. That was impressive, and probably the best reason to go see this movie on the big screen.

On the other hand, the writing was simply awful. Zak Penn, who wrote for X2, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, and The Fantastic Four, just blew it badly on this script. Granted, the other films I mentioned weren’t exactly well-written either, so make up your own mind about him. The dialog was painful, including the worst faux sciency stuff ever (”If we’re even off by one integer”… wtf?). There were many moments that we (and the rest of the audience) were just laughing AT the movie, not with it.

Of course, we were silent and attentive during the big battle sequences, and they were well done. The cameos by characters in the original Hulk TV series were nicely worked in, too.

So, if you have a particular interest in good special effects and good battle sequences, worth it in the theater. For me, I think I regretted it slightly, especially dragging Heidi to the movie (she hated it…couldn’t get past the bad writing).

Two other notes: First, the industry needs to come up with a new car exploding effect aside from the flipping car. I’ve now seen the same flipping car effect in Live Free Die Hard, Cloverfield, Transformers, and Incredible Hulk. And those are just the films I remember off the top of my head. Cars do not always flip perfectly along their long axis. It’s starting to stand out to me as I watch movies.

Second, Zak Penn is listed on IMDB as a writer for The Avengers (that’s the film hinted at with the introduction of Nick Fury in Iron Man and by Tony Stark’s appearance in Incredible Hulk). Please, Marvel, don’t do it! If it were up to me, the writing team from Iron Man would write every Marvel adaptation. That script was funny, well-written and just right for the film. Incredible Hulk was just awful. Spare us! Switch writers!