Now You See Me.

Thanks to an unknown benefactor, four down on their luck street magicians form a collective called ‘The Four Horseman’, although incidentally one’s a woman, with the sole aim of pulling off robbery’s during their high concept magic show performances and with an added touch of Robin Hood they give the money away to their audiences. In the first show in Las Vegas they pull off an ingenious bank robbery in a different country. In the second show in New Orleans, they manage to steal $140 million dollars from a wealthy insurance broker. By this time FBI agent Dylan Rhodes and his French Interpol assistant Alma Day realise that they should track down and make an attempt to arrest the these ‘magical’ criminals.

The synopsis for this ‘big’ movie is actually far better than the finished article, “The more you think you see, the easier it will be to fool you” a statement made by one of the illusionists aptly describes French director Louis Leterrier’s latest outing. Like his previous films, including 2008 The Incredible Hulk, there are some great set pieces in a heist movie that involves deception and illusion to steal rather than the normal gunplay. It does its best to make the narrative interesting by constantly jumping from one plot twist to another without a lot of success. A slight of hand movie where you’re never sure who are supposed to be the bad guys and who are the good guys?  It does have a grand ensemble cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine, Isla fisher, Woody Harrelson and French actress Melanie Laurent. But even the high profile of these involved can’t seem to lift this movie beyond its rather dull predictability.

The Incredible Hulk.

Someones upset him?

After my boyish enthusiasm for Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) thought I’d catch up with the second in the series of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe The Incredible Hulk (2008). Directed by French born Louis Leterrier, who is best known for a couple of Transporter movies and 2005’s Unleashed. This Marvel creation involves a scientist, a Dr Bruce Banner who is working on a way to use gamma radiation to increase healing time in combat soldiers.  When the experiment goes wrong Banner is accidentally exposed to gamma rays that transforms the scientist into a giant green superhumanly powerful creature. In the commotion that follows the accident, the laboratory is wreaked and his co- worker Betty Ross is injured. Banner escapes and resurfaces two years later in Brazil where he is attempting to control his temper, which when riled turns him back into his emotional and impulsive alter ego: the Hulk. After discovering his whereabouts General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, Betty’s father, sends a team of soldiers led by the crazy Emil Blonsky, who wants to exploit the powers of the Hulk for his own ends. All this leads to extreme complications for the normally withdrawn and reserved Bruce Banner.

Perhaps it was Blonsky?

Although it lacks the humour of Captain America its still another good attempt at transposing a comic book character to the big screen. It has some incredible set pieces that are not only a feast for the eyes but certainly on Blu-Ray, an attack on the senses. My only quibble is that the two lead characters come across as a little lightweight.  Edward Norton, an actor I normally admire, plays the scientist Dr Bruce Banner with Liv Tyler playing his love interest Dr Elizabeth “Betty” Rose, neither Norton in his Banner mode or Tyler are totally convincing. William Hurt as General Ross, who has dedicated himself to capturing the Hulk and Tim Roth who plays the Russian-born officer Emil Blonsky loaned to the General from the United Kingdoms Royal Marine Commandos are both totally credible in their roles. Can’t wait to see Thor (2011).