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[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine Our only hope is something...]] [[TitleDrop incredible.]]'']]
->''"As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army."''
-->-- '''General Thunderbolt Ross'''
''The Incredible Hulk'' is a 2008 film based on the character of the same name; following the trend of rebooting a franchise rather than creating a sequel to an unpopular first effort, this film takes place in a different continuity from [[Film/{{Hulk}} the 2003 version]] and is the second movie in both the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse and its Phase 1.
The story takes place five years after the tragic accident which created the Comicbook/{{Hulk}}, glimpses of which are seen in the opening credits. Bruce Banner (Creator/EdwardNorton) has [[DiscontinuityNod taken refuge in Brazil]] as a worker at a bottling plant, where he keeps a low profile and works on controlling his anger in his spare time. When Bruce accidentally spills blood into one of the bottles, [[Creator/StanLee a man]] falls ill from Gamma poisoning by drinking it, which is the clue General Ross (Creator/WilliamHurt) uses to track Banner down. Along for the ride is Emil Blonsky (Creator/TimRoth), who is destined to become one of the Hulk's deadliest foes: the Abomination.
[[ScrewedByTheLawyers Thanks to legal issues with Universal]], the film has not gotten a sequel. Even worse, when the Hulk next appeared in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' alongside Film/IronMan, Film/{{Thor}} and [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Captain America]], he was [[TheOtherDarrin recast]] with Creator/MarkRuffalo, and very few references were made to any of the events in this film[[note]]such as an allusion to an alternate version of the opening where the Hulk keeps Bruce from killing himself, along with a quip said by Banner himself about he "broke Harlem" the last time he was in New York[[/note]]. The movie's role in the setting was finally reinforced when Hurt reprised his role as General Ross in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''. Ten years later, the logo for the film was openly included in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jNvJU52LvU montage]] that listed all the movies preceding ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', though it didn't have footage from this film -- footage from ''The Avengers'' and ''Captain America: Civil War'' was used for Banner and Ross, respectively (that said, the Infinity Saga variant of the montage ''did'' include footage from the movie). In a later May 2019 AMA, [[WordOfGod Kevin Feige]] [[https://old.reddit.com/r/marvelstudios/comments/bp084n/hi_reddit_im_kevin_feige_amaa/enncmsh/ confirmed the student eating pizza in this film is the same person as the debate coach in]] ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', so in any case, Marvel execs aren't shy about acknowledging its canonicity.
As noted above, the Hulk next appears in ''The Avengers'', released in 2012. After a cameo in TheStinger of ''Film/IronMan3'' in 2013, his next proper appearance would be in 2015's ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', followed by 2017's ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' in 2018, and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' in 2019. It would not be until 2019 until it was announced that a spin-off, ''She-Hulk'', was announced for Creator/DisneyPlus; given that Universal only has the movie rights, [[LoopholeAbuse the platform seems to be how Disney will sidestep those issues in order to better integrate these characters into the setting]]. The fact that the Abomination will finally return, with Tim Roth reprising the role, further indicates this.
----
!!HULK HAS STRONGEST TROPES THERE IS!
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Tropes A to L]]
* OneDimensionalThinking: Averted. A soldier running from a huge water tank Hulk threw at him tries to jump out of his path but it's moving so fast it catches on his legs and drags him.
* AccidentalPervert: Bruce while escaping the military runs into Martina while she's changing.
* AdaptationalBadass: Not that comic Bruce Banner can't handle himself in a fight, but this movie version has actual training in martial arts.
* AdaptationDistillation: The film takes bits and pieces from Hulk's 45 year history and compresses them into a single movie. Everything is covered, from Bruce trying (and failing) to find a cure to Bruce being unable to have sex with Betty to Hulk being incredibly protective of Betty. The only thing not brought up is Bruce's daddy issues, and given the huge amount of focus that got in the Ang Lee movie, omitting it entirely may very well be justified.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Played with by Samuel Sterns. In the comics, Sterns is one of the more diabolical villains in that universe, but Sterns is introduced in the film as an eccentric and careless but mostly harmless scientist who tries to cure Banner. [[spoiler:After attempting to cure Banner, we then see that Sterns has stockpiled and reproduced Banner's irradiated blood for experimenting. The last we see of him, he's beginning to undergo his transformation into the villainous Leader.]] Although he has yet to return to the films, the comic tie-in continues his story.
* AdaptationalIntelligence: While comic Betty is not dumb, this version of Betty is actually a scientist.
* AdaptationalNationality: An interesting case. Blonsky is stated to be born in Russia, but raised in England as an Englishman, and eventually served the Royal Marines. In the comics, he was a Soviet spy who served in the KGB. This change is to explain Tim Roth's accent.
* AdaptationalWimp:
** The Hulk's HealingFactor is severely toned down from the comics and 2003 version. Same for his super leaps.
** Doc Samson, as he's known in the comics, is a superhero with a standard SuperStrength and SuperToughness power set, none of which he demonstrates here.
* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: ''The Incredible Hulk''.
* AdmiringTheAbomination: At a few key moments in the film, Samuel Sterns reveals his intense admiration of the monster and his eagerness to see what it can do despite the danger.
* AdultFear: {{Jerkass}} that he may be, you still feel for General Ross when he sees his daughter engulfed by a fireball and then lying motionlessly in Hulk's arms.
* AgeLift: A college student named after Jack [=McGee=] from ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'' appears as a college student, whereas his original counterpart was the same age as Bruce.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Martina is clearly attracted to Bruce, but he doesn't reciprocate it. Understandable given his circumstances though.
* AllThereInTheManual:
** Characters not seen in the film, such as Nick Fury and Rick Jones, are at least mentioned in print in the opening sequence.
** What was [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] after when he went to speak to General Ross? [[spoiler:The World Security Council wanted the Abomination on the Avengers. Stark was sent by S.H.I.E.L.D. in the hopes he'd piss Ross off and cause him to refuse to release Blonsky to the team]], as revealed in ''Film/TheConsultant''.
** The film's novelization contains some implications of past [[AbusiveParents parental abuse]] for Bruce. For the most part, it's in the wording, but Bruce's first thought and instinct upon meeting Doc Samson is that Samson is going to punch him.
--->Meantime he approached Banner and put out his hand. It was all Banner could do not to take a step backward in anticipation of Samson endeavoring to belt him.
* AlmightyJanitor: Lampshaded. The factory owner remarks that Bruce is too smart for daily labour and offers to put him on payroll.
* AppropriatedAppellation: "Hulk" (coined during a news broadcast of the rampage at the college) and "Abomination" (never used to refer to the mutated Blonsky outside of a warning Sterns gives him before the actual mutation and a line from the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in ''The Consultant'').
* ArmiesAreEvil: Ross tries to imply that he's a WellIntentionedExtremist, but in private he admits proudly that he ''admires'' the Hulk's power, and wishes to "[[TheyWouldCutYouUp cut it out]]" of Banner and turn it loose on America's enemies, despite all the collateral damage Hulk inflicts. His dragon also proudly admits that he's a BloodKnight. The rest are {{mook}}s.
-->'''General Ross:''' As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: In this version, Banner says it is an elevated heart rate that triggers his transformation (instead of the traditional fear/anger/adrenaline combo), and later he stops just before having sex with Betty when his pulse monitor goes off. However, the heart rate that triggers Hulk-outs is shown to be an even 200 beats per minute. Discounting the unlikelihood of that happening, this leaves everything in the range of 150-200 beats per minute, the ''low'' end of which is a target heart rate for strenuous activity for someone of Bruce's age, perfectly safe. His heart rate should probably kill him long before an event is triggered, but instead, we're told that he gets far too excited during foreplay. [[spoiler:It all becomes a moot point in ''The Avengers'' where Tony theorizes that the Hulk chooses when to come out. This is usually to protect Banner in dangerous (i.e. stressful and heart pounding) situations.]]
* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: At one point, UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu and UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts legend [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickson_Gracie Rickson Gracie]] shows up in a cameo as Bruce's martial arts instructor and is credited as... ''Aikido'' instructor.
* ArtisticLicenseMilitary:
** The film depicts the US Army as all wearing the Battle Dress Uniforms, when the Army had mostly replaced that uniform with the digital-camouflaged Army Combat Uniform by 2008. In fact, the BDU had been formally discontinued for months when this film was released.
** The soldiers are also shown using M16 rifles when the Army had largely replaced ''those'' with the M4 carbine.
** As a General in the Army, Ross should know that it's not considered appropriate to get [[DrowningMySorrows utterly smashed]] in a bar while in his Class A's.
** It's hard to know if General Ross ever heard of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_comitatus posse comitatus]]'', a law (which has been in force for ''over a century'') that states that the US Military is explicitly prohibited from acting as a police unit, which is precisely what he is doing by declaring Banner to be a murderer (responsible for the deaths of two scientists, an Army officer, an Idaho state trooper and two hunters) and sending in Army units to arrest him (this is setting aside whether or not his declaring Banner to be government property violates the involuntary servitude section of the 13th Amendment). The NYPD would have been legally entitled (and technically required) to arrest him for trying to arrest Banner himself rather than leaving that job up to the local police or the FBI (and the same goes for the Culver University attempt to capture Banner). Not to mention the possibility for a diplomatic incident by sending a commando unit into Brazil, a friendly country which has had an active extradition agreement with the US for over 40 years to kidnap a fugitive without even trying to go through the proper extradition procedures.[[note]]The fun part is how all of this managed not to prevent him from being confirmed as Secretary of State by the time of ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''[[/note]]
* AssholeVictim:
** The reckless, rude cabbie's vehicle ends up being a weapon of choice for Abomination.
** The three bullies at the factory are taught a lesson in prudence by The Hulk.
* BadassNormal: Blonsky is one the finest soldiers in the British military long before his transformation. Though the years have taken their toll and he admits he is not even close to his peak level ability before getting the first dose, he is still the first choice to take on The Hulk.
* BarbieDollAnatomy: When Blonsky transforms into the Abomination, unlike the Hulk, none of his clothes stay on, but he doesn't need them anyway, as he lacks visible external genitalia (given the nature of his transformation, it's likely they're inside his pelvis). The commentary by the director and Tim Roth have them pointing out that since the Hulk has pants, he's got to have something under them, but the Abomination does not. This gets a passing mention when compared to Roth's complaints towards Abomination's anatomy and the lack thereof, with regard to the [[spoiler:ears.]]
* BeastAndBeauty: The scene of the Hulk and Betty in the cave definitely invokes this.
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: If you ignore the green skin and the increased size, the Hulk is a pretty hot (and ''ripped'') WalkingShirtlessScene. If you ignore the yellow skin and the increased size, Abomination... is a ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' MonsterOfTheWeek. It's FridgeBrilliance for those who watch ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' before watching this movie: Dr. Abraham Erskine's formula "brought out what was within," which is why the Red Skull was... well, a red skull. Abomination's inhuman appearance is due to the same effect.
** Also shown in a scene before his transformation, It is subtly pointed out that the serum he was given is close to the Super soldier serum, and Blonsky was already transforming into a creature before getting infused with Hulk Blood.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Somehow, all that fire after [[spoiler:the helicopter crash]] never touched Betty's long, beautiful, ''extremely flammable'' hair.
* BerserkButton: Becomes especially enraged whenever harm towards Betty is involved no matter how harmless like being physically restrained by Ross's men.
* BigBadEnsemble: Emil Blonsky and Thunderbolt Ross are the main villains; Ross trying to capture Banner is the primary source of conflict, but he gets upstaged as the FinalBoss when his {{Dragon}}, Blonsky, injects himself with Banner's blood to become the Abomination. Ross and Banner are [[EnemyMine forced to work together]] in order to stop his ensuing rampage.
* BigNo: General Ross, when he believes that Betty has been killed by the explosion of a crashed helicopter on the campus.
* BloodKnight: After surviving the MookHorrorShow below, Blonsky is downright ''eager'' for a rematch.
* BodyHorror:
** Emil Blonsky's slow transformation, which is reminiscent of ''Film/TheFly1986.'' One scene especially, where you can see his spine protruding out of his back.
** Bruce's transformation to the Hulk is incredibly painful and at times asymmetrical. The top half of him will sometimes transform before the lower half catches up.
* BookEnds: We see green beverages at the beginning and end - the guarana sodas and that stuff General Ross keeps knocking back--which are, in fact, a real-life drink named "The Incredible Hulk."
* BroadStrokes: The movie is technically a ContinuityReboot, doing a quick revisit of the origin story and having General Ross further explain their version of the backstory details. Still, it uses elements of the 2003 movie in that it starts 5 years after Banner's FreakLabAccident, as even with major details changed it would retread the same basic story (Banner is irradiated, learns what he has become and fights against the military). The '03 movie also ends with Banner hiding from the government in South America, which is where this movie picks up his story. The major details that were changed include that the Hulk doesn't get larger the angrier he gets, General Ross was not a sympathetic figure and Bruce's project was tied directly to the military instead of just attracting their attention when things went crazy. ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' reveals another detail that's different from ''Hulk'': Glenn Talbot is still in the army--and still alive and well. He's also considerably older and actually ends up reaching the same rank as Ross.
* BullyingADragon: Blonsky gets some humble pie courtesy of the Hulk.
-->'''Blonsky:''' Is that it? Is that all you've got?\\
''[Hulk kicks Blonsky across a field and into a tree, flattening him]''
* TheCameo: Martial artist Rickson Gracie appears to teach Banner breathing exercises.
* CantHaveSexEver: The movie demonstrates that, rather than simply getting angry, it's an elevated heart rate that triggers his transformation--making sex off limits.
* CassandraTruth: When Blonsky demands to have the Hulk's blood and gamma radiation applied to him, Sterns argues against it, claiming that the gamma-blood combined with Blonksky's experimental super-serumed body might turn him into "an abomination". Blonsky doesn't care, and holds Sterns at gunpoint to transform him anyway.
* CatchPhrase:
** "HULK '''SMASH'''!" is inserted at the climax of the fight between Hulk and Abomination; it doubles as a PreAsskickingOneLiner.
** {{Parodied}} when Bruce tries to warn some bullies not to make him angry, but his mediocre Portuguese leaves him saying "Don't make me hungry. You won't like me when I'm hungry. Wait, that doesn't sound right."
* ChekhovsGun: Several are briefly glimpsed in the opening sequence (e.g. the name of Doc Samson and other characters who would appear later). For a more literal case, the plans for the sonic Humvees used at the university appear, and are seen to be provided by [[Film/IronMan Stark Industries.]]
* ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames: {{Played with}}. The Hulk is called so very sparingly, with only Blonsky and the Hulk himself ever using it in a non-ironic fashion. Also, the Abomination is never directly called that, except for one off-hand remark by Samuel Sterns. General Ross is not referred to as "Thunderbolt" Ross, though a deleted scene has him referred to as "T" over the phone.
* ConfusedBystanderInterview: There's an interview that doubles as a MythologyGag: the two college students interviewed about the Hulk's appearance at Culver University are Jack [=McGee=] (Banner's InspectorJavert from [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the TV series]]) and Jim Wilson (one of Hulk's {{Kid Sidekick}}s from the comics). [=McGee=] is even described as a reporter...for the ''student'' newspaper.
* ContinuityNod: [[https://postimg.org/image/wtfcrfqev/ The S.H.I.E.L.D. logo]] shows up on computer screens twice.
* ContrivedCoincidence: It's bad enough poor Bruce is barely staying ahead of his Army pursuers in Brazil, [[FromBadToWorse he manages to bowl into the leader of the bullies]] - in a crowded city - while doing so.
* CreatorCameo: Creator/StanLee will think twice before opening another bottle of soda.
* DangerousPhlebotinumInteraction: Blonsky makes Sterns infuse him with [[spoiler:Bruce Banner's blood]] so he can gain the Hulk's power. Due to his own Super Soldier Serum reacting with it [[spoiler:he undergoes a one-way transformation to the stronger (and uglier) Abomination]].
* DieOrFly: Having taken [[spoiler:an antidote to his powers, when he needs them back Bruce jumps out of a helicopter.]] DoubleSubverted, with an OhCrap moment when it looks like it's not going to work.
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: A normal human, even one with a failed super soldier serum, should NOT walk up to an enormous [[BuffySpeak green rage monster]] and say 'Is that all you got'?
* DrivenToSuicide: A DeletedScene for the alternate opening had Bruce Banner [[AteHisGun putting his gun into his mouth]], feeling that this was the only way to get rid of the Hulk for good. He then shot himself, only for him to transform and spit the bullet back out. It was deleted for its dark tone, although it was later referred to in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.[[note]]The cutting of this scene is a reason that Edward Norton gave when he stated he would not return for any sequels or ''The Avengers''. He felt the scene was cut in order to make the gag listed above in Die or Fly work, at the cost of an important character moment for Banner.[[/note]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: When going to New York to track down Blue, when given the choice between the subway and the taxi, Banner and Betty decided on the taxi. To put it simply, cramped or not, they really should have chosen the subway instead. Hilariously, Bruce manages to keep calm for the most part. Betty is the one who freaks out, and she screams in the driver's face when they come to a stop. [[note]]This makes sense, considering that Bruce has been practicing staying calm with breathing exercises and whatnot, and Betty is freaking out because she knows just how close they came to a disaster.[[/note]]
* DrowningMySorrows: [[spoiler:What General Ross ended up doing in the ending before Tony Stark meets up with him with the proposal of forming a team.]]
-->'''General Ross:''' Reload. ''[takes a shot]'' Reload.
* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: Blonsky by the end.
-->'''Blonsky:''' I want more.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Due to ContinuityDrift between this and later movies.
** Besides having Edward Norton instead of [[TheOtherDarrin Mark Ruffalo]] as Bruce Banner, the Hulk also looks slightly different from his appearances from ''The Avengers'' onward, with more ripped muscles. The Hulk's face also doesn't match Norton's face as well as Ruffalo's Hulk (and Eric Bana's, for that matter) matches his respective Banner. This was due to time constraints. Banner's eyes also glow green when he transforms, which was a nod to the TV series but was dropped in later films.
