Sadly Over-hyped

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

"The Incredible Hulk" has certainly proved that when it comes to television adaptations of "Marvel Comic" superheroes, the above show is in a league of its own. The emphasis was always on drama and on character and these are the shows greatest strengths. You couldn't ask for a better actor to be cast in the leading role of David Banner than Bill Bixby. He imbued the character with much depth and conviction. The way he projects a sense of maturity, of being a learned man, unassuming but constantly having to control the raging alter ego who lurks not far beneath the surface, superb. Lou Ferrigno fits the bill perfectly as the Hulk. In all honesty, he doesn't have to do much except roar, growl, flex his muscles and throw a few villains around. However, on occasion he does display some kind of depth. Jack Colvin makes for a good Jack McGee, whose character resulted from being included in the live action television show. He hadn't and hasn't been written in any "Incredible Hulk" comic books. The credit goes to writer and director Kenneth Johnson for bringing this feature length pilot episode to the small screen. He has stated quite clearly in interviews that whilst writing the script for the pilot and trying to have a regular series commissioned, he only took from the comic book, the characters of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. No references were going to be made to the military angle of the comic and no romantic angle with Betty Ross. The name David sounds better than Bruce. In addition, Kenneth Johnson made every effort in avoiding any chance of "The Incredible Hulk" being regarded as a campy show like the "Batman" series from the 1960s. I think he was absolutely spot on in doing this because at least his show wouldn't become ridiculed. I have seldom seen a pilot episode that is this well written, acted and directed. Fans of the Incredible Hulk character or of "Marvel Comics" in general, are in for a treat. Bill Bixby is a medical Doctor and research scientist David Banner, who is exploring how people can produce extraordinary feats of strength whilst under duress. We hear accounts from various people who recount their own experiences where they display such physical strength. Banner has a personal interest in this as he is still grieving over the sudden passing of his wife and he feels responsible for not being able to save her. Dissatisfied with the results of his findings, Banner stays til late at his place of work and subjects himself to an experiment. This experiment consists of Banner injecting himself with nearly 2,000,000 units of Gamma radiation. That night during a thunderstorm, he tries to change a flat tyre on the open road. Upon injuring himself, Banner screams and suddenly a startling metamorphosis occurs. Here marks the first appearance of the Incredible Hulk in a live action television show. This scene is a moment in American television history as a T.V icon was born. Usually with a "Hulk Out" moment, it took about 10 seconds to complete on screen. With this first transformation, it takes nearer 45 seconds and it is impeccably done. No computers in those days, what you saw was what you got. Initially, Lou Ferrigno looks quite menacing and frightening. He was looking quite ripped, as far as his physique was concerned. After the Hulk changes back to Banner, the latter attempts to ascertain what happened and how he can study his affliction. With the help of a trusted colleague and close friend Elaina Marks, Banner retreats to a private research facility. He finally discovers that it is anger, outrage or stress that triggers his own malady. Meanwhile, journalist Jack McGee is in hot pursuit of a big story after eyewitness accounts describe a big, green creature who is in the immediate vicinity. After the journalist has hidden himself away at the research facility and is then escorted off the premises, a huge explosion occurs and Banners colleague is trapped under some rubble. As the Hulk, Banner rescues her from the blaze but she dies in his arms. The final scene is a funeral. McGee escaped from the fire but Banner and his friend Elaina Marks are being buried after their deaths were recorded. Banner however, is alive and well. He knows that it is better for all concerned that he remain in hiding and his death faked, until he can somehow cure himself or find some way to control his raging alter ego. After the funeral service, there is a long pause and everyone has gone. Then out of nowhere, David Banner appears at the graveside to pay his respects to Elaina. The pilot episode is a powerful and gripping viewing experience. What helps this to work, is that there aren't any villains, the total number of cast members is small and the whole thing is fairly low key. All these things work wonders. We hear Bill Bixby say the now famous line: "Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry." It is a line that has been often repeated. "Universal" studios were somewhat surprised by the successful viewing figures for "The Incredible Hulk" television film. Before the studio agreed to commission a regular series, they needed a bit more assurance and more convincing that the series would work. Hence why a follow up television, called "The Return of the Incredible Hulk" was made. This is a thoughtful as well as thought- provoking pilot episode and it will never be equalled as far as adaptations of "Marvel Comic" superheroes are concerned.

The Hulk's first incarnation on TV was this made for television movie starring Bill Bixby as the green giant. I don't know Hulk's origins in the Marvel Comics series, but here Dr. David Banner (Bixby) is experimenting with gamma rays, trying desperately to figure out how people get an incredible flow of Adrenalin when faced with utter danger. Having recently lost his wife in a car crash and not being able to save her in his attempts to lift the vehicle, Banner is nothing short of obsessed with finding out why he failed where others succeeded in saving their loved ones. Once he starts injecting gamma rays into his body he turns into the green giant whenever he gets really mad.This is no grandiose spectacle, it's rather cheap looking really, with that oh so 70's look and feel with special effects at a very minimum. It is however a very well written and totally involving story, well acted and ultimately very tragic. The scenes involving the Hulk aren't spectacular visually speaking but they are powerful, especially his first appearance on that rainy thunderstorm night when Banner gets mad while changing his tier. The love story here, between Banner and a fellow scientist, is very well played out and makes for a strong ending for the film.This film was the starting block for a long running TV series, but on it's own the film is very satisfying, definitely won't entertain younger viewers who're used to such visual extravaganza's as most modern superhero films are these days. I however like it very much, it takes it's time in establishing the character, it's a very human story that doesn't go overboard despite it's subject matter and it has a bitter ending that makes it all the more memorable.This cheap looking made for TV film is also a lot better than the 2003 version which I found simply terrible.

