Well, it's that time of year again, when I dust off my keyboard and hand out the middle aged, caveman year end movie reviews for alleged blockbusters. This year's manly movies should've been named Rear End Reviews due to just how disappointing the offerings were.

In case you're new to the caveman, manly movie year end reviews, allow me to elucidate the context for these reviews in all their…shall we say…cavemanliness. The fact is these reviews don't come late for hardworking caveman types who happen to have families. Most of us haven't as yet seen these movies or are just now getting around to it. That's just due to how married with children life derives for those of us who still like an occasional beer and whose knuckles are scraped up from, you know…dragging the ground. Also, unless we're clubbing our next meal to death (to provide for our families), we, frankly, don't get out much and therefore have to wait until these movies are released on DVD. So anyway, here's the first review installment.

Topping my list of biggest adrenaline rush disappointments for 2008 is The Incredible Hulk. What can I say? Despite the slow take off for it's predecessor, Director Ang Lee stole my heart and boosted my epinephrine with his rendition of the Hulk. The cast was stellar for Lee's picture as was the look of the film. I also liked Ang and writer James Schamus' vision for Banner and for the Hulk. Lee's Banner was a complex character with depth and Eric Bana's performance of Banner was nothing less than brilliant. The man was born to play Bruce Banner. Lee's Hulk was something of a paradox: seemingly limitless power coupled with nobility and an almost childlike sensibility. But it was a combination that worked for me. In contrast, 2008 brought us a lukewarm Banner in Edward Norton. He comes off as one dimensional with a performance, which like the movie, strains credulity. His green alter ego doesn't fair much better, resembling a steroid induced, ripped, monster.

Okay, so I'll cut to the chase here: Hollywood's latest depiction of the Hulk (how can I put this lightly) SUCKED!!! Yes, and sucked with all caps. This may come as a surprise to many of my friends who actually had the gall to tell me this movie ruled. But I'm bound by my impeccable taste, culture, and good sense to disagree with you. With the exception of the special effects this movie blew from entre to exit. Sorry guys.  It's true, Edward Norton is a terrible Bruce Banner, exhibiting all the depth of nearly evaporated rain puddle. Liv Tyler, who plays opposite Norton as Banner's love interest, had me guessing the entire movie if I was looking at Liv Tyler or if I was looking at an "actress" whom the director wanted me to think was Liv Tyler. As for William Hurt, well all I can say is he certainly did….hurt that its, pretty much every time he opened his mouth. Too bad for you William. When it comes to playing an obsessed four (or is it five) star general, you can't carry Sam Elliot's water. If that weren't bad enough, there was the absolutely weak assed story line, punctuated by unbelievable scenes, like the one where General Hurt takes an entire platoon along with his Panzers and Humvees and razes the local university to try and capture the Hulk. When they do attempt a Hulky extraction, you can guess what happens next; the Hulk gets angry and proceeds to destroy everything General Hurt hasn't. In the midst of the chaos, General Hurt's daughter (who is a prof at the university) storms one of the tanks and demands that the General come out of there and give her an explanation for why he's pissing off her big green love interest….and on it goes like that for about two hours.

You have to wonder who's to blame for all this. My guess is that both the director, Louis Leterrier along with Norton, who basically rewrote the script are the culprits.  My opinion (and it's the only one that counts around here) they should've left Ang Lee's vision of the Hulk intact and stayed with the original cast. In fact, Marvel really mucked this up when they decided to dump Ang Lee, James Schamus, and that remarkable cast in favor of this abomination. But that's what happens when you put style ahead of substance.