** The Super Soldier Serum is revealed through a FreezeFrameBonus to have been developed by "Dr. Renstein". In ''Captain America: The First Avenger'', the serum's inventor is named Dr. Abraham Erskine. The comics had Renstein as the original name of the doctor (obviously alluding to UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein) which was later {{retcon}}ned to Erskine, with Renstein explained as an alias. But given how the Captain America film plays out, it is likely that this serum was reverse-engineered from Captain America's blood by a different person.
** Stylistically, the film also feels jarring compared to other MCU films thanks to having a dour, darker tone with very little comedy as opposed to most MCU movies, where even the more serious and dramatic ones have more humor. Not ''feeling'' like an MCU film is also a factor in it seeming like a standalone movie, but it's hard to argue with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark showing up.
* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Ross's forces support the Hulk after the Abomination starts ripping apart New York. Notably, the general looks just as surprised as everyone else when a military helicopter starts chasing Banner after Blonsky's defeat, ending their brief alliance.]]
* EvilBrit: Blonsky is changed to one, although unlike other examples, he is not cultured or refined (speaking with a heavy Cockney accent).
* EvilCounterpart: While the Hulk is a destructive monster that Bruce can't quite control, the Abomination is far more of a menace. He's also bigger, stronger and faster than the Hulk thanks to the combination of the Super Soldier Serum and the gamma radiation which created the Hulk in the first place. Hulk has two advantages: first, Abomination's strength is more or less static, while Hulk's increases the angrier he gets, and second, Hulk is significantly better at using his strength in new ways, while the Abomination is much more focused on direct applications of power.
* EvilPlan: Ross wants to capture Banner and reverse engineer his blood for super soldiers. As the movie progresses, Blonsky's desire for an even fight with the Hulk overtakes this plan.
* EyeAwaken: Blonsky beginning to recover from his injuries.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Bruce's primary goal during this film is to rid himself of the Hulk. Obviously, that doesn't happen (there were already plans for the character to appear in future movies, after all).
* {{Fanservice}}:
** When Bruce accidentally falls into the room of Martina, his co-worker at the factory while running from the military, she is in the process of changing clothes, thus in only a shirt, and the viewers are treated to some {{Sideboob}}, exposed upper chest (without showing the nips), and [[ShesGotLegs completely exposed legs]].
** Betty is shown in her lingerie. See also MaleGaze, SexyShirtSwitch and SexySoakedShirt below.
** The various [[ShirtlessScene shirtless scenes]] of the male characters could also count, but Blonsky's eventually devolves into FanDisservice after his spine starts protruding.
* FingerTwitchingRevival: [[spoiler:Emil Blonsky indicates his impending revival by his fingers coming to staccato life as Gen. Ross is walking away from his hospital bed. Even though his fingers are almost fully wrapped up in bandages and his whole arm and hand are in a suspension cast. Now ''that'' is a commitment to the trope.]]
* FiveRoundsRapid:
** {{Lampshaded}}.
--->'''Soldier 1:''' ''[firing several rounds at the Abomination]''\\
'''Soldier 2:''' You think a ''rifle's'' gonna hurt that? Come on! ''[gets a rocket launcher]''
** The Abomination then ''[[OffhandBackhand snatches]]'' [[NoSell the rocket out of the air, slams it into his own chest]], and laughs the explosion off.
* FlashbackEcho: Banner gets PTSD-esque ones from his time as the Hulk.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Betty's new boyfriend is pretty obviously Doc Samson, while the doctor working with Bruce is Samuel Sterns, destined to be The Leader. [[spoiler:During the climax, a bit of Bruce Banner's blood falls into a head wound that Sterns has. His head than starts pulsing and expanding as he gives a sinister smile...]]
** When General Ross is speaking to Blonsky:
--->'''Ross:''' Let me emphasize that what I'm about to share with you is tremendously sensitive, both to me personally and the Army. You're aware that we've got an Infantry Weapons Development program. Well, [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger in WWII, they initiated a sub-program for Bio-Tech Force Enhancement.]]
** Everything about the serum is foreshadowing for Cap, especially regarding Bruce and Blonsky's experiences with it. The gamma radiation magnified the effect of the serum described in Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger, which is to magnify a person's inner attributes as well as their physical attributes, i.e. Bruce's anger issues and Blonsky's [[BloodKnight love of a good fight]].
* FreakLabAccident: The Hulk's origin was changed to this from his comic version's exposure to a gamma bomb. Apparently he was taking some sort of [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic cocktail]] (designed by Betty) which allowed him to survive the exposure.
* GeneralRipper: Ross shows no compunction or contemplation about weaponizing something as unruly and savage as the Hulk in order to maintain America's military might (though he likely thinks that enough research will figure out a way to get the strength without the lack of control). He also breaks a number of laws and oversteps authority, as shown in Artistic License.
* GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke: Literally, since, as noted above, the Hulk's origin was changed to reflect genetic mutation rather than pure gamma exposure. It also applies to the genetic experiments that Blonsky undergoes in his quest to become strong enough to face the Hulk.
* GilliganCut: The Taxi scene is a played version of this trope. Bruce and Betty begin with him declaring that he's not going on a subway and so they go on a cab, which is even worse.
* GlowingEyes: Bruce sports these as the Hulk.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Blonsky sports these as Abomination.
* GoneHorriblyWrong[=/=]GoneHorriblyRight: General Ross can't decide which applies to the accident that created the Hulk. On one hand, they were supposed to create a second Captain America and instead they created a monster. On the other hand, if you want super soldiers then you can hardly do better than something that's bullet proof, stronger than Captain America, and ferocious in battle; you just have to watch the rage issues. It's the same with Blonsky. Oh sure, now he's strong enough to take down the Hulk. He's also so insane by this point that no one wants him to win.
* GuileHero: In this film Bruce Banner is far craftier than other iterations, using disguises, stealth, and at one point swallowing a thumb drive before transforming, then vomiting it later when out of danger. The Hulk even gets in on the action, as this version makes far greater use of [[ImprovisedWeapon improvised weapons]] to match stronger opponents than any other.
* HealingFactor:
** Blonsky after taking the Super Soldier Serum; it's enough to completely recover from having the Hulk reduce every bone in his body to 'gravel'.
** The Hulk seems to have a much toned down version,which allows him to heal a massive gash from the Abomnation,which becomes a paper cut minutes later.
* HellishCopter: Military helicopters get taken down via unconventional means twice in this film.
* HomelessHero: Bruce is forced to stay on the run because of the government forces chasing him. Following his transformations, Bruce is often left with nothing but the [[MagicPants pants he is wearing]]. At one point, he is forced to beg in order to survive.
* HotScientist: Bruce and Betty.
* HulkSpeak: But of course; "HULK SMASH!"
* HulkingOut: As might be expected, Banner does this when his heart rate reaches a certain threshold.
* IHaveNoSon: Betty inverts this.
-->'''Betty:''' Don't ever speak to me as your daughter again.
* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: [[spoiler:Betty stops Hulk from strangling The Abomination to death with a chain, most likely for this reason.]]
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: This is Emil Blonsky's motivation for obtaining Super Serum and Hulk Blood. This is to be expected, given that he's the EvilCounterpart to [[IJustWantToBeNormal Bruce Banner]].
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Banner, who wants to be free of the Hulk and live a normal life again, compared to [[EvilCounterpart Blonsky]].
* ImmuneToBullets: They literally ''bounce off'' the Hulk.
* ImprovisedWeapon: Hulk uses a police car against Blonsky to no avail.
* InMediasRes: The Hulk's origin is conveyed in a three minute flashback sequence during the opening credits. When the film starts properly, it's several years later.
* InterruptedCooldownHug: Happens during the College scene but uninterrupted in the Cave scene.
* IronicEcho: The earlier mentioned phrase "Is that all you've got?" is repeated by Blonsky in the final confrontation, complete with kicking and subsequent splatting. This time, the Hulk is on the receiving end.
* IsThatTheBestYouCanDo: Blonsky before and after his transformation (see above).
* {{Jerkass}}: General Ross is called out for being an ass by Samson.
* KickTheDog: During the raid on the favela, Blonsky shoots Banner's dog because its barking annoyed him. Thankfully, it was a tranquilizer round.
* LatinoIsBrown: While searching for Banner, Ross says to be on the look out for a white man in Brazil. He's apparently unaware that there are quite a few Brazilians who would be considered "white" by American standards, meaning he should probably be more specific.
* LeftHanging: A lot of the characters and plot threads set up in this film haven't been mentioned in the rest of the MCU, and it doesn't seem like there's gonna be a sequel anytime soon either.
* LivingLieDetector: As mentioned above, Doc Samson claims that he can tell when people are lying to him since he's a psychologist. He states that General Ross is lying when he says he cares more about Betty's welfare than capturing Banner.
* LoudOfWar: Ross tries out sonic cannons against the Hulk.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes M to Z]]
* MagicPants: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as Bruce specifically looks for pants that can stretch just in case. The Hulk's well-known purple shorts are [[MythologyGag given a nod]] when Betty brings Bruce a pair of purple sweats and answers his skeptical look by saying they're the stretchiest she could find.
* MaleGaze: During the cave scene, the viewers get a nice view of Liv Tyler's cleavage.
* MasterOfYourDomain: Banner learns meditative breathing techniques from a martial arts master played by Rickson Gracie in order to suppress his transformations. Several times he's shown lowering his pulse rate, [[spoiler:and the final scene shows him ''inducing'' a transformation through meditation (presumably because he doesn't want to have to [[DieOrFly jump out of a helicopter]] every time).]]
** [[spoiler:It returns as a ChekhovsGun in ''The Avengers'' when he induces a transformation and goes from Bruce to The Hulk in the space of a second, showing his control over the process.]]
* MilitariesAreUseless: As they try to curb his rampage in Harlem, the Abomination / Blonsky is disappointed that they're not much of a challenge to him, and is thrilled to see Hulk charge at him knowing it'll be more "fun".
* MookHorrorShow: General Ross sends a special ops team to capture Bruce Banner, and a trio of bullies catch up to same at the same time and decide to teach him a lesson. They both fail. This occurs in a creepy, darkened bottling plant and includes such moments as two men being dragged into the shadows while screaming, the view through a soldier's night vision goggles an instant before they short out, tranquilizer darts bouncing off and then being crushed beneath the footfalls of a green rage monster, and everyone involved freaking right the hell out.
* MrFanservice: Bruce, Bruce's martial arts teacher and Blonsky all gets a ShirtlessScene. Actually multiple in Bruce's case, even a shower scene.
* MsFanservice: Martina, as detailed in Fanservice above. She's also probably considered this in-universe, being harassed by some guys before Bruce interrupts them. Betty is repeatedly soaked in rain that turns her shirts see-through.
* MuggingTheMonster: The douchebag factory workers who try to rough up Bruce at the beginning.
* MythologyGag:
** The scene in which the Hulk tears a car in half and uses the pieces as impromptu boxing gloves is a direct nod to the "Steel Fists" move in the video game ''[[VideoGame/TheIncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction]]''. He also uses the Sonic Clap, and the Earthquake Smash, both from the same game.
** During the montage of Bruce's travels after his first "HulkOut" the ending theme of ''The Incredible Hulk'' TV series can be heard. Bill Bixby (that version's Banner) even makes a "cameo" from beyond the grave, via a clip from his earlier series ''The Courtship Of Eddie's Father'' playing on a television near the beginning. Also, when said {{Hulk Out}}s occur, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom his eyes turn green]], just like in the series.
** During the last scene we see Bruce in, he opens mail addressed to "David B." In the series, Banner went by "David" not "Bruce." [[note]]As a point of interest, Banner's full name, even in the MCU, is "Robert Bruce Banner", he goes by his middle name. The old series kept "Bruce" as his middle name, he just didn't go by it.[[/note]]
** Creator/LouFerrigno, the Hulk to Bixby's Banner, makes a genuine cameo as a security guard. Also, he provides the Hulk's voice.
** The device Banner exposes himself to in the flashback of his origin is identical to the one used in the TV show. Also, aside from the addition of a few glimpses of his LoveInterest, the origin-flashback is a shot-for-shot ''recreation'' of the TV series' opening-credits sequence, right down to the clothes Norton wears.
** When Ross' team is tracking Bruce's correspondence to Mr. Blue, his email runs through a database that briefly flashes the ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} logo. The Mr. Green/Mr. Blue email correspondence itself is a reference to the comics written by Bruce Jones around 2003/2004.
** The strike team isn't sure if the Hulk is green or grey in the dark, a reference to the coloring issue in the original comic that led to the Hulk's current color. Also, there is a scene where Hulk is shouting in the rain, and each time the lightning flashes, his skin looks gray in the light.
** One of the students who witnesses the fight at the university is named Jack [=McGee=], described as a reporter for the student paper, a reference to the investigative reporter from the TV series.
*** The other student being interviewed is Jim Wilson, the Hulk's former KidSidekick and ComicBook/TheFalcon's nephew.
*** The university is the Culver University, a shout out to the Culver Institute in the live action series.
*** Similarly, the novelization identifies the student in the computer lab as Amadeus Cho, now better known as [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules' buddy]].
** Creator/PaulSoles played Bruce Banner in ''The Marvel Super Heroes'' and Spider-Man in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967'', now is the pizzeria owner Stan.
** Blonsky's slide into madness after taking the serum mirrors that of the 1950s Captain America. In fact, since the ''Captain America'' movie is in the same continuity as this one, it's entirely possible that the serum that is given to Blonsky is precisely the same one. It's stated in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' that the super serum strengthens the user's main personality traits. For Cap, it was his heroism, for ComicBook/RedSkull, it was his evilness, and for Blonsky, it was his [[BloodKnight love of fighting]]. This is confirmed in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', where it's also mentioned that Bruce's accident was the result of attempting to recreate Erskine's work by using gamma radiation instead. It's possible therefore in this continuity, Banner also took a version of the serum which brought out his repressed anger.
** The [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Super Soldier Serum]] used in the movie is shown to have been developed by an organization known as Weapon Plus. Weapon Plus had several programs working on supersoldiers, the most famous being [[{{Wolverine}} Weapon X]]. In the comics, [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Captain America]] was Weapon One. Wolverine was Weapon Ten.
** The laboratory setting for the Hulk's origin and the equipment therein are based on details from the 1978 TV series, right down to the targeting light creeping across Banner's face. Likewise the eye-color effects, which also originated in the series.
** In stumbling Portuguese, Banner begs a trio of Brazilian toughs, "Don't make me... hungry. You wouldn't like me when I'm ... hungry" -- a playful reference to the famous line from the ''Hulk'' TV series, featured in its opening credits.
** When Banner is begging in the Guatemalan marketplace, a short excerpt from "The Lonely Man", aka the "Banner walking away at the end of an episode" music from the TV series, plays.
** Shortly after they go on the run together, Betty gives Banner a pair of [[MagicPants purple shorts]], saying, "they were the stretchiest pair I could find."
** The cryonic storage capsule holding the "super soldier serum" is labeled with the name "Dr. Reinstein", the original name of the doctor who gave Captain America his abilities in the comics. [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger It's not just a gag.]] It's {{foreshadowing}}.
** The package from the pawn shop which contains Betty's pendant is addressed to "David B.", referencing the TV series' Banner, whose first name was "David".
** General Ross makes several references to Banner being on the run for five years -- the time between this film and the earlier 2003 ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' film.
** During the opening credits, one of the list of people suspected to have contact with Banner is "Richard Jones".
** "Hulk smash!"
** When Bruce sneaks his way into the university laboratory, we see a student with whom he shared his pizza. In the novelization, the student identifies himself as Amadeus Cho, a supporting character for Hulk and [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]].
** [[spoiler:We see the creation of the Hulk villain Leader, created when the AppliedPhlebotinum goes into the scientist's head. Probable SequelHook.]]
** [[spoiler:Similarly, Betty's boyfriend is obviously a pre-mutated Doc Sampson.]] According to the novelization, yup, he is.
** And at the very end, [[spoiler:the movie's continuity is cemented with the appearance of [[Film/IronMan Tony Stark]].]]
** "Stark Industries" was written on the rocket launcher.
* NeckLift:
** Blonsky lifts Sterns up by the chest, but the same principle.
** Hulk does the traditional variant to two soldiers at the soft drink plant battle.
* NextSundayAD: A detailed timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals that the events of this film take place in 2011, as the film was released in 2008.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Had Emil not been injected with a super soldier serum, that kick from the Green Machine would most certainly have killed him.
* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Justified. In the original comics, Emil Blonsky was from Russia and was a KGB agent. In the movie, Blonsky was still born in Russia, but he's said to have been raised in England and served in the British Royal Marines. This allows Tim Roth to use his natural accent.
* OhCrap:
** After Bruce [[spoiler:jumps out of the helicopter and realizes he can't HulkOut.]] ''"[[CurseCutShort SH-]]"''
** "Test subjects?!?"
* LeParkour: One of the chase sequences involves Banner doing this to avoid pursuit.
* PietaPlagiarism: At the battle on the college campus, The Hulk saves Betty, then he carries her away.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner: [[spoiler:"HULK... ''SMASH''!" He proceeds to do so to the Abomination in about twelve different ways.]]
* ProtagonistTitle: ''The Incredible Hulk''.
* PsychoSerum: This is a Zigzag. [[spoiler:The two injections Blonsky takes during the movie are SuperSerum that make him more able and driven but also less stable and more obsessed with a rematch with the Hulk. When this first PsychoSerum combines with Bruce Banner's own gamma-enhanced blood samples, it finally crosses him over into The Abomination and causes him to lose whatever remnants of morality he had left (he goes on a rampage across Harlem, killing dozens if not hundreds of innocent bystanders, for no viable reason other than [[AxCrazy enslavement to madness]]).]]