Dr. David Banner still having recurring dreams of his wife's death via car accident eleven months later is studying the reserve of strength that the average human could conceivably be capable of. Fed up with hearing that people in other similar crash could save their loved ones while he, himself, could not, he chooses to use gamma radiation on himself. However he gets a larger dose then he thought that he was going to get and thus the incredible Hulk was born. This pilot for the subsequent TV series captures the sad melancholy feel that the series later would later do so well. It's everything that Ang Lee film SHOULD have been and more.My Grade: A- DVD Extras: Intro by Lou Ferrigno; Commentary with Director/Writer Ken Johnson; a featurette on the Ang Lee travesty; a preview of the Hulk game (the crappy one, not the glorious "Ultimate Destruction"); An except from the Hulk novelization; Trailers for "Fast & the Furious: Tricked out Edition", "Hulk", the "Monk" pilot, & "Taken"

"Mr McGee don't make me angry you wouldn't like me when I'm angry" those words could be heard in my home every week in the early eighties.However it is only with the benefit of hindsight that I have truly come to appreciate what a great piece of television this really was. Bill Bixby plays Dr David Banner with such pathos that by the end of any episode you care to mention (some especially so) you want to jump through the television and give him a hug.And there is an interesting and Ironic moral to the story. Never let personal tragedies cloud your judgement and rush into something you might later regret. Dr Banner has some major issues after the death of his wife Laura in a fiery car accident from which he was unable to save her. He embarks on a research project that is trying to harness the hidden superhuman strength each one of us supposedly has. With his colleague Elaina Marks who is portrayed brilliantly by Susan Sullivan (Dharma and Greg) they interview test subjects who have demonstrated such strength in times of stress. Frustrated at not being able to find the cause of such great strength it isn't long before he hits on it. Gamma rays from the sun are responsible. Hoping to endow himself with similar strength and determined that the situation that killed Laura will not happen again he uses the Gamma ray machine in the lab. Tragicaly a lab tech has been modifying the equipment and the result? The gamma ray machine is capable of going up to two million units.At first Banner feels no ill effects but later while changing a flat tire in a rainstorm and injuring his hand he becomes the powerful beast "the incredible hulk" as reporter Jack McGee later calls him.Ahh speaking of Jack McGee Who is portrayed so awsomely brilliantly by character actor Jack Colvin.It's his intrepid noseiness that leads to a series of tragic events.Jack (Holding cast of extremely large footprint found by Dr Banner's burnt out car)your friend would't happen to take a shoe this size" Ealaina; "What is it big foot" Jack;"More like the jolly green giant only I wouldn't call him too jolly" The two scientists try to get David back to normal.And there are some very touching scenes in the lab."Were in this together as usual" they try to make it happen again but it isn't until David is asleep and dreaming of the accident with Laura that is does. The inner chamber that David has been in is destroyed and when his noseiness see's David and Elaina leaving the lab he takes his chance and goes to inspect.hearing them come back he hides in a store cupboard where unbeknownst to him flamable substances are stored. When Banner finds him in there a bottle of flamable liquid is knocked over and only viewers know it's Jack that is responsible albeit unwittingly. When the lab explodes David tries to rescue Ealina but the pain and fear trigger a metamorphosis. When Jack McGee sees the hulk carrying a dying Elaina away he quickly jumps to the wrong conclusion and thus David is forced on the run as a fugitive David Banner being believed to have died also in the lab fire. The heartbreaking scenes at the end make clear that this indeed will be a special series.Elaina;"David I have Loved you for such a long time and I always will" David at Elaina's grave;I love you Elaina and I think you loved me too although you never said it" this wonderful pilot episode paved the way for a fantastic series during which the truth nearly comes out several times."hulk breaks las vegas" In which David Banner and Jack McGee nearly come face to face after a telephone conversation "Proof positive" which takes into the mind of Jack McGee and tells of why he is so obsessed, "broken image" in which Bixby does a terrific job playing a dual role as lookalike gangster Mike Cassidy" some of the very best episodes are the ones that dig a little deeper into the souls of the main characters Dr Banner and Jack McGee for example mystery man in which a David Banner suffering with amnesia and face bandaged is forced to work with Jack McGee to survive after they are stranded in the wilderness."homecoming"we get to see Davids family and find out a little more about David's tortured past" "The psychic"In which his then wife Brenda Banet stars. We begin to see how haunted he is by the fear the creature may one day kill."suicide is not the answer" "This sin't a suicide this is an execution" it's hard to think of a series that displays more skillful acting,hearty pounding action or warmer and clearer emotion. The other Irony being that this man does not want this curse and tries so hard throughout the series to find a cure for his problem while at the same time trying to stay ahead of the indomitable Jack McGee.The only nagging irritation is that Kenneth Johnson was not allowed to work on a series climax that would have straightened everything out but that having been said it's a small niggle at that.I would be hard pressed to find a better series I'm only sorry it took so long to appreciate it.