Hopefully on the verge of curing his Hulk condition, Banner meets his colleague, Don Blake, who is mystically linked to a Viking warrior, Thor.Hopefully on the verge of curing his Hulk condition, Banner meets his colleague, Don Blake, who is mystically linked to a Viking warrior, Thor.Hopefully on the verge of curing his Hulk condition, Banner meets his colleague, Don Blake, who is mystically linked to a Viking warrior, Thor.
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- (as Eric Kramer)
- Barner
- (as Carl Nick Ciafalio)
- Roarke
- (as Bobby Travis McLaughlin)
- Girl in Bar
- (as Peisha McPhee)
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Featured reviews
This often happens in the cartoons, but this TV movie -- the first of the post-cancellation Hulk specials -- was actually the first time Marvel tried it in live action. And it was only the second team-up of ANY live-action superheroes. (The first was Green Hornet guesting on the 1960s Batman show, an episode viewed more often than the actual Green Hornet series!)
I liked the Hulk series, even though his powers were limited for a TV budget. Bill Bixby's acting as Banner compensated for any change to the hero's motif. But he still was a gamma-charged powerhouse whose appearance was triggered by rage. Thor didn't survive as well with the Hulk's writers. He's not a Norse god here, just a revived Viking warrior. Donald Blake doesn't become Thor, he summons him from the hammer like a genie, with lightning instead of smoke. And Thor doesn't even get to fly. Or wear a red cape. And the acting doesn't compensate for these changes.
Apparently the writers were envisioning Thor as a "buddy" series spinoff. If Hulk was "The Fugitive," then maybe Thor would have been "Route 66"? I think the writers should have spent more time with comic book themes than with 1950s TV shows.
The Hulk certainly looked different. He seemed a lighter shade of green, he seemed taller and he definitely looked more muscular. But he looked in great shape as he battled with Thor and then teamed with Thor.
Thor was another comic book character from Marvel. The comic book Thor had a red cape and could fly. This Thor could not fly and had no red cape but to be honest that would have looked rather corny on film. Eric Allen Kramer played Thor who laughed in the face of danger and only seemed truly happy when he was involved in a battle.
The movie itself could be considered different to the original series. This movie was more like an episode of Knight Rider with it's stunts and it's action but I'm not complaining.
Jack Colvin was back as Jack McGee in this movie. It would be the final time we saw McGee as he would not return in the next two films. He didn't really have a prominent role in this film, certainly not as prominent as he had in the series. That was my only complaint.
All in all, a great movie. Fans of comic books will love it.
As others have said, fans of the original weekly series - The Incredible Hulk - might struggle a bit with this film as it is clearly not staying in the same dramatic tone as the old show but I personally enjoyed it a lot.
Firstly, the Hulk himself now seems stronger and bigger than he did in the past and the character needs to look that way so...great stuff! Secondly, Bill Bixby (David Banner) really struck me as a great actor here, I am sure he was fine in the old show but I don't remember being so impressed with him like I was here.
And thirdly, Thor is just a really fun character to have around, in fact the makers of today's superhero movies could learn a thing or two from this under-rated TV movie.
In a nutshell: this is a nice light hearted blast!
Did you know
- TriviaLou Ferrigno wears a new wig as the Hulk in this TV movie and its sequels. Ferrigno's hearing was deteriotaring, and the new wig hid his hearing aid.
- GoofsWhen the thugs attack David Banner and his co-worker Roy at the lab right before the second Hulk out, Mike screams at Roy and tries to shoot him. Banner grabs Mike's arm and causes him to shoot one of his thugs in the chest instead. However, within a few seconds after David starts to turn into the Hulk, the thug who was shot is uninjured and is helping the thugs attack Roy.
- Quotes
Doctor David Banner: What happened last night wasn't Thor's fault, it was yours and yours alone!
Donald Blake: David, you're not being fair to me.
Doctor David Banner: For two years now, *two years* this change of mine hasn't occurred, and do you know why? Because I've stayed away from people like you. People who start trouble and then run away. Well, you're not running away this time, Don, this time you're going to help wipe up the milk that you spilled! Do you understand?
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Chronic Rift: Women in SF (1990)
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- The Incredible Hulk Returns
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