* PunchedAcrossTheRoom: More like "Kicked Across The Field Into A Tree", but what else can you expect as a regular-sized person going up against The Hulk? SuperSoldier or not, Blonsky plus Hulk foot equals SPLAT.
* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: [[IronicEcho "Is that all you've got?"]]
* RemakeCameo: Like with the 2003 movie, Creator/LouFerrigno plays a security guard (this time interacting with Bruce Banner himself). And in a variant, a clip of Bill Bixby (a scene from ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'') is featured at a certain point to feature both protagonists of the old show.
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:The very ending shows Banner consciously inducing a Hulk episode, but cuts off immediately, leaving the circumstances and Banner's new direction ambiguous. In the ''Avengers'' movie, Banner reveals that anger management isn't much of an issue anymore, and he is in a constant state of TranquilFury. He can control the Hulk transformation to some extent, and the Hulk himself is slightly tamer, less mindless, and more amenable to cooperation with others.]]
* RewatchBonus: Try watching this movie after ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' and look for the WorldBuilding references (i.e., [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger the Super-soldier serum]] and [[Film/IronMan the Stark Industries-designed weapons]]). It's a ''very'' different experience from watching it ''before'' the ''Avengers''.
* RomanticRunnerUp: Doc Samson is an all-around nice guy who just had the bad luck of dating ComicBook/BettyRoss when the love of her life walked back into town. For the most part, he doesn't begrudge Banner for it either, mostly because the Hulk saved Betty's life from General Ross's goons.
* RuleOfThree: Emil Blonsky fights the Hulk three times. [[spoiler:...And ''loses'' three times.]]
* SatelliteLoveInterest: Betty receives little characterization beyond being Bruce's love interest.
* SaveTheVillain: [[spoiler: At the climax, Betty talks Hulk out of strangling Blonsky to death.]]
* SceneryPorn: The flyover shots of the Brazilian hillside slums at the beginning of the movie.
* SellWhatYouLove: When Bruce and Betty become fugitives and need money, Betty has to sell her precious necklace, which is a keepsake of her late mother. Thankfully, Bruce manages to get it back to her at the end of the movie.
* SequelHook:
** The same genetic cocktail that created the Abomination [[spoiler:seeps into a wound on Dr. Samuel Sterns forehead, causing his transformation into the Leader.]] Where exactly this will end up now is unknown, since a direct sequel can't happen (Universal holds the rights to Solo-Hulk films), though the fate of Samuel Sterns was given in the lead-in comic for ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', "Fury's Big Week."
** In TheStinger, [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] mentions that he is "putting a team together", which meant that it was probably a sequel hook to ''The Avengers'' movie (which was an idea when it was first made.)
** [[spoiler:The final shot is Bruce HulkingOut by willpower alone, foreshadowing something that happens in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.]]
* SexyShirtSwitch: Betty gets one, though without the sex part. More like before, or an attempt. See CantHaveSexEver above.
* SexySoakedShirt: Betty chases after Bruce in the rain, resulting in this.
* ShockwaveStomp: "Hulk... SMASH!"
* SnowyScreenOfDeath: Occurs when the Abomination drops a car on the soldiers that had been tailing it, cutting off Ross' video link.
* SociopathicSoldier: Blonsky starts out as a mild example. He tranqs a dog because it annoyed him but is otherwise a functional individual. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Then things get worse.]]
* SpiritualSuccessor: Originally, this movie could be seen as a straight-up sequel to the 2003 movie that simply changes/adjusts aspects of the backstory à la ''Evil Dead 2'' or ''Superman Returns''. For instance, it handwaves the opening as an inaccurate nightmare that Banner is having. However, as of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', the '03 movie is ''definitely'' out-of-continuity with this one because in that movie, Glenn Talbot died as well as being quite different in portrayal[[note]]though one could ignore Glenn's appearance in the 2003 movie and replace him with a different character[[/note]]; his absence here could be given a {{Handwave}} before then, but now that he's appeared alive and well in the MCU there is no way to consider this anything more than a SpiritualSuccessor.
** Except for the left hanging questions that would only make sense if you connect them to the origin story of the 2003 Hulk movie like when Tony Stark states that Bruce shouldn't have survived the radiation accident and since there hasn't been any proper elaboration on that question it's safe to say that the 2003 continuity can still exist in some sort of way. The introduction of the multiverses in Film/AvengersEndgame somewhat help with that argument.
* TheStinger: [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] appears shortly before the credits and converses with General Ross (who is [[DrowningMySorrows drowning his sorrows]] at a bar). [[spoiler:Stark]] reprimands him on the consequences of the supersoldier project that resulted in its prior cancellation, and tells him that they are putting together [[Film/TheAvengers2012 a team.]] [[spoiler:''Film/TheConsultant'' (featured on the ''Thor'' Blu-Ray) reveals that SHIELD sent Stark specifically so he'd piss Ross off and cause him to ''refuse'' to let the Abomination be on the team, something the WSC were pushing for.]]
* StealthPun:
** The Sikorsky MH-53 helicopter used by Ross has a nickname; the "Jolly Green Giant".
** In the final scene:
--->'''General Ross:''' [[spoiler:[[Film/IronMan Stark]], you always wear such [[PoweredArmor nice suits]].]]
* SuperHumanTrafficking: Bruce/Hulk are "property" of the US because of the gamma blood in their system.
* SuperReflexes: The Hulk slaps [=RPGs=] out of the air. Blonsky is faster as a super soldier, and after his transformation into the Abomination he catches an RPG as an OffhandBackhand.
* SuperSpeed: Blonsky casually outpaces several soldiers while running. The Hulk and the Abomination can keep up with Humvees.
* SuperStrength: Duh, it's a Hulk movie.
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: During the attack on Culver University, the Hulk finally gets tired of Blonsky's taunts and ineffective attacks and simply kicks him. Because he's the Incredible Hulk, Blonsky is sent hundreds of yards into a tree with a gruesome crunching sound and only survives because of the super soldier serum he was already injected with.
* SwallowTheKey: Having lost his computer the last time he was chased, when the Army attacks Bruce at the University campus, Bruce swallows an important data stick so he won't risk losing it or letting it fall into the wrong hands. Amazingly, it still works after he... retrieves it.
* TakesOneToKillOne: When the U.S. military can't do anything to hinder Blonsky's rampage, Ross is forced to allow Hulk to take down Blonsky.
* TapOnTheHead: Blonsky does this twice, to Banner and then a female colleague.
* TastesLikeFriendship: Banner wants to go into a library guarded by a security guard. So how does he get in? He masquerades as a pizza delivery boy and gives the guard a whole pizza.
* TechnologicalPacifist: Banner. Ross seems to imply that this position is common in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, and that "scientists" are not to be trusted with military matters in any way, shape, or form.
-->'''Ross:''' ''[[WithUsOrAgainstUs He’s a scientist. He is NOT one of us.]]''
* TooDumbToLive: Emil Blonsky deserves special mention. He held his own in a battle with Hulk, mainly because of how quick he was, due to the super soldier serum he'd been given. After he and the rest of his military division have thrown everything they have at Hulk, and he is still walking, Ross tells Blonsky to fall back. Blonsky then rips off his earpiece, drops his gun and attempts to stare down the Hulk, saying "Is that all you've got?" Cue Hulk-powered thrust kick to the chest, followed by being smooshed all over a tree. Said smooshing breaks every bone in his body, which would have killed him if not for the super soldier serum.
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: There was a TV spot that spoiled [[spoiler:Robert Downey Jr.'s cameo as Tony Stark]] towards the end of the film.
* TroubledFetalPosition: Banner enters this after a particularly nasty FlashbackEcho hits him in the bath.
* {{Tuckerization}}: The military base, "Fort Johnson", is named after Kenneth Johnson; the writer, director, and producer of ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977''.
* UnstoppableRage: This is Hulk's main superpower, though it seems more centered on general heart rate (the "Hulk rate" being 200 BPM) than rage this time around, and can be released initially by extreme stress.
* UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: There's a form of this with Hulk versus the Abomination. The former is the meek scientist Bruce Banner with an inferior version of the Captain America formula combined with genetic primers and gamma radiation. The latter is the veteran marine Emile Blonsky with a more advanced version of the formula ''and'' the Hulk's blood. Consequently the Abomination is larger and stronger, not to mention Blonsky's in complete control despite being crazy. The Hulk has the advantage of getting stronger with rage and greater intelligence which wins him the fight when Blonsky turns on Betty and Ross.
* VertigoEffect: Two vertigo effects right after another appear showing Ross and Blonsky's reactions when Banner turns into the Hulk on the college campus.
* WeakButSkilled: Even before the treatment, Blonsky notes that "if I could take everything I know now and put it in the body I had ten years ago, that would be something I wouldn't want to face." His second encounter with the Hulk (after he's been enhanced but before he becomes the Abomination) shows that he's smaller and weaker but more agile and has greater skill. This is in comparison to the Hulk. He's outrunning soldiers YEARS younger. It's only when he stops and tries to stare the Hulk down that he gets splatted.
* WhatTheHellHero: Doc Samson [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech chews out]] General Ross after Betty got caught in the crossfire at the College.
-->'''Doc Samson:''' He ''protected'' her. You almost ''killed'' her!
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: In the beginning, Blonsky seems like an overly gung-ho soldier but a relatively decent guy who's loyal to his work and his men, but after doses of failed super-soldier serum he slowly goes more and more power mad, until he goes completely destructively insane in the end. A deleted scene emphasizes the potential for mental instability as a byproduct of the serum. Prior to the injection, Ross outright threatens to remove Blonsky from active duty if he takes a step out of line.
* WorthyOpponent: {{Subverted}}. Emil Blonsky views the Hulk this way and goes out of his way to become strong enough to face him in combat but when he finally reaches that level in the end, he decides that Bruce doesn't deserve his power.
* WouldHitAGirl: Blonsky tosses Betty across the room and knocks out a female colleague from behind.
* XDaysSince: Used at least twice, at [[BookEnds both the start and the end of the film]], measuring how many days had passed since the Hulk made an appearance.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Due to battle stress, Blonsky is only 39 years old but looks like he's in his late 40s (at the time of filming, Tim Roth was 46).
* YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry:
** Given that this is an adaptation of the TropeNamer, of course this makes an appearance. It's rather cleverly inserted too, as Bruce messes up the line while speaking Portuguese.
--->'''Bruce:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' You wouldn't like me when I'm... hungry? ''[in English]'' Wait, that doesn't sound right.
** The trailer (and the deleted scene it came from) also had a variation on the phrase which was pretty good.
--->'''Bruce:''' There are aspects of my personality that I can't control, and when I lose control, it's very dangerous to be around me.
[[/folder]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qtghl3lo8phmixkf8en5wqqefhi_1.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine Our only hope is something...]] [[TitleDrop incredible.]]'']]
->''"As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army."''
-->-- '''General Thunderbolt Ross'''
''The Incredible Hulk'' is a 2008 film based on the character of the same name; following the trend of rebooting a franchise rather than creating a sequel to an unpopular first effort, this film takes place in a different continuity from [[Film/{{Hulk}} the 2003 version]] and is the second movie in both the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse and its Phase 1.
The story takes place five years after the tragic accident which created the Comicbook/{{Hulk}}, glimpses of which are seen in the opening credits. Bruce Banner (Creator/EdwardNorton) has [[DiscontinuityNod taken refuge in Brazil]] as a worker at a bottling plant, where he keeps a low profile and works on controlling his anger in his spare time. When Bruce accidentally spills blood into one of the bottles, [[Creator/StanLee a man]] falls ill from Gamma poisoning by drinking it, which is the clue General Ross (Creator/WilliamHurt) uses to track Banner down. Along for the ride is Emil Blonsky (Creator/TimRoth), who is destined to become one of the Hulk's deadliest foes: the Abomination.
[[ScrewedByTheLawyers Thanks to legal issues with Universal]], the film has not gotten a sequel. Even worse, when the Hulk next appeared in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' alongside Film/IronMan, Film/{{Thor}} and [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Captain America]], he was [[TheOtherDarrin recast]] with Creator/MarkRuffalo, and very few references were made to any of the events in this film[[note]]such as an allusion to an alternate version of the opening where the Hulk keeps Bruce from killing himself, along with a quip said by Banner himself about he "broke Harlem" the last time he was in New York[[/note]]. The movie's role in the setting was finally reinforced when Hurt reprised his role as General Ross in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''. Ten years later, the logo for the film was openly included in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jNvJU52LvU montage]] that listed all the movies preceding ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', though it didn't have footage from this film -- footage from ''The Avengers'' and ''Captain America: Civil War'' was used for Banner and Ross, respectively (that said, the Infinity Saga variant of the montage ''did'' include footage from the movie). In a later May 2019 AMA, [[WordOfGod Kevin Feige]] [[https://old.reddit.com/r/marvelstudios/comments/bp084n/hi_reddit_im_kevin_feige_amaa/enncmsh/ confirmed the student eating pizza in this film is the same person as the debate coach in]] ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', so in any case, Marvel execs aren't shy about acknowledging its canonicity.
As noted above, the Hulk next appears in ''The Avengers'', released in 2012. After a cameo in TheStinger of ''Film/IronMan3'' in 2013, his next proper appearance would be in 2015's ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', followed by 2017's ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' in 2018, and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' in 2019. It would not be until 2019 until it was announced that a spin-off, ''She-Hulk'', was announced for Creator/DisneyPlus; given that Universal only has the movie rights, [[LoopholeAbuse the platform seems to be how Disney will sidestep those issues in order to better integrate these characters into the setting]]. The fact that the Abomination will finally return, with Tim Roth reprising the role, further indicates this.
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!!HULK HAS STRONGEST TROPES THERE IS!
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Tropes A to L]]
* OneDimensionalThinking: Averted. A soldier running from a huge water tank Hulk threw at him tries to jump out of his path but it's moving so fast it catches on his legs and drags him.
* AccidentalPervert: Bruce while escaping the military runs into Martina while she's changing.
* AdaptationalBadass: Not that comic Bruce Banner can't handle himself in a fight, but this movie version has actual training in martial arts.
* AdaptationDistillation: The film takes bits and pieces from Hulk's 45 year history and compresses them into a single movie. Everything is covered, from Bruce trying (and failing) to find a cure to Bruce being unable to have sex with Betty to Hulk being incredibly protective of Betty. The only thing not brought up is Bruce's daddy issues, and given the huge amount of focus that got in the Ang Lee movie, omitting it entirely may very well be justified.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Played with by Samuel Sterns. In the comics, Sterns is one of the more diabolical villains in that universe, but Sterns is introduced in the film as an eccentric and careless but mostly harmless scientist who tries to cure Banner. [[spoiler:After attempting to cure Banner, we then see that Sterns has stockpiled and reproduced Banner's irradiated blood for experimenting. The last we see of him, he's beginning to undergo his transformation into the villainous Leader.]] Although he has yet to return to the films, the comic tie-in continues his story.
* AdaptationalIntelligence: While comic Betty is not dumb, this version of Betty is actually a scientist.
* AdaptationalNationality: An interesting case. Blonsky is stated to be born in Russia, but raised in England as an Englishman, and eventually served the Royal Marines. In the comics, he was a Soviet spy who served in the KGB. This change is to explain Tim Roth's accent.
* AdaptationalWimp:
** The Hulk's HealingFactor is severely toned down from the comics and 2003 version. Same for his super leaps.
** Doc Samson, as he's known in the comics, is a superhero with a standard SuperStrength and SuperToughness power set, none of which he demonstrates here.
* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: ''The Incredible Hulk''.
* AdmiringTheAbomination: At a few key moments in the film, Samuel Sterns reveals his intense admiration of the monster and his eagerness to see what it can do despite the danger.
* AdultFear: {{Jerkass}} that he may be, you still feel for General Ross when he sees his daughter engulfed by a fireball and then lying motionlessly in Hulk's arms.
* AgeLift: A college student named after Jack [=McGee=] from ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'' appears as a college student, whereas his original counterpart was the same age as Bruce.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Martina is clearly attracted to Bruce, but he doesn't reciprocate it. Understandable given his circumstances though.
* AllThereInTheManual:
** Characters not seen in the film, such as Nick Fury and Rick Jones, are at least mentioned in print in the opening sequence.
** What was [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] after when he went to speak to General Ross? [[spoiler:The World Security Council wanted the Abomination on the Avengers. Stark was sent by S.H.I.E.L.D. in the hopes he'd piss Ross off and cause him to refuse to release Blonsky to the team]], as revealed in ''Film/TheConsultant''.
** The film's novelization contains some implications of past [[AbusiveParents parental abuse]] for Bruce. For the most part, it's in the wording, but Bruce's first thought and instinct upon meeting Doc Samson is that Samson is going to punch him.
--->Meantime he approached Banner and put out his hand. It was all Banner could do not to take a step backward in anticipation of Samson endeavoring to belt him.
* AlmightyJanitor: Lampshaded. The factory owner remarks that Bruce is too smart for daily labour and offers to put him on payroll.
* AppropriatedAppellation: "Hulk" (coined during a news broadcast of the rampage at the college) and "Abomination" (never used to refer to the mutated Blonsky outside of a warning Sterns gives him before the actual mutation and a line from the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in ''The Consultant'').
* ArmiesAreEvil: Ross tries to imply that he's a WellIntentionedExtremist, but in private he admits proudly that he ''admires'' the Hulk's power, and wishes to "[[TheyWouldCutYouUp cut it out]]" of Banner and turn it loose on America's enemies, despite all the collateral damage Hulk inflicts. His dragon also proudly admits that he's a BloodKnight. The rest are {{mook}}s.
