OT: HULK (2003) is STILL THE BEST LIVE-ACTION HULK MOVIE.

I'm not necessarily referring to a slavish recreation of the source material when discussing, what I feel, are the many shortcomings of TiH.

I use the term mythology to describe specific thematic landmarks and character traits we've come to know and appreciate about the characters.

The Hulk's birth is a traumatic event which he tries to make sense of with his limited intellect. All he can do is return to the site of the blast looking for answers that aren't there. That's fucking sad, man. In the Hulk mythology, there is a bomb and a runaway teenager. Both films jettison Rick Jones (needlessly), but Hulk 2003 at least acknowledges the bomb metaphorically. When I say "mythology," I'm referring to key supporting characters, events, landmarks and themes that define the character. It doesn't have to be a panel for panel recreation, but there are key elements that should be included.

Bruce Banner became the Hulk because he was trying to save someone else. Hulk 2003 uses an anonymous proxy in that capacity. The character, whose name I've forgotten assuming it was ever mentioned, quickly recedes into the background after the accident. That was a missed opportunity, IMO. Rick's guilt and Banner's heroism are defining aspects of the Hulk's origin.

The Incredible Hulk, as a film, simply has no vision. It has no sense of history or place (in the context of the character). It is superficial in its depiction of the Hulk and his heroics. You could have easily swapped out the villain and hero, and it could have ALMOST been another superhero movie altogether.

Hulk 2003 fails at many things but, at least it tries to get at the psychology of the creature, and the trauma that resulted in its creation. TiH is just one long episode of the 70s TV series.

The parkour thing was just poorly-thought-out filler. It makes zero sense. It would have been more in line with the character if Bruce used guile and not Captain America-level gymnastics to evade the (highly touted) spec-ops team. Seems like Ruffalo didn't inherit any of Norton's dexterity despite them both playing the same character.

I know a lot of people enjoy TiH, and I have nothing against them. I'm also unlikely ever to be one of them. All that film was good for in my mind was MCU worldbuilding (which I feel people mistake for a good Hulk movie). It was serviceable at best.