The Incredible Hulk ***

"The Incredible Hulk" is a surprisingly good piece of work, well-written (by comic book to movie veteran Zak Penn), well-directed (by Louis Leterrier of "Transporter 2"), and well-acted (need I say more than Edward Norton, William Hurt, and Liv Tyler?). The opening credits sequence cleverly shows us snippets of the main scenes from the previous Hulk movie, so we get the story. Except that it's an artifice. It's the previous movie that these actors did not make; it's an imaginary origin movie that grounds us in the story, and pays homage to Ang Lee's 2003 "Hulk." It's an inspired, and not inexpensive set up so we know why Bruce Banner is hiding out in a Brazilian favela and taking lessons in keeping his cool.

The location shots in the favela are exotic and arresting, with floating arial shot showing us the striking size, color, and complexity of the slum. Built illegally and haphazardly, with streets too narrow for vehicles, it makes a superb backdrop for Banner's new life, not to mention a great locale for a chase scene. I think it's a better chase/fight scene than the similar roof-top action in "The Bourne Ultimatum."

The special effects and fight scenes between the Hulk and his similarly created foe (a creepy, driven Tim Roth) are spectacular. Some of the action scenes do go on and on, and the final battle could have been benefited from some trimming, but they are in the end what the target audience teen fan boys are there for. But like "Kung Fu Panda," there's enough there to entertain an adult, and it's exhilarating escapist fun.

Rated PG-13. 114 minutes. Louis Leterrier - Director, Zak Penn - Writer (screenplay) (screen story), Avid Arad - Producer, Kevin Feige - Producer, Gale Anne Hurd - Producer, Peter Menzies Jr. - Cinematographer, Craig Armstrong - Composer, Kirk M. Peteruccelli - Production Designer, Rick Shaine - Editor, John Wright - Editor. 

Principal actors: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake, Ty Burrell, and William Hurt.r