-->'''General Ross:''' As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: In this version, Banner says it is an elevated heart rate that triggers his transformation (instead of the traditional fear/anger/adrenaline combo), and later he stops just before having sex with Betty when his pulse monitor goes off. However, the heart rate that triggers Hulk-outs is shown to be an even 200 beats per minute. Discounting the unlikelihood of that happening, this leaves everything in the range of 150-200 beats per minute, the ''low'' end of which is a target heart rate for strenuous activity for someone of Bruce's age, perfectly safe. His heart rate should probably kill him long before an event is triggered, but instead, we're told that he gets far too excited during foreplay. [[spoiler:It all becomes a moot point in ''The Avengers'' where Tony theorizes that the Hulk chooses when to come out. This is usually to protect Banner in dangerous (i.e. stressful and heart pounding) situations.]]
* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: At one point, UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu and UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts legend [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickson_Gracie Rickson Gracie]] shows up in a cameo as Bruce's martial arts instructor and is credited as... ''Aikido'' instructor.
* ArtisticLicenseMilitary:
** The film depicts the US Army as all wearing the Battle Dress Uniforms, when the Army had mostly replaced that uniform with the digital-camouflaged Army Combat Uniform by 2008. In fact, the BDU had been formally discontinued for months when this film was released.
** The soldiers are also shown using M16 rifles when the Army had largely replaced ''those'' with the M4 carbine.
** As a General in the Army, Ross should know that it's not considered appropriate to get [[DrowningMySorrows utterly smashed]] in a bar while in his Class A's.
** It's hard to know if General Ross ever heard of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_comitatus posse comitatus]]'', a law (which has been in force for ''over a century'') that states that the US Military is explicitly prohibited from acting as a police unit, which is precisely what he is doing by declaring Banner to be a murderer (responsible for the deaths of two scientists, an Army officer, an Idaho state trooper and two hunters) and sending in Army units to arrest him (this is setting aside whether or not his declaring Banner to be government property violates the involuntary servitude section of the 13th Amendment). The NYPD would have been legally entitled (and technically required) to arrest him for trying to arrest Banner himself rather than leaving that job up to the local police or the FBI (and the same goes for the Culver University attempt to capture Banner). Not to mention the possibility for a diplomatic incident by sending a commando unit into Brazil, a friendly country which has had an active extradition agreement with the US for over 40 years to kidnap a fugitive without even trying to go through the proper extradition procedures.[[note]]The fun part is how all of this managed not to prevent him from being confirmed as Secretary of State by the time of ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''[[/note]]
* AssholeVictim:
** The reckless, rude cabbie's vehicle ends up being a weapon of choice for Abomination.
** The three bullies at the factory are taught a lesson in prudence by The Hulk.
* BadassNormal: Blonsky is one the finest soldiers in the British military long before his transformation. Though the years have taken their toll and he admits he is not even close to his peak level ability before getting the first dose, he is still the first choice to take on The Hulk.
* BarbieDollAnatomy: When Blonsky transforms into the Abomination, unlike the Hulk, none of his clothes stay on, but he doesn't need them anyway, as he lacks visible external genitalia (given the nature of his transformation, it's likely they're inside his pelvis). The commentary by the director and Tim Roth have them pointing out that since the Hulk has pants, he's got to have something under them, but the Abomination does not. This gets a passing mention when compared to Roth's complaints towards Abomination's anatomy and the lack thereof, with regard to the [[spoiler:ears.]]
* BeastAndBeauty: The scene of the Hulk and Betty in the cave definitely invokes this.
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: If you ignore the green skin and the increased size, the Hulk is a pretty hot (and ''ripped'') WalkingShirtlessScene. If you ignore the yellow skin and the increased size, Abomination... is a ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' MonsterOfTheWeek. It's FridgeBrilliance for those who watch ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' before watching this movie: Dr. Abraham Erskine's formula "brought out what was within," which is why the Red Skull was... well, a red skull. Abomination's inhuman appearance is due to the same effect.
** Also shown in a scene before his transformation, It is subtly pointed out that the serum he was given is close to the Super soldier serum, and Blonsky was already transforming into a creature before getting infused with Hulk Blood.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Somehow, all that fire after [[spoiler:the helicopter crash]] never touched Betty's long, beautiful, ''extremely flammable'' hair.
* BerserkButton: Becomes especially enraged whenever harm towards Betty is involved no matter how harmless like being physically restrained by Ross's men.
* BigBadEnsemble: Emil Blonsky and Thunderbolt Ross are the main villains; Ross trying to capture Banner is the primary source of conflict, but he gets upstaged as the FinalBoss when his {{Dragon}}, Blonsky, injects himself with Banner's blood to become the Abomination. Ross and Banner are [[EnemyMine forced to work together]] in order to stop his ensuing rampage.
* BigNo: General Ross, when he believes that Betty has been killed by the explosion of a crashed helicopter on the campus.
* BloodKnight: After surviving the MookHorrorShow below, Blonsky is downright ''eager'' for a rematch.
* BodyHorror:
** Emil Blonsky's slow transformation, which is reminiscent of ''Film/TheFly1986.'' One scene especially, where you can see his spine protruding out of his back.
** Bruce's transformation to the Hulk is incredibly painful and at times asymmetrical. The top half of him will sometimes transform before the lower half catches up.
* BookEnds: We see green beverages at the beginning and end - the guarana sodas and that stuff General Ross keeps knocking back--which are, in fact, a real-life drink named "The Incredible Hulk."
* BroadStrokes: The movie is technically a ContinuityReboot, doing a quick revisit of the origin story and having General Ross further explain their version of the backstory details. Still, it uses elements of the 2003 movie in that it starts 5 years after Banner's FreakLabAccident, as even with major details changed it would retread the same basic story (Banner is irradiated, learns what he has become and fights against the military). The '03 movie also ends with Banner hiding from the government in South America, which is where this movie picks up his story. The major details that were changed include that the Hulk doesn't get larger the angrier he gets, General Ross was not a sympathetic figure and Bruce's project was tied directly to the military instead of just attracting their attention when things went crazy. ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' reveals another detail that's different from ''Hulk'': Glenn Talbot is still in the army--and still alive and well. He's also considerably older and actually ends up reaching the same rank as Ross.
* BullyingADragon: Blonsky gets some humble pie courtesy of the Hulk.
-->'''Blonsky:''' Is that it? Is that all you've got?\\
''[Hulk kicks Blonsky across a field and into a tree, flattening him]''
* TheCameo: Martial artist Rickson Gracie appears to teach Banner breathing exercises.
* CantHaveSexEver: The movie demonstrates that, rather than simply getting angry, it's an elevated heart rate that triggers his transformation--making sex off limits.
* CassandraTruth: When Blonsky demands to have the Hulk's blood and gamma radiation applied to him, Sterns argues against it, claiming that the gamma-blood combined with Blonksky's experimental super-serumed body might turn him into "an abomination". Blonsky doesn't care, and holds Sterns at gunpoint to transform him anyway.
* CatchPhrase:
** "HULK '''SMASH'''!" is inserted at the climax of the fight between Hulk and Abomination; it doubles as a PreAsskickingOneLiner.
** {{Parodied}} when Bruce tries to warn some bullies not to make him angry, but his mediocre Portuguese leaves him saying "Don't make me hungry. You won't like me when I'm hungry. Wait, that doesn't sound right."
* ChekhovsGun: Several are briefly glimpsed in the opening sequence (e.g. the name of Doc Samson and other characters who would appear later). For a more literal case, the plans for the sonic Humvees used at the university appear, and are seen to be provided by [[Film/IronMan Stark Industries.]]
* ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames: {{Played with}}. The Hulk is called so very sparingly, with only Blonsky and the Hulk himself ever using it in a non-ironic fashion. Also, the Abomination is never directly called that, except for one off-hand remark by Samuel Sterns. General Ross is not referred to as "Thunderbolt" Ross, though a deleted scene has him referred to as "T" over the phone.
* ConfusedBystanderInterview: There's an interview that doubles as a MythologyGag: the two college students interviewed about the Hulk's appearance at Culver University are Jack [=McGee=] (Banner's InspectorJavert from [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the TV series]]) and Jim Wilson (one of Hulk's {{Kid Sidekick}}s from the comics). [=McGee=] is even described as a reporter...for the ''student'' newspaper.
* ContinuityNod: [[https://postimg.org/image/wtfcrfqev/ The S.H.I.E.L.D. logo]] shows up on computer screens twice.
* ContrivedCoincidence: It's bad enough poor Bruce is barely staying ahead of his Army pursuers in Brazil, [[FromBadToWorse he manages to bowl into the leader of the bullies]] - in a crowded city - while doing so.
* CreatorCameo: Creator/StanLee will think twice before opening another bottle of soda.
* DangerousPhlebotinumInteraction: Blonsky makes Sterns infuse him with [[spoiler:Bruce Banner's blood]] so he can gain the Hulk's power. Due to his own Super Soldier Serum reacting with it [[spoiler:he undergoes a one-way transformation to the stronger (and uglier) Abomination]].
* DieOrFly: Having taken [[spoiler:an antidote to his powers, when he needs them back Bruce jumps out of a helicopter.]] DoubleSubverted, with an OhCrap moment when it looks like it's not going to work.
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: A normal human, even one with a failed super soldier serum, should NOT walk up to an enormous [[BuffySpeak green rage monster]] and say 'Is that all you got'?
* DrivenToSuicide: A DeletedScene for the alternate opening had Bruce Banner [[AteHisGun putting his gun into his mouth]], feeling that this was the only way to get rid of the Hulk for good. He then shot himself, only for him to transform and spit the bullet back out. It was deleted for its dark tone, although it was later referred to in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.[[note]]The cutting of this scene is a reason that Edward Norton gave when he stated he would not return for any sequels or ''The Avengers''. He felt the scene was cut in order to make the gag listed above in Die or Fly work, at the cost of an important character moment for Banner.[[/note]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: When going to New York to track down Blue, when given the choice between the subway and the taxi, Banner and Betty decided on the taxi. To put it simply, cramped or not, they really should have chosen the subway instead. Hilariously, Bruce manages to keep calm for the most part. Betty is the one who freaks out, and she screams in the driver's face when they come to a stop. [[note]]This makes sense, considering that Bruce has been practicing staying calm with breathing exercises and whatnot, and Betty is freaking out because she knows just how close they came to a disaster.[[/note]]
* DrowningMySorrows: [[spoiler:What General Ross ended up doing in the ending before Tony Stark meets up with him with the proposal of forming a team.]]
-->'''General Ross:''' Reload. ''[takes a shot]'' Reload.
* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: Blonsky by the end.
-->'''Blonsky:''' I want more.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Due to ContinuityDrift between this and later movies.
** Besides having Edward Norton instead of [[TheOtherDarrin Mark Ruffalo]] as Bruce Banner, the Hulk also looks slightly different from his appearances from ''The Avengers'' onward, with more ripped muscles. The Hulk's face also doesn't match Norton's face as well as Ruffalo's Hulk (and Eric Bana's, for that matter) matches his respective Banner. This was due to time constraints. Banner's eyes also glow green when he transforms, which was a nod to the TV series but was dropped in later films.
** The Super Soldier Serum is revealed through a FreezeFrameBonus to have been developed by "Dr. Renstein". In ''Captain America: The First Avenger'', the serum's inventor is named Dr. Abraham Erskine. The comics had Renstein as the original name of the doctor (obviously alluding to UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein) which was later {{retcon}}ned to Erskine, with Renstein explained as an alias. But given how the Captain America film plays out, it is likely that this serum was reverse-engineered from Captain America's blood by a different person.
** Stylistically, the film also feels jarring compared to other MCU films thanks to having a dour, darker tone with very little comedy as opposed to most MCU movies, where even the more serious and dramatic ones have more humor. Not ''feeling'' like an MCU film is also a factor in it seeming like a standalone movie, but it's hard to argue with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark showing up.
* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Ross's forces support the Hulk after the Abomination starts ripping apart New York. Notably, the general looks just as surprised as everyone else when a military helicopter starts chasing Banner after Blonsky's defeat, ending their brief alliance.]]
* EvilBrit: Blonsky is changed to one, although unlike other examples, he is not cultured or refined (speaking with a heavy Cockney accent).
* EvilCounterpart: While the Hulk is a destructive monster that Bruce can't quite control, the Abomination is far more of a menace. He's also bigger, stronger and faster than the Hulk thanks to the combination of the Super Soldier Serum and the gamma radiation which created the Hulk in the first place. Hulk has two advantages: first, Abomination's strength is more or less static, while Hulk's increases the angrier he gets, and second, Hulk is significantly better at using his strength in new ways, while the Abomination is much more focused on direct applications of power.
* EvilPlan: Ross wants to capture Banner and reverse engineer his blood for super soldiers. As the movie progresses, Blonsky's desire for an even fight with the Hulk overtakes this plan.
* EyeAwaken: Blonsky beginning to recover from his injuries.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Bruce's primary goal during this film is to rid himself of the Hulk. Obviously, that doesn't happen (there were already plans for the character to appear in future movies, after all).
* {{Fanservice}}:
** When Bruce accidentally falls into the room of Martina, his co-worker at the factory while running from the military, she is in the process of changing clothes, thus in only a shirt, and the viewers are treated to some {{Sideboob}}, exposed upper chest (without showing the nips), and [[ShesGotLegs completely exposed legs]].
** Betty is shown in her lingerie. See also MaleGaze, SexyShirtSwitch and SexySoakedShirt below.
** The various [[ShirtlessScene shirtless scenes]] of the male characters could also count, but Blonsky's eventually devolves into FanDisservice after his spine starts protruding.
* FingerTwitchingRevival: [[spoiler:Emil Blonsky indicates his impending revival by his fingers coming to staccato life as Gen. Ross is walking away from his hospital bed. Even though his fingers are almost fully wrapped up in bandages and his whole arm and hand are in a suspension cast. Now ''that'' is a commitment to the trope.]]
* FiveRoundsRapid:
** {{Lampshaded}}.
--->'''Soldier 1:''' ''[firing several rounds at the Abomination]''\\
'''Soldier 2:''' You think a ''rifle's'' gonna hurt that? Come on! ''[gets a rocket launcher]''
** The Abomination then ''[[OffhandBackhand snatches]]'' [[NoSell the rocket out of the air, slams it into his own chest]], and laughs the explosion off.
* FlashbackEcho: Banner gets PTSD-esque ones from his time as the Hulk.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Betty's new boyfriend is pretty obviously Doc Samson, while the doctor working with Bruce is Samuel Sterns, destined to be The Leader. [[spoiler:During the climax, a bit of Bruce Banner's blood falls into a head wound that Sterns has. His head than starts pulsing and expanding as he gives a sinister smile...]]
** When General Ross is speaking to Blonsky:
--->'''Ross:''' Let me emphasize that what I'm about to share with you is tremendously sensitive, both to me personally and the Army. You're aware that we've got an Infantry Weapons Development program. Well, [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger in WWII, they initiated a sub-program for Bio-Tech Force Enhancement.]]
** Everything about the serum is foreshadowing for Cap, especially regarding Bruce and Blonsky's experiences with it. The gamma radiation magnified the effect of the serum described in Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger, which is to magnify a person's inner attributes as well as their physical attributes, i.e. Bruce's anger issues and Blonsky's [[BloodKnight love of a good fight]].
* FreakLabAccident: The Hulk's origin was changed to this from his comic version's exposure to a gamma bomb. Apparently he was taking some sort of [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic cocktail]] (designed by Betty) which allowed him to survive the exposure.
* GeneralRipper: Ross shows no compunction or contemplation about weaponizing something as unruly and savage as the Hulk in order to maintain America's military might (though he likely thinks that enough research will figure out a way to get the strength without the lack of control). He also breaks a number of laws and oversteps authority, as shown in Artistic License.
* GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke: Literally, since, as noted above, the Hulk's origin was changed to reflect genetic mutation rather than pure gamma exposure. It also applies to the genetic experiments that Blonsky undergoes in his quest to become strong enough to face the Hulk.
* GilliganCut: The Taxi scene is a played version of this trope. Bruce and Betty begin with him declaring that he's not going on a subway and so they go on a cab, which is even worse.
* GlowingEyes: Bruce sports these as the Hulk.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Blonsky sports these as Abomination.
* GoneHorriblyWrong[=/=]GoneHorriblyRight: General Ross can't decide which applies to the accident that created the Hulk. On one hand, they were supposed to create a second Captain America and instead they created a monster. On the other hand, if you want super soldiers then you can hardly do better than something that's bullet proof, stronger than Captain America, and ferocious in battle; you just have to watch the rage issues. It's the same with Blonsky. Oh sure, now he's strong enough to take down the Hulk. He's also so insane by this point that no one wants him to win.
* GuileHero: In this film Bruce Banner is far craftier than other iterations, using disguises, stealth, and at one point swallowing a thumb drive before transforming, then vomiting it later when out of danger. The Hulk even gets in on the action, as this version makes far greater use of [[ImprovisedWeapon improvised weapons]] to match stronger opponents than any other.
* HealingFactor:
** Blonsky after taking the Super Soldier Serum; it's enough to completely recover from having the Hulk reduce every bone in his body to 'gravel'.
** The Hulk seems to have a much toned down version,which allows him to heal a massive gash from the Abomnation,which becomes a paper cut minutes later.
* HellishCopter: Military helicopters get taken down via unconventional means twice in this film.
* HomelessHero: Bruce is forced to stay on the run because of the government forces chasing him. Following his transformations, Bruce is often left with nothing but the [[MagicPants pants he is wearing]]. At one point, he is forced to beg in order to survive.
* HotScientist: Bruce and Betty.
* HulkSpeak: But of course; "HULK SMASH!"
* HulkingOut: As might be expected, Banner does this when his heart rate reaches a certain threshold.
* IHaveNoSon: Betty inverts this.
-->'''Betty:''' Don't ever speak to me as your daughter again.
* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: [[spoiler:Betty stops Hulk from strangling The Abomination to death with a chain, most likely for this reason.]]
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: This is Emil Blonsky's motivation for obtaining Super Serum and Hulk Blood. This is to be expected, given that he's the EvilCounterpart to [[IJustWantToBeNormal Bruce Banner]].
