REEL CRITICS:

Major Hollywood studios are no longer in the business of taking chances. If they greenlight a big budget movie, it better be a proven winner with a big audience waiting in the wings. So, every summer, we have an endless series of sequels and remakes driven by heavy duty special effects.

“The Incredible Hulk” continues this tradition of loud, rapid-fire superhero epics that invade our theaters yearly. Fortunately, the current edition of The Hulk displays some of the better qualities apparent in Marvel Studios’ previous release of “Iron Man.” For starters, the prime roles are played by A-list actors.

Edward Norton is the human version of the CGI Hulk. William Hurt is the army general hot on his trail trying to harness the Hulk’s powers as a new military weapon. Liv Tyler provides the love interest. Tim Roth is the general’s assistant who takes matters into his own hands and becomes a dangerous adversary to everyone involved.

The extravagant combat scenes are explosive and may be overwhelming for young kids. But in the end, this film delivers the goods expected by fans of this genre.

He’s getting warmer in this chilling flick

It takes a lot to make me jump in my seat or cover my eyes at the movies. But cover them I did in M. Night Shyamalan’s graphic new thriller, “The Happening.” I was absolutely rattled.

Part of it is that filmmakers are still using poor New York City as Terror Central. An unseen force stops people in their tracks, and they are compelled to commit suicide in the most ghastly ways imaginable. There is a horrible sense of déjà vu in seeing bodies plummeting to earth from buildings.

The epidemic of death spreads to other East Coast towns. Believing they are under some kind of toxic warfare, fellow teachers Elliot (a solid Mark Wahlberg) and Julian (John Leguizamo, never more touching) grab their families and head out of town. Gruesome deaths occur wherever they go, and no one can do anything but watch in genuine anguish.

What’s causing this, and how can it be stopped? Are there any safe places?

Shyamalan has concocted an eerie story that doesn’t fully answer these questions, but he’s supplied moments of comic relief to help offset the jitter-inducing effects. “The Happening” isn’t perfect, but after the mess that was “Lady in the Water,” it’s nice to see him return to a less self-indulgent, more satisfying form.

JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company.