Hulk: Struggle For Control

Not just a vast improvement on the original version, lapis' edit of Incredible Hulk is a tantalizing glimpse of an alternate MCU where the tone is a bit more Edward Norton and a bit less Robert Downey Jr -- that is to say, dark but not grim and not constant snarky asides. The characters under lapis' editing are more consistent, likeable, sympathetic and, in Tim Roth's case, menacing. For anyone re-watching this film prior to Abomination's reappearances in Shang-Chi and (upcoming) She-Hulk, this is definitely the version you want to watch. One nitpick: while I applaud and agree with the decision to remove Banner's heartrate monitor as a plot device, at several points during the soda factory chase I could hear it beeping and wondered if something was wrong with my phone somewhere. Lastly, the integration of "The Consultant" into the post-credits sequence salvages that original version from incoherence, and it's hugely appreciated to have it here with the film proper.

This edit changes a largely ignored MCU chapter into one of its must-see highlights. Hugely recommended.

P.S. As always, lapis knocks it out of the park on the cover art side of things. Always nice to see Gil "Sugar" Kane's art pop up unexpectedly.

This is the version we should have gotten. It has only the deleted scenes needed back in and a lot of unnecessary parts cut. Doc Samson comes out looking better here too. If you always wanted a good version of this movie, this is it.

Ultimate cut of the movie! A darker and more coherent story. The deleted scenes adds much more consistency. Cutting Betty's useless moments was a smart move, it improves the pacing.
Enjoyed it a lot.

Hulk: Struggle For Control is such a fascinating edit to me. The two edits of TIH that I've seen thus far (Tomahawk's re-imagining and the subsequent version by Lapis) have objectively different goals, but both succeed on their own terms. However, I think that Lapis may have made the definitive Hulk film. Containing a measured balance of character, action, and fluid pacing, this morphs into an end product which is neither lightning-pace action film as in the theatrical cut or as lingering as some of Tomahawk's edit can be. The upscaled deleted scenes fit in nicely with the narrative structure so well that it barely crossed my mind they were removed at all. The removal of Bruce being unable to have sex because of hulking out was a welcome change. I will always have a bit more appreciation of Edward Norton's take on the character, as he fundamentally understood how Bruce is a tormented and deeply wounded man who wants to do better things for the world but can't because of his condition which he's struggling to get rid of. This edit really solidifies that opinion. Some minor nitpicks might be cutting the scene with the scientist who tells Bruce to not fear his power, or interacting with the college students at the university. However, I'm really just stretching for feedback and understand that pacing needed to be consistent. This will certainly be the version of the 2008 film I'll be revisiting in the future. Great work.

Hulk: Struggle for Control is a bona fide shelf replacer for the original theatrical release of the movie. This cut of the film is more tighter-paced than the others and adds in a lot of relevant deleted scenes that improve the narrative of the greater MCU with mention of the super-soldier program and the new opening scene that Banner later mentions in Avengers. The deleted scene's upscaling isn't noticeable, but the color grading in one scene, where there is a close-up Gen. Ross' face, looked a bit warmer than the rest of the movie. Other than that nitpick, this is a great fanfix. I would normally skip Hulk in rewatch marathons, but now this cut will be added to the rotation.