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Banner, who wants to be free of the Hulk and live a normal life again, compared to [[EvilCounterpart Blonsky]].
* ImmuneToBullets: They literally ''bounce off'' the Hulk.
* ImprovisedWeapon: Hulk uses a police car against Blonsky to no avail.
* InMediasRes: The Hulk's origin is conveyed in a three minute flashback sequence during the opening credits. When the film starts properly, it's several years later.
* InterruptedCooldownHug: Happens during the College scene but uninterrupted in the Cave scene.
* IronicEcho: The earlier mentioned phrase "Is that all you've got?" is repeated by Blonsky in the final confrontation, complete with kicking and subsequent splatting. This time, the Hulk is on the receiving end.
* IsThatTheBestYouCanDo: Blonsky before and after his transformation (see above).
* {{Jerkass}}: General Ross is called out for being an ass by Samson.
* KickTheDog: During the raid on the favela, Blonsky shoots Banner's dog because its barking annoyed him. Thankfully, it was a tranquilizer round.
* LatinoIsBrown: While searching for Banner, Ross says to be on the look out for a white man in Brazil. He's apparently unaware that there are quite a few Brazilians who would be considered "white" by American standards, meaning he should probably be more specific.
* LeftHanging: A lot of the characters and plot threads set up in this film haven't been mentioned in the rest of the MCU, and it doesn't seem like there's gonna be a sequel anytime soon either.
* LivingLieDetector: As mentioned above, Doc Samson claims that he can tell when people are lying to him since he's a psychologist. He states that General Ross is lying when he says he cares more about Betty's welfare than capturing Banner.
* LoudOfWar: Ross tries out sonic cannons against the Hulk.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes M to Z]]
* MagicPants: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as Bruce specifically looks for pants that can stretch just in case. The Hulk's well-known purple shorts are [[MythologyGag given a nod]] when Betty brings Bruce a pair of purple sweats and answers his skeptical look by saying they're the stretchiest she could find.
* MaleGaze: During the cave scene, the viewers get a nice view of Liv Tyler's cleavage.
* MasterOfYourDomain: Banner learns meditative breathing techniques from a martial arts master played by Rickson Gracie in order to suppress his transformations. Several times he's shown lowering his pulse rate, [[spoiler:and the final scene shows him ''inducing'' a transformation through meditation (presumably because he doesn't want to have to [[DieOrFly jump out of a helicopter]] every time).]]
** [[spoiler:It returns as a ChekhovsGun in ''The Avengers'' when he induces a transformation and goes from Bruce to The Hulk in the space of a second, showing his control over the process.]]
* MilitariesAreUseless: As they try to curb his rampage in Harlem, the Abomination / Blonsky is disappointed that they're not much of a challenge to him, and is thrilled to see Hulk charge at him knowing it'll be more "fun".
* MookHorrorShow: General Ross sends a special ops team to capture Bruce Banner, and a trio of bullies catch up to same at the same time and decide to teach him a lesson. They both fail. This occurs in a creepy, darkened bottling plant and includes such moments as two men being dragged into the shadows while screaming, the view through a soldier's night vision goggles an instant before they short out, tranquilizer darts bouncing off and then being crushed beneath the footfalls of a green rage monster, and everyone involved freaking right the hell out.
* MrFanservice: Bruce, Bruce's martial arts teacher and Blonsky all gets a ShirtlessScene. Actually multiple in Bruce's case, even a shower scene.
* MsFanservice: Martina, as detailed in Fanservice above. She's also probably considered this in-universe, being harassed by some guys before Bruce interrupts them. Betty is repeatedly soaked in rain that turns her shirts see-through.
* MuggingTheMonster: The douchebag factory workers who try to rough up Bruce at the beginning.
* MythologyGag:
** The scene in which the Hulk tears a car in half and uses the pieces as impromptu boxing gloves is a direct nod to the "Steel Fists" move in the video game ''[[VideoGame/TheIncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction]]''. He also uses the Sonic Clap, and the Earthquake Smash, both from the same game.
** During the montage of Bruce's travels after his first "HulkOut" the ending theme of ''The Incredible Hulk'' TV series can be heard. Bill Bixby (that version's Banner) even makes a "cameo" from beyond the grave, via a clip from his earlier series ''The Courtship Of Eddie's Father'' playing on a television near the beginning. Also, when said {{Hulk Out}}s occur, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom his eyes turn green]], just like in the series.
** During the last scene we see Bruce in, he opens mail addressed to "David B." In the series, Banner went by "David" not "Bruce." [[note]]As a point of interest, Banner's full name, even in the MCU, is "Robert Bruce Banner", he goes by his middle name. The old series kept "Bruce" as his middle name, he just didn't go by it.[[/note]]
** Creator/LouFerrigno, the Hulk to Bixby's Banner, makes a genuine cameo as a security guard. Also, he provides the Hulk's voice.
** The device Banner exposes himself to in the flashback of his origin is identical to the one used in the TV show. Also, aside from the addition of a few glimpses of his LoveInterest, the origin-flashback is a shot-for-shot ''recreation'' of the TV series' opening-credits sequence, right down to the clothes Norton wears.
** When Ross' team is tracking Bruce's correspondence to Mr. Blue, his email runs through a database that briefly flashes the ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} logo. The Mr. Green/Mr. Blue email correspondence itself is a reference to the comics written by Bruce Jones around 2003/2004.
** The strike team isn't sure if the Hulk is green or grey in the dark, a reference to the coloring issue in the original comic that led to the Hulk's current color. Also, there is a scene where Hulk is shouting in the rain, and each time the lightning flashes, his skin looks gray in the light.
** One of the students who witnesses the fight at the university is named Jack [=McGee=], described as a reporter for the student paper, a reference to the investigative reporter from the TV series.
*** The other student being interviewed is Jim Wilson, the Hulk's former KidSidekick and ComicBook/TheFalcon's nephew.
*** The university is the Culver University, a shout out to the Culver Institute in the live action series.
*** Similarly, the novelization identifies the student in the computer lab as Amadeus Cho, now better known as [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules' buddy]].
** Creator/PaulSoles played Bruce Banner in ''The Marvel Super Heroes'' and Spider-Man in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967'', now is the pizzeria owner Stan.
** Blonsky's slide into madness after taking the serum mirrors that of the 1950s Captain America. In fact, since the ''Captain America'' movie is in the same continuity as this one, it's entirely possible that the serum that is given to Blonsky is precisely the same one. It's stated in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' that the super serum strengthens the user's main personality traits. For Cap, it was his heroism, for ComicBook/RedSkull, it was his evilness, and for Blonsky, it was his [[BloodKnight love of fighting]]. This is confirmed in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', where it's also mentioned that Bruce's accident was the result of attempting to recreate Erskine's work by using gamma radiation instead. It's possible therefore in this continuity, Banner also took a version of the serum which brought out his repressed anger.
** The [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Super Soldier Serum]] used in the movie is shown to have been developed by an organization known as Weapon Plus. Weapon Plus had several programs working on supersoldiers, the most famous being [[{{Wolverine}} Weapon X]]. In the comics, [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Captain America]] was Weapon One. Wolverine was Weapon Ten.
** The laboratory setting for the Hulk's origin and the equipment therein are based on details from the 1978 TV series, right down to the targeting light creeping across Banner's face. Likewise the eye-color effects, which also originated in the series.
** In stumbling Portuguese, Banner begs a trio of Brazilian toughs, "Don't make me... hungry. You wouldn't like me when I'm ... hungry" -- a playful reference to the famous line from the ''Hulk'' TV series, featured in its opening credits.
** When Banner is begging in the Guatemalan marketplace, a short excerpt from "The Lonely Man", aka the "Banner walking away at the end of an episode" music from the TV series, plays.
** Shortly after they go on the run together, Betty gives Banner a pair of [[MagicPants purple shorts]], saying, "they were the stretchiest pair I could find."
** The cryonic storage capsule holding the "super soldier serum" is labeled with the name "Dr. Reinstein", the original name of the doctor who gave Captain America his abilities in the comics. [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger It's not just a gag.]] It's {{foreshadowing}}.
** The package from the pawn shop which contains Betty's pendant is addressed to "David B.", referencing the TV series' Banner, whose first name was "David".
** General Ross makes several references to Banner being on the run for five years -- the time between this film and the earlier 2003 ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' film.
** During the opening credits, one of the list of people suspected to have contact with Banner is "Richard Jones".
** "Hulk smash!"
** When Bruce sneaks his way into the university laboratory, we see a student with whom he shared his pizza. In the novelization, the student identifies himself as Amadeus Cho, a supporting character for Hulk and [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]].
** [[spoiler:We see the creation of the Hulk villain Leader, created when the AppliedPhlebotinum goes into the scientist's head. Probable SequelHook.]]
** [[spoiler:Similarly, Betty's boyfriend is obviously a pre-mutated Doc Sampson.]] According to the novelization, yup, he is.
** And at the very end, [[spoiler:the movie's continuity is cemented with the appearance of [[Film/IronMan Tony Stark]].]]
** "Stark Industries" was written on the rocket launcher.
* NeckLift:
** Blonsky lifts Sterns up by the chest, but the same principle.
** Hulk does the traditional variant to two soldiers at the soft drink plant battle.
* NextSundayAD: A detailed timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals that the events of this film take place in 2011, as the film was released in 2008.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Had Emil not been injected with a super soldier serum, that kick from the Green Machine would most certainly have killed him.
* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Justified. In the original comics, Emil Blonsky was from Russia and was a KGB agent. In the movie, Blonsky was still born in Russia, but he's said to have been raised in England and served in the British Royal Marines. This allows Tim Roth to use his natural accent.
* OhCrap:
** After Bruce [[spoiler:jumps out of the helicopter and realizes he can't HulkOut.]] ''"[[CurseCutShort SH-]]"''
** "Test subjects?!?"
* LeParkour: One of the chase sequences involves Banner doing this to avoid pursuit.
* PietaPlagiarism: At the battle on the college campus, The Hulk saves Betty, then he carries her away.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner: [[spoiler:"HULK... ''SMASH''!" He proceeds to do so to the Abomination in about twelve different ways.]]
* ProtagonistTitle: ''The Incredible Hulk''.
* PsychoSerum: This is a Zigzag. [[spoiler:The two injections Blonsky takes during the movie are SuperSerum that make him more able and driven but also less stable and more obsessed with a rematch with the Hulk. When this first PsychoSerum combines with Bruce Banner's own gamma-enhanced blood samples, it finally crosses him over into The Abomination and causes him to lose whatever remnants of morality he had left (he goes on a rampage across Harlem, killing dozens if not hundreds of innocent bystanders, for no viable reason other than [[AxCrazy enslavement to madness]]).]]
* PunchedAcrossTheRoom: More like "Kicked Across The Field Into A Tree", but what else can you expect as a regular-sized person going up against The Hulk? SuperSoldier or not, Blonsky plus Hulk foot equals SPLAT.
* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: [[IronicEcho "Is that all you've got?"]]
* RemakeCameo: Like with the 2003 movie, Creator/LouFerrigno plays a security guard (this time interacting with Bruce Banner himself). And in a variant, a clip of Bill Bixby (a scene from ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'') is featured at a certain point to feature both protagonists of the old show.
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:The very ending shows Banner consciously inducing a Hulk episode, but cuts off immediately, leaving the circumstances and Banner's new direction ambiguous. In the ''Avengers'' movie, Banner reveals that anger management isn't much of an issue anymore, and he is in a constant state of TranquilFury. He can control the Hulk transformation to some extent, and the Hulk himself is slightly tamer, less mindless, and more amenable to cooperation with others.]]
* RewatchBonus: Try watching this movie after ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' and look for the WorldBuilding references (i.e., [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger the Super-soldier serum]] and [[Film/IronMan the Stark Industries-designed weapons]]). It's a ''very'' different experience from watching it ''before'' the ''Avengers''.
* RomanticRunnerUp: Doc Samson is an all-around nice guy who just had the bad luck of dating ComicBook/BettyRoss when the love of her life walked back into town. For the most part, he doesn't begrudge Banner for it either, mostly because the Hulk saved Betty's life from General Ross's goons.
* RuleOfThree: Emil Blonsky fights the Hulk three times. [[spoiler:...And ''loses'' three times.]]
* SatelliteLoveInterest: Betty receives little characterization beyond being Bruce's love interest.
* SaveTheVillain: [[spoiler: At the climax, Betty talks Hulk out of strangling Blonsky to death.]]
* SceneryPorn: The flyover shots of the Brazilian hillside slums at the beginning of the movie.
* SellWhatYouLove: When Bruce and Betty become fugitives and need money, Betty has to sell her precious necklace, which is a keepsake of her late mother. Thankfully, Bruce manages to get it back to her at the end of the movie.
* SequelHook:
** The same genetic cocktail that created the Abomination [[spoiler:seeps into a wound on Dr. Samuel Sterns forehead, causing his transformation into the Leader.]] Where exactly this will end up now is unknown, since a direct sequel can't happen (Universal holds the rights to Solo-Hulk films), though the fate of Samuel Sterns was given in the lead-in comic for ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', "Fury's Big Week."
** In TheStinger, [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] mentions that he is "putting a team together", which meant that it was probably a sequel hook to ''The Avengers'' movie (which was an idea when it was first made.)
** [[spoiler:The final shot is Bruce HulkingOut by willpower alone, foreshadowing something that happens in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.]]
* SexyShirtSwitch: Betty gets one, though without the sex part. More like before, or an attempt. See CantHaveSexEver above.
* SexySoakedShirt: Betty chases after Bruce in the rain, resulting in this.
* ShockwaveStomp: "Hulk... SMASH!"
* SnowyScreenOfDeath: Occurs when the Abomination drops a car on the soldiers that had been tailing it, cutting off Ross' video link.
* SociopathicSoldier: Blonsky starts out as a mild example. He tranqs a dog because it annoyed him but is otherwise a functional individual. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Then things get worse.]]
* SpiritualSuccessor: Originally, this movie could be seen as a straight-up sequel to the 2003 movie that simply changes/adjusts aspects of the backstory à la ''Evil Dead 2'' or ''Superman Returns''. For instance, it handwaves the opening as an inaccurate nightmare that Banner is having. However, as of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', the '03 movie is ''definitely'' out-of-continuity with this one because in that movie, Glenn Talbot died as well as being quite different in portrayal[[note]]though one could ignore Glenn's appearance in the 2003 movie and replace him with a different character[[/note]]; his absence here could be given a {{Handwave}} before then, but now that he's appeared alive and well in the MCU there is no way to consider this anything more than a SpiritualSuccessor.
** Except for the left hanging questions that would only make sense if you connect them to the origin story of the 2003 Hulk movie like when Tony Stark states that Bruce shouldn't have survived the radiation accident and since there hasn't been any proper elaboration on that question it's safe to say that the 2003 continuity can still exist in some sort of way. The introduction of the multiverses in Film/AvengersEndgame somewhat help with that argument.
* TheStinger: [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] appears shortly before the credits and converses with General Ross (who is [[DrowningMySorrows drowning his sorrows]] at a bar). [[spoiler:Stark]] reprimands him on the consequences of the supersoldier project that resulted in its prior cancellation, and tells him that they are putting together [[Film/TheAvengers2012 a team.]] [[spoiler:''Film/TheConsultant'' (featured on the ''Thor'' Blu-Ray) reveals that SHIELD sent Stark specifically so he'd piss Ross off and cause him to ''refuse'' to let the Abomination be on the team, something the WSC were pushing for.]]
* StealthPun:
** The Sikorsky MH-53 helicopter used by Ross has a nickname; the "Jolly Green Giant".
** In the final scene:
--->'''General Ross:''' [[spoiler:[[Film/IronMan Stark]], you always wear such [[PoweredArmor nice suits]].]]
* SuperHumanTrafficking: Bruce/Hulk are "property" of the US because of the gamma blood in their system.
* SuperReflexes: The Hulk slaps [=RPGs=] out of the air. Blonsky is faster as a super soldier, and after his transformation into the Abomination he catches an RPG as an OffhandBackhand.
* SuperSpeed: Blonsky casually outpaces several soldiers while running. The Hulk and the Abomination can keep up with Humvees.
* SuperStrength: Duh, it's a Hulk movie.
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: During the attack on Culver University, the Hulk finally gets tired of Blonsky's taunts and ineffective attacks and simply kicks him. Because he's the Incredible Hulk, Blonsky is sent hundreds of yards into a tree with a gruesome crunching sound and only survives because of the super soldier serum he was already injected with.
* SwallowTheKey: Having lost his computer the last time he was chased, when the Army attacks Bruce at the University campus, Bruce swallows an important data stick so he won't risk losing it or letting it fall into the wrong hands. Amazingly, it still works after he... retrieves it.
* TakesOneToKillOne: When the U.S. military can't do anything to hinder Blonsky's rampage, Ross is forced to allow Hulk to take down Blonsky.
* TapOnTheHead: Blonsky does this twice, to Banner and then a female colleague.
* TastesLikeFriendship: Banner wants to go into a library guarded by a security guard. So how does he get in? He masquerades as a pizza delivery boy and gives the guard a whole pizza.
* TechnologicalPacifist: Banner. Ross seems to imply that this position is common in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, and that "scientists" are not to be trusted with military matters in any way, shape, or form.
-->'''Ross:''' ''[[WithUsOrAgainstUs He’s a scientist. He is NOT one of us.]]''
* TooDumbToLive: Emil Blonsky deserves special mention. He held his own in a battle with Hulk, mainly because of how quick he was, due to the super soldier serum he'd been given. After he and the rest of his military division have thrown everything they have at Hulk, and he is still walking, Ross tells Blonsky to fall back. Blonsky then rips off his earpiece, drops his gun and attempts to stare down the Hulk, saying "Is that all you've got?" Cue Hulk-powered thrust kick to the chest, followed by being smooshed all over a tree. Said smooshing breaks every bone in his body, which would have killed him if not for the super soldier serum.
