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This'll be a quick one. 

We all know the hooplah revolving around Ang Lee's "Hulk" film from 2003: the Hulk looked too cartoonish and fake, the jump-editing of the comic strip layout was annoying, there was no real villain (in comic book terms), and yada yada yada. I enjoyed Lee's interpretation and found its bright and energetic storytelling approach as a blessing after being bludgeoned with the banality of "Spider-Man."  Everything from the acting, the original score and the quiet gestures of detail given to the CGI Hulk's face was top-notch, I thought. Sure, fighting oversized poodles isn't the most glam gig for a comic book hero, but it was an origin story nonetheless.  There was a lot of dramatic weight there.

Unfortunately, the box office ticket sales weren't record-breaking worthy to the studio heads and now Marvel, teamed with Universal, has taken a stab at giving the franchise a second wind with "The Incredible Hulk" due in theatres this June.

 
The only problem is that after months of Internet banter and press hype, the new Hulk looks strangely more cartoony and looney than Lee's version.  Aside from having longer hair, this new Hulk rang echoes of the Dr. Henry Jekyll beast from "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" for me.  It didn't help that the trailer, which is now in theatres, featured a not-needed slow motion brawl shot.  Nothing rings parody like slow-motion CGI shots (see "Transformers" for more). 

And Liv Tyler is in it (What is this "Armageddon"?).

Added, just from putting together an idea of story from the trailer, I'm able to currently guess that we as an audience won't see this new Hulk in full action until the very end of the film (think of the ending--and only--battle of "Fantastic Four").  So what's good about this new version?  It has William Hurt, Tim Roth and Edward Norton (Hulk) in it. They should be able to outweigh the prodding blank stares Tyler will no doubt bring.  

Then again maybe new life is what this franchise needs. There's an actual villain (Roth's Abomination) in this film, and the fact that such talents like Roth and Norton were attracted to the project, somehow raises the standards.  Who knows.  Director Louis Leterrier (of "Transporter" fame) could make or break his still ripe career with this. If it does turn out to be a bomb, let's hope these studio heads take note: if you hire a multiple Oscar-winning Director like Lee to make a commercial blockbuster, chances are he'll make it unconventional and unique, so plan on some backlash from the usual armchair critics.

This way you won't make an ass of the man by funding a remake starring Steven Tyler's daughter.