The Incredible Hulk (1979)

This is a lot better than the television show that followed and that footage in the rain with David transforming into The Hulk for the first time is outstanding! Note the editing and music used in this footage. Right after this scene we cut to the lake scene with the direction and music still on a very high standard: even the green paint on The Hulk's skin looks more impressive than usual! But this high standard of production could never last in the lower budget weekly television series, which is too bad as this movie displayed what The Incredible Hulk series could have been if more money was put into it! I am told The Incredible Hulk series got more female viewers than male viewers so maybe I was the wrong sex for it?

I never liked the hulk when i was a kid collecting comic books - so never watched this movie until i was a lot older. What first hooked me was the human story of David Banner, brilliantly played by Bill Bixby. Having lost his wife in a car accident, David Banner is obsessed with stories of people in similar situations with loved ones in danger and how they found some sort of superhuman strength to save them. David Banner not having done this with his own wife is tortured by this fact and wants to know why he couldn't and these other people could. These tests obviously lead him into becoming the hulk. David Banner is already a man in the grip of sadness before he becomes the hulk and it becomes more painful as the situation gets out of control and he begins to hurt everyone he comes into contact with.Lets just say the end with the lonely theme is just great and for TV movie holds some punch. A real tragic story that will for me always be the definitive story of the hulk.

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.

THIS MAY CONTAIN MAJOR SPOILERSThe Incredible Hulk will always be my number one, all time favorite TV series. The pilot movie is to me, perfect 10 rated material that I feel was meant for the big screen. I know that in England, this was released theatrically. Oddly enough, I never saw the pilot movie in full until it was on in syndication in two part format and then on VHS in the video rental stores during my early to mid teen years. When you first hear about the Incredible Hulk, you might easily prejudge it and might hate it. The pilot movie is something you would have to see for yourself to truly see the sheer brilliance of this film. In order for Dr. Banner to carry the weight of the show, it would take the right person to play the part. That actor was my idol, the late great Bill Bixby. You could really feel for Dr. David Banner, losing his wife Laura in the car crash, his obsession with finding the ability to harness the power of that inner reserve of hidden strength within us all. That story from Mrs. Jessie Mayer about the identical car crash, and how she saved her son, and finally, losing Elaina Marks at the end of the movie. Bill Bixby and Susan Sullivan were excellent together as Doctors David Banner and Elaina Marks. They were best of friends and as David guesses too late at the end of the movie, they could have been potential lovers. Elaina confesses her love to him while he is the Hulk. Lou Ferrigno was born to play the Hulk. I can only imagine what it was like for him to play the hero of his childhood, but yet I can also feel for him after all the hell he went through with the make up process and the injuries sustained in the stunts. Perosnally, I loved the fright wig and makeup of this movie. The Hulk truly looked his best (the scariest) The very first Hulkout in the rain storm with the car and the flat tire is to me, one of the all time best ever Hulkouts ever filmed, along with the second Hulkout from 747 while flying the airplane. Finally, Jack Colvin is truly a master of his craft as intrepid reporter Jack McGee, who truly meant it when he said "All right Dr. Banner, but I don't give up easily." after being turned down for an interview. Oddly enough, actor Willem Dafoe, who was the Green Goblin in SpiderMan subconsciously reminded me of Jack Colvin and would have been a great Jack McGee had this version of the Hulk had been redone. Although the special FX may be considered cheesy for its standards of today, I love it!!! Call me a product of my time, but that's what I am. The Incredible Hulk pilot movie is high on the recommendation list. I say "Don't knock it till you've tried it." I rate this movie a perfect 10!!!