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: There was a TV spot that spoiled [[spoiler:Robert Downey Jr.'s cameo as Tony Stark]] towards the end of the film.
* TroubledFetalPosition: Banner enters this after a particularly nasty FlashbackEcho hits him in the bath.
* {{Tuckerization}}: The military base, "Fort Johnson", is named after Kenneth Johnson; the writer, director, and producer of ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977''.
* UnstoppableRage: This is Hulk's main superpower, though it seems more centered on general heart rate (the "Hulk rate" being 200 BPM) than rage this time around, and can be released initially by extreme stress.
* UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: There's a form of this with Hulk versus the Abomination. The former is the meek scientist Bruce Banner with an inferior version of the Captain America formula combined with genetic primers and gamma radiation. The latter is the veteran marine Emile Blonsky with a more advanced version of the formula ''and'' the Hulk's blood. Consequently the Abomination is larger and stronger, not to mention Blonsky's in complete control despite being crazy. The Hulk has the advantage of getting stronger with rage and greater intelligence which wins him the fight when Blonsky turns on Betty and Ross.
* VertigoEffect: Two vertigo effects right after another appear showing Ross and Blonsky's reactions when Banner turns into the Hulk on the college campus.
* WeakButSkilled: Even before the treatment, Blonsky notes that "if I could take everything I know now and put it in the body I had ten years ago, that would be something I wouldn't want to face." His second encounter with the Hulk (after he's been enhanced but before he becomes the Abomination) shows that he's smaller and weaker but more agile and has greater skill. This is in comparison to the Hulk. He's outrunning soldiers YEARS younger. It's only when he stops and tries to stare the Hulk down that he gets splatted.
* WhatTheHellHero: Doc Samson [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech chews out]] General Ross after Betty got caught in the crossfire at the College.
-->'''Doc Samson:''' He ''protected'' her. You almost ''killed'' her!
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: In the beginning, Blonsky seems like an overly gung-ho soldier but a relatively decent guy who's loyal to his work and his men, but after doses of failed super-soldier serum he slowly goes more and more power mad, until he goes completely destructively insane in the end. A deleted scene emphasizes the potential for mental instability as a byproduct of the serum. Prior to the injection, Ross outright threatens to remove Blonsky from active duty if he takes a step out of line.
* WorthyOpponent: {{Subverted}}. Emil Blonsky views the Hulk this way and goes out of his way to become strong enough to face him in combat but when he finally reaches that level in the end, he decides that Bruce doesn't deserve his power.
* WouldHitAGirl: Blonsky tosses Betty across the room and knocks out a female colleague from behind.
* XDaysSince: Used at least twice, at [[BookEnds both the start and the end of the film]], measuring how many days had passed since the Hulk made an appearance.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Due to battle stress, Blonsky is only 39 years old but looks like he's in his late 40s (at the time of filming, Tim Roth was 46).
* YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry:
** Given that this is an adaptation of the TropeNamer, of course this makes an appearance. It's rather cleverly inserted too, as Bruce messes up the line while speaking Portuguese.
--->'''Bruce:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' You wouldn't like me when I'm... hungry? ''[in English]'' Wait, that doesn't sound right.
** The trailer (and the deleted scene it came from) also had a variation on the phrase which was pretty good.
--->'''Bruce:''' There are aspects of my personality that I can't control, and when I lose control, it's very dangerous to be around me.
[[/folder]]
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to:
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[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine Our only hope is something...]] [[TitleDrop incredible.]]'']]
->''"As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army."''
-->-- '''General Thunderbolt Ross'''
''The Incredible Hulk'' is a 2008 film based on the character of the same name; following the trend of rebooting a franchise rather than creating a sequel to an unpopular first effort, this film takes place in a different continuity from [[Film/{{Hulk}} the 2003 version]] and is the second movie in both the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse and its Phase 1.
The story takes place five years after the tragic accident which created the Comicbook/{{Hulk}}, glimpses of which are seen in the opening credits. Bruce Banner (Creator/EdwardNorton) has [[DiscontinuityNod taken refuge in Brazil]] as a worker at a bottling plant, where he keeps a low profile and works on controlling his anger in his spare time. When Bruce accidentally spills blood into one of the bottles, [[Creator/StanLee a man]] falls ill from Gamma poisoning by drinking it, which is the clue General Ross (Creator/WilliamHurt) uses to track Banner down. Along for the ride is Emil Blonsky (Creator/TimRoth), who is destined to become one of the Hulk's deadliest foes: the Abomination.
[[ScrewedByTheLawyers Thanks to legal issues with Universal]], the film has not gotten a sequel. Even worse, when the Hulk next appeared in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' alongside Film/IronMan, Film/{{Thor}} and [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Captain America]], he was [[TheOtherDarrin recast]] with Creator/MarkRuffalo, and very few references were made to any of the events in this film[[note]]such as an allusion to an alternate version of the opening where the Hulk keeps Bruce from killing himself, along with a quip said by Banner himself about he "broke Harlem" the last time he was in New York[[/note]]. The movie's role in the setting was finally reinforced when Hurt reprised his role as General Ross in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''. Ten years later, the logo for the film was openly included in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jNvJU52LvU montage]] that listed all the movies preceding ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', though it didn't have footage from this film -- footage from ''The Avengers'' and ''Captain America: Civil War'' was used for Banner and Ross, respectively (that said, the Infinity Saga variant of the montage ''did'' include footage from the movie). In a later May 2019 AMA, [[WordOfGod Kevin Feige]] [[https://old.reddit.com/r/marvelstudios/comments/bp084n/hi_reddit_im_kevin_feige_amaa/enncmsh/ confirmed the student eating pizza in this film is the same person as the debate coach in]] ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', so in any case, Marvel execs aren't shy about acknowledging its canonicity.
As noted above, the Hulk next appears in ''The Avengers'', released in 2012. After a cameo in TheStinger of ''Film/IronMan3'' in 2013, his next proper appearance would be in 2015's ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', followed by 2017's ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' in 2018, and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' in 2019. It would not be until 2019 until it was announced that a spin-off, ''She-Hulk'', was announced for Creator/DisneyPlus; given that Universal only has the movie rights, [[LoopholeAbuse the platform seems to be how Disney will sidestep those issues in order to better integrate these characters into the setting]]. The fact that the Abomination will finally return, with Tim Roth reprising the role, further indicates this.
----
!!HULK HAS STRONGEST TROPES THERE IS!
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Tropes A to L]]
* OneDimensionalThinking: Averted. A soldier running from a huge water tank Hulk threw at him tries to jump out of his path but it's moving so fast it catches on his legs and drags him.
* AccidentalPervert: Bruce while escaping the military runs into Martina while she's changing.
* AdaptationalBadass: Not that comic Bruce Banner can't handle himself in a fight, but this movie version has actual training in martial arts.
* AdaptationDistillation: The film takes bits and pieces from Hulk's 45 year history and compresses them into a single movie. Everything is covered, from Bruce trying (and failing) to find a cure to Bruce being unable to have sex with Betty to Hulk being incredibly protective of Betty. The only thing not brought up is Bruce's daddy issues, and given the huge amount of focus that got in the Ang Lee movie, omitting it entirely may very well be justified.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Played with by Samuel Sterns. In the comics, Sterns is one of the more diabolical villains in that universe, but Sterns is introduced in the film as an eccentric and careless but mostly harmless scientist who tries to cure Banner. [[spoiler:After attempting to cure Banner, we then see that Sterns has stockpiled and reproduced Banner's irradiated blood for experimenting. The last we see of him, he's beginning to undergo his transformation into the villainous Leader.]] Although he has yet to return to the films, the comic tie-in continues his story.
* AdaptationalIntelligence: While comic Betty is not dumb, this version of Betty is actually a scientist.
* AdaptationalNationality: An interesting case. Blonsky is stated to be born in Russia, but raised in England as an Englishman, and eventually served the Royal Marines. In the comics, he was a Soviet spy who served in the KGB. This change is to explain Tim Roth's accent.
* AdaptationalWimp:
** The Hulk's HealingFactor is severely toned down from the comics and 2003 version. Same for his super leaps.
** Doc Samson, as he's known in the comics, is a superhero with a standard SuperStrength and SuperToughness power set, none of which he demonstrates here.
* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: ''The Incredible Hulk''.
* AdmiringTheAbomination: At a few key moments in the film, Samuel Sterns reveals his intense admiration of the monster and his eagerness to see what it can do despite the danger.
* AdultFear: {{Jerkass}} that he may be, you still feel for General Ross when he sees his daughter engulfed by a fireball and then lying motionlessly in Hulk's arms.
* AgeLift: A college student named after Jack [=McGee=] from ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'' appears as a college student, whereas his original counterpart was the same age as Bruce.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Martina is clearly attracted to Bruce, but he doesn't reciprocate it. Understandable given his circumstances though.
* AllThereInTheManual:
** Characters not seen in the film, such as Nick Fury and Rick Jones, are at least mentioned in print in the opening sequence.
** What was [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] after when he went to speak to General Ross? [[spoiler:The World Security Council wanted the Abomination on the Avengers. Stark was sent by S.H.I.E.L.D. in the hopes he'd piss Ross off and cause him to refuse to release Blonsky to the team]], as revealed in ''Film/TheConsultant''.
** The film's novelization contains some implications of past [[AbusiveParents parental abuse]] for Bruce. For the most part, it's in the wording, but Bruce's first thought and instinct upon meeting Doc Samson is that Samson is going to punch him.
--->Meantime he approached Banner and put out his hand. It was all Banner could do not to take a step backward in anticipation of Samson endeavoring to belt him.
* AlmightyJanitor: Lampshaded. The factory owner remarks that Bruce is too smart for daily labour and offers to put him on payroll.
* AppropriatedAppellation: "Hulk" (coined during a news broadcast of the rampage at the college) and "Abomination" (never used to refer to the mutated Blonsky outside of a warning Sterns gives him before the actual mutation and a line from the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in ''The Consultant'').
* ArmiesAreEvil: Ross tries to imply that he's a WellIntentionedExtremist, but in private he admits proudly that he ''admires'' the Hulk's power, and wishes to "[[TheyWouldCutYouUp cut it out]]" of Banner and turn it loose on America's enemies, despite all the collateral damage Hulk inflicts. His dragon also proudly admits that he's a BloodKnight. The rest are {{mook}}s.
-->'''General Ross:''' As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: In this version, Banner says it is an elevated heart rate that triggers his transformation (instead of the traditional fear/anger/adrenaline combo), and later he stops just before having sex with Betty when his pulse monitor goes off. However, the heart rate that triggers Hulk-outs is shown to be an even 200 beats per minute. Discounting the unlikelihood of that happening, this leaves everything in the range of 150-200 beats per minute, the ''low'' end of which is a target heart rate for strenuous activity for someone of Bruce's age, perfectly safe. His heart rate should probably kill him long before an event is triggered, but instead, we're told that he gets far too excited during foreplay. [[spoiler:It all becomes a moot point in ''The Avengers'' where Tony theorizes that the Hulk chooses when to come out. This is usually to protect Banner in dangerous (i.e. stressful and heart pounding) situations.]]
* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: At one point, UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu and UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts legend [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickson_Gracie Rickson Gracie]] shows up in a cameo as Bruce's martial arts instructor and is credited as... ''Aikido'' instructor.
* ArtisticLicenseMilitary:
** The film depicts the US Army as all wearing the Battle Dress Uniforms, when the Army had mostly replaced that uniform with the digital-camouflaged Army Combat Uniform by 2008. In fact, the BDU had been formally discontinued for months when this film was released.
** The soldiers are also shown using M16 rifles when the Army had largely replaced ''those'' with the M4 carbine.
** As a General in the Army, Ross should know that it's not considered appropriate to get [[DrowningMySorrows utterly smashed]] in a bar while in his Class A's.
** It's hard to know if General Ross ever heard of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_comitatus posse comitatus]]'', a law (which has been in force for ''over a century'') that states that the US Military is explicitly prohibited from acting as a police unit, which is precisely what he is doing by declaring Banner to be a murderer (responsible for the deaths of two scientists, an Army officer, an Idaho state trooper and two hunters) and sending in Army units to arrest him (this is setting aside whether or not his declaring Banner to be government property violates the involuntary servitude section of the 13th Amendment). The NYPD would have been legally entitled (and technically required) to arrest him for trying to arrest Banner himself rather than leaving that job up to the local police or the FBI (and the same goes for the Culver University attempt to capture Banner). Not to mention the possibility for a diplomatic incident by sending a commando unit into Brazil, a friendly country which has had an active extradition agreement with the US for over 40 years to kidnap a fugitive without even trying to go through the proper extradition procedures.[[note]]The fun part is how all of this managed not to prevent him from being confirmed as Secretary of State by the time of ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''[[/note]]
* AssholeVictim:
** The reckless, rude cabbie's vehicle ends up being a weapon of choice for Abomination.
** The three bullies at the factory are taught a lesson in prudence by The Hulk.
* BadassNormal: Blonsky is one the finest soldiers in the British military long before his transformation. Though the years have taken their toll and he admits he is not even close to his peak level ability before getting the first dose, he is still the first choice to take on The Hulk.
* BarbieDollAnatomy: When Blonsky transforms into the Abomination, unlike the Hulk, none of his clothes stay on, but he doesn't need them anyway, as he lacks visible external genitalia (given the nature of his transformation, it's likely they're inside his pelvis). The commentary by the director and Tim Roth have them pointing out that since the Hulk has pants, he's got to have something under them, but the Abomination does not. This gets a passing mention when compared to Roth's complaints towards Abomination's anatomy and the lack thereof, with regard to the [[spoiler:ears.]]
* BeastAndBeauty: The scene of the Hulk and Betty in the cave definitely invokes this.
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: If you ignore the green skin and the increased size, the Hulk is a pretty hot (and ''ripped'') WalkingShirtlessScene. If you ignore the yellow skin and the increased size, Abomination... is a ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' MonsterOfTheWeek. It's FridgeBrilliance for those who watch ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' before watching this movie: Dr. Abraham Erskine's formula "brought out what was within," which is why the Red Skull was... well, a red skull. Abomination's inhuman appearance is due to the same effect.
** Also shown in a scene before his transformation, It is subtly pointed out that the serum he was given is close to the Super soldier serum, and Blonsky was already transforming into a creature before getting infused with Hulk Blood.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Somehow, all that fire after [[spoiler:the helicopter crash]] never touched Betty's long, beautiful, ''extremely flammable'' hair.
* BerserkButton: Becomes especially enraged whenever harm towards Betty is involved no matter how harmless like being physically restrained by Ross's men.
* BigBadEnsemble: Emil Blonsky and Thunderbolt Ross are the main villains; Ross trying to capture Banner is the primary source of conflict, but he gets upstaged as the FinalBoss when his {{Dragon}}, Blonsky, injects himself with Banner's blood to become the Abomination. Ross and Banner are [[EnemyMine forced to work together]] in order to stop his ensuing rampage.
* BigNo: General Ross, when he believes that Betty has been killed by the explosion of a crashed helicopter on the campus.
* BloodKnight: After surviving the MookHorrorShow below, Blonsky is downright ''eager'' for a rematch.
* BodyHorror:
** Emil Blonsky's slow transformation, which is reminiscent of ''Film/TheFly1986.'' One scene especially, where you can see his spine protruding out of his back.
** Bruce's transformation to the Hulk is incredibly painful and at times asymmetrical. The top half of him will sometimes transform before the lower half catches up.
* BookEnds: We see green beverages at the beginning and end - the guarana sodas and that stuff General Ross keeps knocking back--which are, in fact, a real-life drink named "The Incredible Hulk."
* BroadStrokes: The movie is technically a ContinuityReboot, doing a quick revisit of the origin story and having General Ross further explain their version of the backstory details. Still, it uses elements of the 2003 movie in that it starts 5 years after Banner's FreakLabAccident, as even with major details changed it would retread the same basic story (Banner is irradiated, learns what he has become and fights against the military). The '03 movie also ends with Banner hiding from the government in South America, which is where this movie picks up his story. The major details that were changed include that the Hulk doesn't get larger the angrier he gets, General Ross was not a sympathetic figure and Bruce's project was tied directly to the military instead of just attracting their attention when things went crazy. ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' reveals another detail that's different from ''Hulk'': Glenn Talbot is still in the army--and still alive and well. He's also considerably older and actually ends up reaching the same rank as Ross.
* BullyingADragon: Blonsky gets some humble pie courtesy of the Hulk.
-->'''Blonsky:''' Is that it? Is that all you've got?\\
''[Hulk kicks Blonsky across a field and into a tree, flattening him]''
* TheCameo: Martial artist Rickson Gracie appears to teach Banner breathing exercises.
* CantHaveSexEver: The movie demonstrates that, rather than simply getting angry, it's an elevated heart rate that triggers his transformation--making sex off limits.
* CassandraTruth: When Blonsky demands to have the Hulk's blood and gamma radiation applied to him, Sterns argues against it, claiming that the gamma-blood combined with Blonksky's experimental super-serumed body might turn him into "an abomination". Blonsky doesn't care, and holds Sterns at gunpoint to transform him anyway.
* CatchPhrase:
** "HULK '''SMASH'''!" is inserted at the climax of the fight between Hulk and Abomination; it doubles as a PreAsskickingOneLiner.
** {{Parodied}} when Bruce tries to warn some bullies not to make him angry, but his mediocre Portuguese leaves him saying "Don't make me hungry. You won't like me when I'm hungry. Wait, that doesn't sound right."
* ChekhovsGun: Several are briefly glimpsed in the opening sequence (e.g. the name of Doc Samson and other characters who would appear later). For a more literal case, the plans for the sonic Humvees used at the university appear, and are seen to be provided by [[Film/IronMan Stark Industries.]]
* ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames: {{Played with}}. The Hulk is called so very sparingly, with only Blonsky and the Hulk himself ever using it in a non-ironic fashion. Also, the Abomination is never directly called that, except for one off-hand remark by Samuel Sterns. General Ross is not referred to as "Thunderbolt" Ross, though a deleted scene has him referred to as "T" over the phone.
* ConfusedBystanderInterview: There's an interview that doubles as a MythologyGag: the two college students interviewed about the Hulk's appearance at Culver University are Jack [=McGee=] (Banner's InspectorJavert from [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the TV series]]) and Jim Wilson (one of Hulk's {{Kid Sidekick}}s from the comics). [=McGee=] is even described as a reporter...for the ''student'' newspaper.
* ContinuityNod: [[https://postimg.org/image/wtfcrfqev/ The S.H.I.E.L.D. logo]] shows up on computer screens twice.
* ContrivedCoincidence: It's bad enough poor Bruce is barely staying ahead of his Army pursuers in Brazil, [[FromBadToWorse he manages to bowl into the leader of the bullies]] - in a crowded city - while doing so.
* CreatorCameo: Creator/StanLee will think twice before opening another bottle of soda.
* DangerousPhlebotinumInteraction: Blonsky makes Sterns infuse him with [[spoiler:Bruce Banner's blood]] so he can gain the Hulk's power. Due to his own Super Soldier Serum reacting with it [[spoiler:he undergoes a one-way transformation to the stronger (and uglier) Abomination]].
* DieOrFly: Having taken [[spoiler:an antidote to his powers, when he needs them back Bruce jumps out of a helicopter.]] DoubleSubverted, with an OhCrap moment when it looks like it's not going to work.
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: A normal human, even one with a failed super soldier serum, should NOT walk up to an enormous [[BuffySpeak green rage monster]] and say 'Is that all you got'?
* DrivenToSuicide: A DeletedScene for the alternate opening had Bruce Banner [[AteHisGun putting his gun into his mouth]], feeling that this was the only way to get rid of the Hulk for good. He then shot himself, only for him to transform and spit the bullet back out. It was deleted for its dark tone, although it was later referred to in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.[[note]]The cutting of this scene is a reason that Edward Norton gave when he stated he would not return for any sequels or ''The Avengers''. He felt the scene was cut in order to make the gag listed above in Die or Fly work, at the cost of an important character moment for Banner.[[/note]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: When going to New York to track down Blue, when given the choice between the subway and the taxi, Banner and Betty decided on the taxi. To put it simply, cramped or not, they really should have chosen the subway instead. Hilariously, Bruce manages to keep calm for the most part. Betty is the one who freaks out, and she screams in the driver's face when they come to a stop. [[note]]This makes sense, considering that Bruce has been practicing staying calm with breathing exercises and whatnot, and Betty is freaking out because she knows just how close they came to a disaster.[[/note]]
* DrowningMySorrows: [[spoiler:What General Ross ended up doing in the ending before Tony Stark meets up with him with the proposal of forming a team.]]
-->'''General Ross:''' Reload. ''[takes a shot]'' Reload.
* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: Blonsky by the end.
-->'''Blonsky:''' I want more.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Due to ContinuityDrift between this and later movies.
** Besides having Edward Norton instead of [[TheOtherDarrin Mark Ruffalo]] as Bruce Banner, the Hulk also looks slightly different from his appearances from ''The Avengers'' onward, with more ripped muscles. The Hulk's face also doesn't match Norton's face as well as Ruffalo's Hulk (and Eric Bana's, for that matter) matches his respective Banner. This was due to time constraints. Banner's eyes also glow green when he transforms, which was a nod to the TV series but was dropped in later films.
** The Super Soldier Serum is revealed through a FreezeFrameBonus to have been developed by "Dr. Renstein". In ''Captain America: The First Avenger'', the serum's inventor is named Dr. Abraham Erskine. The comics had Renstein as the original name of the doctor (obviously alluding to UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein) which was later {{retcon}}ned to Erskine, with Renstein explained as an alias. But given how the Captain America film plays out, it is likely that this serum was reverse-engineered from Captain America's blood by a different person.
** Stylistically, the film also feels jarring compared to other MCU films thanks to having a dour, darker tone with very little comedy as opposed to most MCU movies, where even the more serious and dramatic ones have more humor. Not ''feeling'' like an MCU film is also a factor in it seeming like a standalone movie, but it's hard to argue with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark showing up.
* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Ross's forces support the Hulk after the Abomination starts ripping apart New York. Notably, the general looks just as surprised as everyone else when a military helicopter starts chasing Banner after Blonsky's defeat, ending their brief alliance.]]
* EvilBrit: Blonsky is changed to one, although unlike other examples, he is not cultured or refined (speaking with a heavy Cockney accent).
* EvilCounterpart: While the Hulk is a destructive monster that Bruce can't quite control, the Abomination is far more of a menace. He's also bigger, stronger and faster than the Hulk thanks to the combination of the Super Soldier Serum and the gamma radiation which created the Hulk in the first place. Hulk has two advantages: first, Abomination's strength is more or less static, while Hulk's increases the angrier he gets, and second, Hulk is significantly better at using his strength in new ways, while the Abomination is much more focused on direct applications of power.
* EvilPlan: Ross wants to capture Banner and reverse engineer his blood for super soldiers. As the movie progresses, Blonsky's desire for an even fight with the Hulk overtakes this plan.
* EyeAwaken: Blonsky beginning to recover from his injuries.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Bruce's primary goal during this film is to rid himself of the Hulk. Obviously, that doesn't happen (there were already plans for the character to appear in future movies, after all).
* {{Fanservice}}:
** When Bruce accidentally falls into the room of Martina, his co-worker at the factory while running from the military, she is in the process of changing clothes, thus in only a shirt, and the viewers are treated to some {{Sideboob}}, exposed upper chest (without showing the nips), and [[ShesGotLegs completely exposed legs]].
** Betty is shown in her lingerie. See also MaleGaze, SexyShirtSwitch and SexySoakedShirt below.
** The various [[ShirtlessScene shirtless scenes]] of the male characters could also count, but Blonsky's eventually devolves into FanDisservice after his spine starts protruding.
* FingerTwitchingRevival: [[spoiler:Emil Blonsky indicates his impending revival by his fingers coming to staccato life as Gen. Ross is walking away from his hospital bed. Even though his fingers are almost fully wrapped up in bandages and his whole arm and hand are in a suspension cast. Now ''that'' is a commitment to the trope.]]
* FiveRoundsRapid:
** {{Lampshaded}}.
--->'''Soldier 1:''' ''[firing several rounds at the Abomination]''\\
'''Soldier 2:''' You think a ''rifle's'' gonna hurt that? Come on! ''[gets a rocket launcher]''
** The Abomination then ''[[OffhandBackhand snatches]]'' [[NoSell the rocket out of the air, slams it into his own chest]], and laughs the explosion off.
* FlashbackEcho: Banner gets PTSD-esque ones from his time as the Hulk.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Betty's new boyfriend is pretty obviously Doc Samson, while the doctor working with Bruce is Samuel Sterns, destined to be The Leader. [[spoiler:During the climax, a bit of Bruce Banner's blood falls into a head wound that Sterns has. His head than starts pulsing and expanding as he gives a sinister smile...]]
** When General Ross is speaking to Blonsky:
--->'''Ross:''' Let me emphasize that what I'm about to share with you is tremendously sensitive, both to me personally and the Army. You're aware that we've got an Infantry Weapons Development program. Well, [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger in WWII, they initiated a sub-program for Bio-Tech Force Enhancement.]]
** Everything about the serum is foreshadowing for Cap, especially regarding Bruce and Blonsky's experiences with it. The gamma radiation magnified the effect of the serum described in Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger, which is to magnify a person's inner attributes as well as their physical attributes, i.e. Bruce's anger issues and Blonsky's [[BloodKnight love of a good fight]].
* FreakLabAccident: The Hulk's origin was changed to this from his comic version's exposure to a gamma bomb. Apparently he was taking some sort of [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic cocktail]] (designed by Betty) which allowed him to survive the exposure.
* GeneralRipper: Ross shows no compunction or contemplation about weaponizing something as unruly and savage as the Hulk in order to maintain America's military might (though he likely thinks that enough research will figure out a way to get the strength without the lack of control). He also breaks a number of laws and oversteps authority, as shown in Artistic License.
* GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke: Literally, since, as noted above, the Hulk's origin was changed to reflect genetic mutation rather than pure gamma exposure. It also applies to the genetic experiments that Blonsky undergoes in his quest to become strong enough to face the Hulk.
* GilliganCut: The Taxi scene is a played version of this trope. Bruce and Betty begin with him declaring that he's not going on a subway and so they go on a cab, which is even worse.
* GlowingEyes: Bruce sports these as the Hulk.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Blonsky sports these as Abomination.
* GoneHorriblyWrong[=/=]GoneHorriblyRight: General Ross can't decide which applies to the accident that created the Hulk. On one hand, they were supposed to create a second Captain America and instead they created a monster. On the other hand, if you want super soldiers then you can hardly do better than something that's bullet proof, stronger than Captain America, and ferocious in battle; you just have to watch the rage issues. It's the same with Blonsky. Oh sure, now he's strong enough to take down the Hulk. He's also so insane by this point that no one wants him to win.
* GuileHero: In this film Bruce Banner is far craftier than other iterations, using disguises, stealth, and at one point swallowing a thumb drive before transforming, then vomiting it later when out of danger. The Hulk even gets in on the action, as this version makes far greater use of [[ImprovisedWeapon improvised weapons]] to match stronger opponents than any other.
* HealingFactor:
** Blonsky after taking the Super Soldier Serum; it's enough to completely recover from having the Hulk reduce every bone in his body to 'gravel'.
** The Hulk seems to have a much toned down version,which allows him to heal a massive gash from the Abomnation,which becomes a paper cut minutes later.
* HellishCopter: Military helicopters get taken down via unconventional means twice in this film.
* HomelessHero: Bruce is forced to stay on the run because of the government forces chasing him. Following his transformations, Bruce is often left with nothing but the [[MagicPants pants he is wearing]]. At one point, he is forced to beg in order to survive.
* HotScientist: Bruce and Betty.
* HulkSpeak: But of course; "HULK SMASH!"
* HulkingOut: As might be expected, Banner does this when his heart rate reaches a certain threshold.
* IHaveNoSon: Betty inverts this.
-->'''Betty:''' Don't ever speak to me as your daughter again.
* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: [[spoiler:Betty stops Hulk from strangling The Abomination to death with a chain, most likely for this reason.]]
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: This is Emil Blonsky's motivation for obtaining Super Serum and Hulk Blood. This is to be expected, given that he's the EvilCounterpart to [[IJustWantToBeNormal Bruce Banner]].
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Banner, who wants to be free of the Hulk and live a normal life again, compared to [[EvilCounterpart Blonsky]].
* ImmuneToBullets: They literally ''bounce off'' the Hulk.
* ImprovisedWeapon: Hulk uses a police car against Blonsky to no avail.
* InMediasRes: The Hulk's origin is conveyed in a three minute flashback sequence during the opening credits. When the film starts properly, it's several years later.
* InterruptedCooldownHug: Happens during the College scene but uninterrupted in the Cave scene.
* IronicEcho: The earlier mentioned phrase "Is that all you've got?" is repeated by Blonsky in the final confrontation, complete with kicking and subsequent splatting. This time, the Hulk is on the receiving end.
* IsThatTheBestYouCanDo: Blonsky before and after his transformation (see above).
* {{Jerkass}}: General Ross is called out for being an ass by Samson.
* KickTheDog: During the raid on the favela, Blonsky shoots Banner's dog because its barking annoyed him. Thankfully, it was a tranquilizer round.
* LatinoIsBrown: While searching for Banner, Ross says to be on the look out for a white man in Brazil. He's apparently unaware that there are quite a few Brazilians who would be considered "white" by American standards, meaning he should probably be more specific.
* LeftHanging: A lot of the characters and plot threads set up in this film haven't been mentioned in the rest of the MCU, and it doesn't seem like there's gonna be a sequel anytime soon either.
* LivingLieDetector: As mentioned above, Doc Samson claims that he can tell when people are lying to him since he's a psychologist. He states that General Ross is lying when he says he cares more about Betty's welfare than capturing Banner.
* LoudOfWar: Ross tries out sonic cannons against the Hulk.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes M to Z]]
* MagicPants: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as Bruce specifically looks for pants that can stretch just in case. The Hulk's well-known purple shorts are [[MythologyGag given a nod]] when Betty brings Bruce a pair of purple sweats and answers his skeptical look by saying they're the stretchiest she could find.
* MaleGaze: During the cave scene, the viewers get a nice view of Liv Tyler's cleavage.
* MasterOfYourDomain: Banner learns meditative breathing techniques from a martial arts master played by Rickson Gracie in order to suppress his transformations. Several times he's shown lowering his pulse rate, [[spoiler:and the final scene shows him ''inducing'' a transformation through meditation (presumably because he doesn't want to have to [[DieOrFly jump out of a helicopter]] every time).]]
** [[spoiler:It returns as a ChekhovsGun in ''The Avengers'' when he induces a transformation and goes from Bruce to The Hulk in the space of a second, showing his control over the process.]]
* MilitariesAreUseless: As they try to curb his rampage in Harlem, the Abomination / Blonsky is disappointed that they're not much of a challenge to him, and is thrilled to see Hulk charge at him knowing it'll be more "fun".
* MookHorrorShow: General Ross sends a special ops team to capture Bruce Banner, and a trio of bullies catch up to same at the same time and decide to teach him a lesson. They both fail. This occurs in a creepy, darkened bottling plant and includes such moments as two men being dragged into the shadows while screaming, the view through a soldier's night vision goggles an instant before they short out, tranquilizer darts bouncing off and then being crushed beneath the footfalls of a green rage monster, and everyone involved freaking right the hell out.
* MrFanservice: Bruce, Bruce's martial arts teacher and Blonsky all gets a ShirtlessScene. Actually multiple in Bruce's case, even a shower scene.
* MsFanservice: Martina, as detailed in Fanservice above. She's also probably considered this in-universe, being harassed by some guys before Bruce interrupts them. Betty is repeatedly soaked in rain that turns her shirts see-through.
* MuggingTheMonster: The douchebag factory workers who try to rough up Bruce at the beginning.
* MythologyGag:
** The scene in which the Hulk tears a car in half and uses the pieces as impromptu boxing gloves is a direct nod to the "Steel Fists" move in the video game ''[[VideoGame/TheIncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction]]''. He also uses the Sonic Clap, and the Earthquake Smash, both from the same game.
** During the montage of Bruce's travels after his first "HulkOut" the ending theme of ''The Incredible Hulk'' TV series can be heard. Bill Bixby (that version's Banner) even makes a "cameo" from beyond the grave, via a clip from his earlier series ''The Courtship Of Eddie's Father'' playing on a television near the beginning. Also, when said {{Hulk Out}}s occur, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom his eyes turn green]], just like in the series.
** During the last scene we see Bruce in, he opens mail addressed to "David B." In the series, Banner went by "David" not "Bruce." [[note]]As a point of interest, Banner's full name, even in the MCU, is "Robert Bruce Banner", he goes by his middle name. The old series kept "Bruce" as his middle name, he just didn't go by it.[[/note]]
** Creator/LouFerrigno, the Hulk to Bixby's Banner, makes a genuine cameo as a security guard. Also, he provides the Hulk's voice.
** The device Banner exposes himself to in the flashback of his origin is identical to the one used in the TV show. Also, aside from the addition of a few glimpses of his LoveInterest, the origin-flashback is a shot-for-shot ''recreation'' of the TV series' opening-credits sequence, right down to the clothes Norton wears.
** When Ross' team is tracking Bruce's correspondence to Mr. Blue, his email runs through a database that briefly flashes the ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} logo. The Mr. Green/Mr. Blue email correspondence itself is a reference to the comics written by Bruce Jones around 2003/2004.
** The strike team isn't sure if the Hulk is green or grey in the dark, a reference to the coloring issue in the original comic that led to the Hulk's current color. Also, there is a scene where Hulk is shouting in the rain, and each time the lightning flashes, his skin looks gray in the light.
** One of the students who witnesses the fight at the university is named Jack [=McGee=], described as a reporter for the student paper, a reference to the investigative reporter from the TV series.
*** The other student being interviewed is Jim Wilson, the Hulk's former KidSidekick and ComicBook/TheFalcon's nephew.
*** The university is the Culver University, a shout out to the Culver Institute in the live action series.
*** Similarly, the novelization identifies the student in the computer lab as Amadeus Cho, now better known as [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules' buddy]].
** Creator/PaulSoles played Bruce Banner in ''The Marvel Super Heroes'' and Spider-Man in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967'', now is the pizzeria owner Stan.
** Blonsky's slide into madness after taking the serum mirrors that of the 1950s Captain America. In fact, since the ''Captain America'' movie is in the same continuity as this one, it's entirely possible that the serum that is given to Blonsky is precisely the same one. It's stated in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' that the super serum strengthens the user's main personality traits. For Cap, it was his heroism, for ComicBook/RedSkull, it was his evilness, and for Blonsky, it was his [[BloodKnight love of fighting]]. This is confirmed in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', where it's also mentioned that Bruce's accident was the result of attempting to recreate Erskine's work by using gamma radiation instead. It's possible therefore in this continuity, Banner also took a version of the serum which brought out his repressed anger.
** The [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Super Soldier Serum]] used in the movie is shown to have been developed by an organization known as Weapon Plus. Weapon Plus had several programs working on supersoldiers, the most famous being [[{{Wolverine}} Weapon X]]. In the comics, [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Captain America]] was Weapon One. Wolverine was Weapon Ten.
** The laboratory setting for the Hulk's origin and the equipment therein are based on details from the 1978 TV series, right down to the targeting light creeping across Banner's face. Likewise the eye-color effects, which also originated in the series.
