In 2003, the world was pumped for the Hulk's first big screen appearance. Everything pointed to a great movie. The trailers promised tons of action, the movie had great actors involved and it had Ang Lee as director. But in the end, we got a ticked off shrek on steroids and shrek fighting a giant poodle. I remember the expression that most viewers had on their faces. It reminded me of when the other students in my class walks out of the examination hall knowing that they failed the paper. So when it was announced that a another hulk movie was in the works, I wept.
However, by some miracle, 'The Incredible Hulk' movie was incredible! (no pun intended) The movie received a positive response from a majority of fanboys and girls. This time, kids walked out of the theatre shouting stuff like 'HULK SMASH!' Unfortunately the movie didn't make a gigantic amount of money at the box office due to the fact that Ang Lee's movie which was made with a good heart but just wasn't the movie hulk fans wanted.
Years later, the role of Bruce Banner was given to Mark Ruffalo. Initially, fans were outraged by this decision and with good reason too. I personally believe Norton put on a great performance in the movie. Most fans declared to be THE only actor alive to portray Bruce Banner.
Mark Ruffalo defied the odds and also delivered a great performance as Bruce Banner. I was really happy for Mark Ruffalo for his success but I was a little annoyed by the way fans were suddenly saying things like, "Norton sucked anyway." or "Norton brought nothing to the role. Ruffalo IS Bruce Banner." It all seemed like fickle behaviour to me. In response, I have compiled a few points defending Norton's portrayal.
1)BRUCE BANNER HAD TO BE BROODING IN THE SOLO MOVIE.
One of the complaints against Norton's Banner is that he was too brooding. But think about it for a second. Do you think a zen-like Bruce would have suited his situation? Don't get me wrong, I think it was a natural progression for Bruce to be laid back in the Avengers but you have to remember that Bruce hadn't accepted the monster inside him yet and he was spending most of his time searching for a cure so he could be with the woman he loves. It would have felt rather odd for Bruce to take things like a joke. Bruce needed to take everything seriously. Bruce Banner is known for being paranoid and desperate and the way Norton panicked before turning into the Hulk in Brazil, meditating to control his emotions, wearing a heart monitor on his wrist and having a panic attack when his blood dropped into a bottle, I think he nailed it. I was impressed by the way Norton never overplayed Bruce's emotions but let the viewers know how he was feeling. Like when he was chatting to Samuel Sterns on the web. When Samuel says that the antidote will cure him, you can hear the knots forming in his stomach or when he sees Betty again after all those years only to find out she has moved on. It was obvious that his heart sunk.
2)MOST OF BRUCE'S CHARACTER DEVELOPING MOMENTS WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE FILM
To those who say that Norton brought nothing to the role... have you SEEN the deleted scenes? While I understand that Marvel didn't want the movie to drag, the deleted scenes really added layers to every character. Betty who was once just an annoying damsel in distress became a well established character. I really connected with her when she asks Bruce, 'Why didn't you wait for me?' And confessing that she looked for his face everywhere. The same goes for her boyfriend. There is a scene where he tells Bruce that he wishes he was dead. Not because he didn't like him but because he knew that as long as Bruce was alive that there was always going to be three people in the relationship. Bruce truly hates himself for hurting her during the birth of the Hulk. I completely understand why Norton had trouble with the Marvel studios. There are a few scenes that truly impressed me like Banner's attempted suicide (It was mentioned in the avengers) The scene by the university where Bruce blames himself for the creation of the Hulk which I found to be powerful (He actually talks like a scientist) and the scene where Betty, her boyfriend and Bruce have dinner and when they all laugh at a joke, Bruce starts crying. He says the reason is because he hasn't felt "light" in a while. I really felt it was a great because it shows that Bruce was tired of running. Marvel was dumb for taking those scenes out along with the others. It is rumored that they removed the suicide scene because it wasn't child friendly. REALLY? So showing soldiers killed on the battle field (iron man), Loki stabbing Phil Coulson (Avengers) and Hulk choking Abomination is ok but Bruce trying to commit suicide is too much? REALLY? Norton was more interested in exploring into Bruce's character and the people around him and present us with an actual Hulk movie instead of a Hulk episode. This situation was similar to the 'Daredevil director's cut'
3)BRUCE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LOOK LIKE A SCIENTIST IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES HE WAS IN.
While I agree that Ruffalo looked more like a scientist in the Avengers, do you honestly believe that with Banner running from the military and a soldier who was injected with the super soldier serum, he would have the chance to work in the state of the art lab with Tony Stark?
4)EDWARD NORTON'S HULK ACTUALLY DOES LOOK LIKE HIM
Many have complained that Norton's Hulk looked nothing like him but I have to disagree. While it wasn't as obvious a Ruffalo's Hulk, you can see Norton inside of the Hulk even though it was faint. If you look closely, you can even see Norton's little spot near the Hulk's mouth. The similarity between Norton and the Hulk is most seen at the university fight.
5)THE BRUCE AND BETTY LOVE STORY IS ONE OF THE BEST LOVE STORIES IN THE MARVEL CINIMATIC UNIVERSE
One of my main problems with Ang Lee's Hulk was that I never felt that Bruce and Betty were truly in love. I felt like they were just really good friends. In Norton's movie, I was sold. There is a short but touching and cute moment when Betty takes a picture of Bruce. What makes this scene so effective is the factthat Bruce is serious for most of the movie so when the picture is taken, you remember that Bruce was a normal guy before he became inflicted with the curse of the hulk and just wants his life back. So when Betty looks at the same picture once agin near the statue of liberty, you can actually believe that she misses him.
6)ITS THE EVOLUTION OF BRUCE BANNER
Most superheroes have their evolution of character in the middle of the film. Tony Stark changed in the cave and thor changed when he was sent to earth but Bruce Banner took a whole movie to evolve. The movie starts off with him searching for a cure but in the end Bruce becomes a hero when he uses the Hulk to fight the Abomination. In the last shot, you see Bruce bringing the Hulk out by will and when he does a grin appears on his face. This story HAD to be told so that you can see the transition of Bruce from fighting the monster inside him to accepting it and becoming a hero. It was the perfect way to show how Bruce Banner became who he was in the Avengers.
6)EDWARD NORTON'S HULK PROVIDED THE MOST FAN SERVICE
While I believe that the Avengers's Hulk kicked ass (My only problem was the ape-like movements), I feel that Norton's Hulk really embraced the green monster for who he is. With memorable moments like the Hulk using a police car as boxing gloves, using his thunder-clap to save betty, shouting his iconic catchphrase, 'HULK SMASH!' and hitting the ground hard enough to stun his opponent, I think his version of he hulk is underrated. It's also the only Hulk savage enough to rip out abomination's own bone to stab him with it while choking him with a chain. Some say that the movie has no resolution but I believe that was intentional. Bruce Banner will never be happy. He is the ultimate fugitive. As the Hulk takes one last look at Betty and runs away after defeating his enemy, you remember that.
Like I said before, I think Mark Ruffalo killed it as Bruce but I still maintain my opinion that Edward Norton's portrayal of Bruce Banner was also a joy to watch.