DVD shows that 'Hulk' could have been incredible
"The Incredible Hulk" (three-disc special edition): "The Incredible Hulk," based on the Marvel Comics superhero, is a solid slice of pop entertainment that's as big, loud and adrenal as its title character. It could have been much more than that.
Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner, a scientist who transforms into a gigantic muscle-bound tornado of aggression whenever his heart rate rises above a certain level. Banner searches for a cure while trying to elude cigar-chewing military man Gen. Ross (William Hurt), who wants to turn Banner's alter-ego into a weapon. Along the way, Banner enlists the help of his ex-lover and fellow scientist Betty (Liv Tyler), while Ross recruits soldier extraordinaire Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth).
The best moments in "The Incredible Hulk" show Banner trying to rid himself of the monster inside. Norton does a great job in the role, playing Banner as a haunted, tired, driven man who absolutely refuses to let the creature be turned into an instrument of death. Then the Hulk shows up, and the film devolves into a series of generic computer-generated action scenes that seem to have been plucked from a PlayStation 3 machine.
This DVD set shows what could have been. On board are a slew of deleted scenes, most of which offer compelling character moments with Banner, Betty and Ross. Adding even half of these into the film would have made the movie deeper and more interesting. In other words, more like "Iron Man," Marvel's other big summer movie. Given Norton's widely publicized fight with producers over the editing of this film, might a new cut be released down the road? I certainly hope so. In the meantime, this DVD should keep fans happy. In addition to the deleted scenes, the three-disc set includes a commentary, multiple making-of featurettes and a downloadable copy of the movie. (PG-13; Universal, $34.98)
"The Strangers": The first act of "The Strangers" is excellent, the rest is a major letdown. Liv Tyler (again!) and Scott Speedman play a bickering couple who arrive at their isolated vacation home only to be terrorized by a trio of masked intruders. Writer-director Bryan Bertino gives this horror film a 1970s vibe early on, using mood, dialogue and understated visuals to generate almost unbearable tension. The clichés start to pile up as the movie unfolds, though, and the final act is standard slasher-movie fare. The DVD includes deleted scenes and a short making-of featurette. (R; Universal; $29.98)
"Casino Royale" (three-disc collector's edition): Just in time for the new James Bond flick to hit theaters comes this three-disc special edition of his last adventure, 2006's "Casino Royale." The film stands as one of the best Bonds in decades, as moody and exciting as the "Bourne" films. This new set, which replaces a previous two-disc release, adds a commentary and a wealth of background material about the movie and the James Bond character, all housed in a handsome slipcase with great full-color images from the film. If you don't already have "Casino," on DVD, this is the release to bet on. (PG-13; Sony, $29.95)