** In stumbling Portuguese, Banner begs a trio of Brazilian toughs, "Don't make me... hungry. You wouldn't like me when I'm ... hungry" -- a playful reference to the famous line from the ''Hulk'' TV series, featured in its opening credits.
** When Banner is begging in the Guatemalan marketplace, a short excerpt from "The Lonely Man", aka the "Banner walking away at the end of an episode" music from the TV series, plays.
** Shortly after they go on the run together, Betty gives Banner a pair of [[MagicPants purple shorts]], saying, "they were the stretchiest pair I could find."
** The cryonic storage capsule holding the "super soldier serum" is labeled with the name "Dr. Reinstein", the original name of the doctor who gave Captain America his abilities in the comics. [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger It's not just a gag.]] It's {{foreshadowing}}.
** The package from the pawn shop which contains Betty's pendant is addressed to "David B.", referencing the TV series' Banner, whose first name was "David".
** General Ross makes several references to Banner being on the run for five years -- the time between this film and the earlier 2003 ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' film.
** During the opening credits, one of the list of people suspected to have contact with Banner is "Richard Jones".
** "Hulk smash!"
** When Bruce sneaks his way into the university laboratory, we see a student with whom he shared his pizza. In the novelization, the student identifies himself as Amadeus Cho, a supporting character for Hulk and [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]].
** [[spoiler:We see the creation of the Hulk villain Leader, created when the AppliedPhlebotinum goes into the scientist's head. Probable SequelHook.]]
** [[spoiler:Similarly, Betty's boyfriend is obviously a pre-mutated Doc Sampson.]] According to the novelization, yup, he is.
** And at the very end, [[spoiler:the movie's continuity is cemented with the appearance of [[Film/IronMan Tony Stark]].]]
** "Stark Industries" was written on the rocket launcher.
* NeckLift:
** Blonsky lifts Sterns up by the chest, but the same principle.
** Hulk does the traditional variant to two soldiers at the soft drink plant battle.
* NextSundayAD: A detailed timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals that the events of this film take place in 2011, as the film was released in 2008.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Had Emil not been injected with a super soldier serum, that kick from the Green Machine would most certainly have killed him.
* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Justified. In the original comics, Emil Blonsky was from Russia and was a KGB agent. In the movie, Blonsky was still born in Russia, but he's said to have been raised in England and served in the British Royal Marines. This allows Tim Roth to use his natural accent.
* OhCrap:
** After Bruce [[spoiler:jumps out of the helicopter and realizes he can't HulkOut.]] ''"[[CurseCutShort SH-]]"''
** "Test subjects?!?"
* LeParkour: One of the chase sequences involves Banner doing this to avoid pursuit.
* PietaPlagiarism: At the battle on the college campus, The Hulk saves Betty, then he carries her away.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner: [[spoiler:"HULK... ''SMASH''!" He proceeds to do so to the Abomination in about twelve different ways.]]
* ProtagonistTitle: ''The Incredible Hulk''.
* PsychoSerum: This is a Zigzag. [[spoiler:The two injections Blonsky takes during the movie are SuperSerum that make him more able and driven but also less stable and more obsessed with a rematch with the Hulk. When this first PsychoSerum combines with Bruce Banner's own gamma-enhanced blood samples, it finally crosses him over into The Abomination and causes him to lose whatever remnants of morality he had left (he goes on a rampage across Harlem, killing dozens if not hundreds of innocent bystanders, for no viable reason other than [[AxCrazy enslavement to madness]]).]]
* PunchedAcrossTheRoom: More like "Kicked Across The Field Into A Tree", but what else can you expect as a regular-sized person going up against The Hulk? SuperSoldier or not, Blonsky plus Hulk foot equals SPLAT.
* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: [[IronicEcho "Is that all you've got?"]]
* RemakeCameo: Like with the 2003 movie, Creator/LouFerrigno plays a security guard (this time interacting with Bruce Banner himself). And in a variant, a clip of Bill Bixby (a scene from ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'') is featured at a certain point to feature both protagonists of the old show.
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:The very ending shows Banner consciously inducing a Hulk episode, but cuts off immediately, leaving the circumstances and Banner's new direction ambiguous. In the ''Avengers'' movie, Banner reveals that anger management isn't much of an issue anymore, and he is in a constant state of TranquilFury. He can control the Hulk transformation to some extent, and the Hulk himself is slightly tamer, less mindless, and more amenable to cooperation with others.]]
* RewatchBonus: Try watching this movie after ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' and look for the WorldBuilding references (i.e., [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger the Super-soldier serum]] and [[Film/IronMan the Stark Industries-designed weapons]]). It's a ''very'' different experience from watching it ''before'' the ''Avengers''.
* RomanticRunnerUp: Doc Samson is an all-around nice guy who just had the bad luck of dating ComicBook/BettyRoss when the love of her life walked back into town. For the most part, he doesn't begrudge Banner for it either, mostly because the Hulk saved Betty's life from General Ross's goons.
* RuleOfThree: Emil Blonsky fights the Hulk three times. [[spoiler:...And ''loses'' three times.]]
* SatelliteLoveInterest: Betty receives little characterization beyond being Bruce's love interest.
* SaveTheVillain: [[spoiler: At the climax, Betty talks Hulk out of strangling Blonsky to death.]]
* SceneryPorn: The flyover shots of the Brazilian hillside slums at the beginning of the movie.
* SellWhatYouLove: When Bruce and Betty become fugitives and need money, Betty has to sell her precious necklace, which is a keepsake of her late mother. Thankfully, Bruce manages to get it back to her at the end of the movie.
* SequelHook:
** The same genetic cocktail that created the Abomination [[spoiler:seeps into a wound on Dr. Samuel Sterns forehead, causing his transformation into the Leader.]] Where exactly this will end up now is unknown, since a direct sequel can't happen (Universal holds the rights to Solo-Hulk films), though the fate of Samuel Sterns was given in the lead-in comic for ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', "Fury's Big Week."
** In TheStinger, [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] mentions that he is "putting a team together", which meant that it was probably a sequel hook to ''The Avengers'' movie (which was an idea when it was first made.)
** [[spoiler:The final shot is Bruce HulkingOut by willpower alone, foreshadowing something that happens in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.]]
* SexyShirtSwitch: Betty gets one, though without the sex part. More like before, or an attempt. See CantHaveSexEver above.
* SexySoakedShirt: Betty chases after Bruce in the rain, resulting in this.
* ShockwaveStomp: "Hulk... SMASH!"
* SnowyScreenOfDeath: Occurs when the Abomination drops a car on the soldiers that had been tailing it, cutting off Ross' video link.
* SociopathicSoldier: Blonsky starts out as a mild example. He tranqs a dog because it annoyed him but is otherwise a functional individual. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Then things get worse.]]
* SpiritualSuccessor: Originally, this movie could be seen as a straight-up sequel to the 2003 movie that simply changes/adjusts aspects of the backstory à la ''Evil Dead 2'' or ''Superman Returns''. For instance, it handwaves the opening as an inaccurate nightmare that Banner is having. However, as of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', the '03 movie is ''definitely'' out-of-continuity with this one because in that movie, Glenn Talbot died as well as being quite different in portrayal[[note]]though one could ignore Glenn's appearance in the 2003 movie and replace him with a different character[[/note]]; his absence here could be given a {{Handwave}} before then, but now that he's appeared alive and well in the MCU there is no way to consider this anything more than a SpiritualSuccessor.
** Except for the left hanging questions that would only make sense if you connect them to the origin story of the 2003 Hulk movie like when Tony Stark states that Bruce shouldn't have survived the radiation accident and since there hasn't been any proper elaboration on that question it's safe to say that the 2003 continuity can still exist in some sort of way. The introduction of the multiverses in Film/AvengersEndgame somewhat help with that argument.
* TheStinger: [[spoiler:Tony Stark]] appears shortly before the credits and converses with General Ross (who is [[DrowningMySorrows drowning his sorrows]] at a bar). [[spoiler:Stark]] reprimands him on the consequences of the supersoldier project that resulted in its prior cancellation, and tells him that they are putting together [[Film/TheAvengers2012 a team.]] [[spoiler:''Film/TheConsultant'' (featured on the ''Thor'' Blu-Ray) reveals that SHIELD sent Stark specifically so he'd piss Ross off and cause him to ''refuse'' to let the Abomination be on the team, something the WSC were pushing for.]]
* StealthPun:
** The Sikorsky MH-53 helicopter used by Ross has a nickname; the "Jolly Green Giant".
** In the final scene:
--->'''General Ross:''' [[spoiler:[[Film/IronMan Stark]], you always wear such [[PoweredArmor nice suits]].]]
* SuperHumanTrafficking: Bruce/Hulk are "property" of the US because of the gamma blood in their system.
* SuperReflexes: The Hulk slaps [=RPGs=] out of the air. Blonsky is faster as a super soldier, and after his transformation into the Abomination he catches an RPG as an OffhandBackhand.
* SuperSpeed: Blonsky casually outpaces several soldiers while running. The Hulk and the Abomination can keep up with Humvees.
* SuperStrength: Duh, it's a Hulk movie.
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: During the attack on Culver University, the Hulk finally gets tired of Blonsky's taunts and ineffective attacks and simply kicks him. Because he's the Incredible Hulk, Blonsky is sent hundreds of yards into a tree with a gruesome crunching sound and only survives because of the super soldier serum he was already injected with.
* SwallowTheKey: Having lost his computer the last time he was chased, when the Army attacks Bruce at the University campus, Bruce swallows an important data stick so he won't risk losing it or letting it fall into the wrong hands. Amazingly, it still works after he... retrieves it.
* TakesOneToKillOne: When the U.S. military can't do anything to hinder Blonsky's rampage, Ross is forced to allow Hulk to take down Blonsky.
* TapOnTheHead: Blonsky does this twice, to Banner and then a female colleague.
* TastesLikeFriendship: Banner wants to go into a library guarded by a security guard. So how does he get in? He masquerades as a pizza delivery boy and gives the guard a whole pizza.
* TechnologicalPacifist: Banner. Ross seems to imply that this position is common in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, and that "scientists" are not to be trusted with military matters in any way, shape, or form.
-->'''Ross:''' ''[[WithUsOrAgainstUs He’s a scientist. He is NOT one of us.]]''
* TooDumbToLive: Emil Blonsky deserves special mention. He held his own in a battle with Hulk, mainly because of how quick he was, due to the super soldier serum he'd been given. After he and the rest of his military division have thrown everything they have at Hulk, and he is still walking, Ross tells Blonsky to fall back. Blonsky then rips off his earpiece, drops his gun and attempts to stare down the Hulk, saying "Is that all you've got?" Cue Hulk-powered thrust kick to the chest, followed by being smooshed all over a tree. Said smooshing breaks every bone in his body, which would have killed him if not for the super soldier serum.
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: There was a TV spot that spoiled [[spoiler:Robert Downey Jr.'s cameo as Tony Stark]] towards the end of the film.
* TroubledFetalPosition: Banner enters this after a particularly nasty FlashbackEcho hits him in the bath.
* {{Tuckerization}}: The military base, "Fort Johnson", is named after Kenneth Johnson; the writer, director, and producer of ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977''.
* UnstoppableRage: This is Hulk's main superpower, though it seems more centered on general heart rate (the "Hulk rate" being 200 BPM) than rage this time around, and can be released initially by extreme stress.
* UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: There's a form of this with Hulk versus the Abomination. The former is the meek scientist Bruce Banner with an inferior version of the Captain America formula combined with genetic primers and gamma radiation. The latter is the veteran marine Emile Blonsky with a more advanced version of the formula ''and'' the Hulk's blood. Consequently the Abomination is larger and stronger, not to mention Blonsky's in complete control despite being crazy. The Hulk has the advantage of getting stronger with rage and greater intelligence which wins him the fight when Blonsky turns on Betty and Ross.
* VertigoEffect: Two vertigo effects right after another appear showing Ross and Blonsky's reactions when Banner turns into the Hulk on the college campus.
* WeakButSkilled: Even before the treatment, Blonsky notes that "if I could take everything I know now and put it in the body I had ten years ago, that would be something I wouldn't want to face." His second encounter with the Hulk (after he's been enhanced but before he becomes the Abomination) shows that he's smaller and weaker but more agile and has greater skill. This is in comparison to the Hulk. He's outrunning soldiers YEARS younger. It's only when he stops and tries to stare the Hulk down that he gets splatted.
* WhatTheHellHero: Doc Samson [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech chews out]] General Ross after Betty got caught in the crossfire at the College.
-->'''Doc Samson:''' He ''protected'' her. You almost ''killed'' her!
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: In the beginning, Blonsky seems like an overly gung-ho soldier but a relatively decent guy who's loyal to his work and his men, but after doses of failed super-soldier serum he slowly goes more and more power mad, until he goes completely destructively insane in the end. A deleted scene emphasizes the potential for mental instability as a byproduct of the serum. Prior to the injection, Ross outright threatens to remove Blonsky from active duty if he takes a step out of line.
* WorthyOpponent: {{Subverted}}. Emil Blonsky views the Hulk this way and goes out of his way to become strong enough to face him in combat but when he finally reaches that level in the end, he decides that Bruce doesn't deserve his power.
* WouldHitAGirl: Blonsky tosses Betty across the room and knocks out a female colleague from behind.
* XDaysSince: Used at least twice, at [[BookEnds both the start and the end of the film]], measuring how many days had passed since the Hulk made an appearance.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Due to battle stress, Blonsky is only 39 years old but looks like he's in his late 40s (at the time of filming, Tim Roth was 46).
* YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry:
** Given that this is an adaptation of the TropeNamer, of course this makes an appearance. It's rather cleverly inserted too, as Bruce messes up the line while speaking Portuguese.
--->'''Bruce:''' ''[in Portuguese]'' You wouldn't like me when I'm... hungry? ''[in English]'' Wait, that doesn't sound right.
** The trailer (and the deleted scene it came from) also had a variation on the phrase which was pretty good.
--->'''Bruce:''' There are aspects of my personality that I can't control, and when I lose control, it's very dangerous to be around me.
[[/folder]]
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* BigBadEnsemble: Thunderbolt Ross, the general trying to capture Banner, is the primary source of conflict throughout the movie. However, he gets upstaged as the FinalBoss by his [[TheDragon Dragon]] Emil Blonsky, who injects himself with Banner's blood and becomes the Abomination. Ross and Banner are [[EnemyMine forced to work together]] in order to stop his ensuing rampage.
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* BigBadEnsemble: Emil Blonsky and Thunderbolt Ross, Ross are the general main villains; Ross trying to capture Banner, Banner is the primary source of conflict throughout the movie. However, conflict, but he gets upstaged as the FinalBoss by when his [[TheDragon Dragon]] Emil {{Dragon}}, Blonsky, who injects himself with Banner's blood and becomes to become the Abomination. Ross and Banner are [[EnemyMine forced to work together]] in order to stop his ensuing rampage.
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** The soldiers are also shown using M16 rifles when the Army had largely replaced ''those'' with the M4 carbine.
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** The film depicts the US Army as all wearing the Battle Dress Uniforms, when the Army had mostly replaced that uniform with the digital-camouflaged Army Combat Uniform by 2008. In fact, the BDU had been formally discontinued for months when this film was released.
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* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Bruce's primary goal during this film is to rid himself of the Hulk. Obviously, that doesn't happen (there were already plans for the character to appear in future movies, after all).
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* AgeLift: A college student named after Jack [=McGee=] from ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'' appears as a college student, whereas his original counterpart was the same age as Bruce.
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[[center:[[WMG:'''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'''\\
[- << Film/IronMan1 | Film/IronMan2 >>]]-]]]
[- << Film/IronMan1 | Film/IronMan2 >>]]-]]]
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''The Incredible Hulk'' is a 2008 film based on the character of the same name; following the trend of rebooting a franchise rather than creating a sequel to an unpopular first effort, this film takes place in a different continuity from [[Film/{{Hulk}} the 2003 version]] and is the second movie in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
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''The Incredible Hulk'' is a 2008 film based on the character of the same name; following the trend of rebooting a franchise rather than creating a sequel to an unpopular first effort, this film takes place in a different continuity from [[Film/{{Hulk}} the 2003 version]] and is the second movie in both the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse and its Phase 1.
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[[center:[[WMG:'''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'''\\
[- << Film/IronMan1 | Film/IronMan2 >>]]-]]]
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* TheCameo: Martial artist Rickson Gracie appears to teach Banner breathing exercises.
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* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: During the attack on Culver University, the Hulk finally gets tired of Blonsky's taunts and ineffective attacks and simply kicks him. Because he's the Incredible Hulk, Blonsky is sent hundreds of yards into a tree with a gruesome crunching sound and only survives because of the super soldier serum he was already injected with.
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** Paul Soles played Bruce Banner in ''The Marvel Super Heroes'' and Spider-Man in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967'', now is the pizzeria owner Stan.
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** Paul Soles Creator/PaulSoles played Bruce Banner in ''The Marvel Super Heroes'' and Spider-Man in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967'', now is the pizzeria owner Stan.
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[[folder:Full Cast]]
* Creator/EdwardNorton - Bruce Banner / The Hulk
** Creator/LouFerrigno - The Hulk (voice)
* Creator/LivTyler - Betty Ross
* Creator/TimRoth - Emil Blonsky / The Abomination
* Creator/WilliamHurt - Thaddeus Ross
* Creator/TimBlakeNelson - Samuel Sterns
* Creator/TyBurrell - Leonard Samson
* Creator/RobertDowneyJr - Tony Stark
[[/folder]]
* Creator/EdwardNorton - Bruce Banner / The Hulk
** Creator/LouFerrigno - The Hulk (voice)
* Creator/LivTyler - Betty Ross
* Creator/TimRoth - Emil Blonsky / The Abomination
* Creator/WilliamHurt - Thaddeus Ross
* Creator/TimBlakeNelson - Samuel Sterns
* Creator/TyBurrell - Leonard Samson
* Creator/RobertDowneyJr - Tony Stark
[[/folder]]
