Don't make him angry....you wouldn't like him when he's angry!
The not so gentle (or jolly) green giant has smashed his way into the hearts of people worldwide on both television and theater screens, and we will go on a journey through time of his live action career!
*Disclaimer: As always, this is post is ONLY about the LIVE-ACTION character and NOT the comic story lines.
Let's begin our trip through the years with the epic rage monster!
When Stan Lee created the Incredible Hulk in 1962, fans were immediately green with enthusiasm! As with any comic hero, people could not wait to see the Hulk smash his way onto the big screen. After 16 years of awesome comics, the Incredible Hulk burst into living rooms nationwide in an epic television series that is still VERY near and dear to the hearts of many fans to this day.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK (TELEVISION SERIES) 1978-1982
The Incredible Hulk series follows Dr David Banner (yes, the television show had used the name David instead of Bruce because network executives felt the name "Bruce" was not "macho" enough for the character), played by Bill Bixby, who is desperately looking for a cure to a "condition" he suffers from.
He has a bit of an anger problem, an anger problem that goes beyond anger management. In a failed experiment, Dr Banner finds himself losing control when he gets angry. In a fit of rage, a new consciousness takes over from deep inside him that comes out as a huge green hulking....well...HULK!
He has a bit of an anger problem, an anger problem that goes beyond anger management. In a failed experiment, Dr Banner finds himself losing control when he gets angry. In a fit of rage, a new consciousness takes over from deep inside him that comes out as a huge green hulking....well...HULK!
The Hulk (played by professional bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno) became a huge hit from the very beginning and people immediately ran to their TVs to watch the next episode! Although the show only lasted 4 seasons, it has only gained more fans and fame over the decades and Ferrigno has this show to thank for his tremendous popularity and stardom since starring as the Hulk.
What made this show special was that it followed David Banner and told his story of sadness and desperation of being forced to live in solitude to keep from hurting anyone. It also showed, over the course of time, the Hulk developing a personality as Banner learns a little more how to control it.
My Rating:
3.9926385 out of 5 stars
I liked the show because it wasn't (intentionally) cheesy like the old Batman television series. It was serious and gritty.
One of my favorite moments in the shows history was a two part episode named "The First" where Banner meets another doctor who suffered from an "affliction" but found a cure for himself. As the story unfolds, Banner finds that this doctor may be able to help him with his own "issue"; but the doctor finds that he misses the power his "affliction" afforded him and ruins Banner's chance of being cured. It turns out the doctor also transforms into a hulk and a battle ensues between the two green men!
The problem with this episode? The doctor's hulk is old and not muscular (yet he's still superhuman strong) which makes him a little unbelievable when going toe to toe with Ferrigno's Hulk; but the story itself is wonderful!
Six years after the Incredible Hulk television series concluded, a TV movie brought the Hulk crashing back into our living rooms. This time, we were given a treat: the Mighty Thor (played by Eric Allan Kramer who is famous for his role as Little John in Robin Hood: Men in Tights)!
This movie finds Banner two years later still working to find a cure for his "issue", and he seems to be closing in on the answer. Before he can do what he needs to, he runs into a former student of his who claims he's mystically connected to a Norse God of Thunder and is trying to help him gain worthiness back so he can return to Asgard. The student calls upon Thor who appears and accidentally causes Banner to get angry and is "introduced" to the Hulk!
My Rating:
3.3000478 out of 5 stars
This TV movie could not have as much depth as the television show because of time constraints, but it picks up where the show left off and features the two most important actors, Bixby and Ferrigno.
This would also mark the first time we see Thor on screen until he was brought back twenty three years later (2011) in his own movie; and while he may not be the Thor we're used to these days, it's still cool to watch them battle with limited availability to special effects.
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| Slight difference? |
A year later we are treated to another Hulk TV movie with more Marvel characters.
Banner is distraught from the events of the last movie and is trying to keep a low profile so he won't change anymore. Unfortunately, trouble finds him and he ends up being arrested for a crime he did not commit. Blind lawyer Max Murdock (played by Rex Smith) takes his case because he believes Banner to be innocent. While dealing with the case, a crime boss named Wilson Fisk (played by the legendary John Rhys-Davies) is stirring up the crime underworld, and acting like a kingpin.
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| The Kingpin |
While investigations for Banner's case are ongoing, Murdock is revealed to be the protector of the city, Daredevil!
Through a series of events, the Hulk and Daredevil team up to take on the Fisk.
My Rating:
3.00285 out of 5 stars
Once again, we are treated to new Marvel characters mixing it up with the Hulk. The special effects showing Daredevil's "sight" may not be great, and he may look more like a ninja because he's dressed in black and not red, but it was cool seeing him in live action.
This movie marked the first live action appearance of both Daredevil and Kingpin who were in their own Daredevil movie later starring Ben Affleck and Micheal Clarke Duncan respectively. Oddly, the revamped live action Daredevil character was brought to the big screen the same year as the revamped live action Hulk character in 2003!
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| Another slight difference? |
My Rating
3.000298 out of 5 stars
It's the end of an era....a great era. While there were no extra Marvel characters in this TV movies and it was by far the weakest of the TV movies, there was one special aspect of this movie that was not in any other movie or episode before: Banner's transformation was recorded and he was able to see what he becomes for the first time!
REVENGE OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK
The creators of Death of the Incredible Hulk had not initially planned to make that the last time he would be on screen.
The actual plan was for the Hulk to come back but with the mind of Banner (in an attempt to fall in line more with the comics). Along with this plan was the thought of bringing in Spider-Man, Iron Man and She Hulk in upcoming TV movies.
Although test shots for She Hulk (who would have been played by Brigitte Nielsen) were made, the filming never started. By that time, Bixby's health had begun to fail and he later unfortunately passed away due to cancer.
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| Actual She Hulk test shot |
Thirteen years after we last saw the Hulk, audiences were starting to get antsy. The year 2000 brought us the first X-Men movie, and with the awesomeness of the portrayal of Marvel's most famous heroes came the question: what other characters can now be brought to the screen?
Among the heroes, fans cried out in unison for a certain green monster to be brought back from the ashes. With the advancement in movie technology, there was no reason we could not be appeased.
In the year 2003, the fans were given their request, although many did not like the outcome.
Eric Bana took up the mantle of Dr Bruce Banner (yes, BRUCE is back!) to bring the Hulk back to live action greatness. Dr Banner falls victim to an accident in his lab when he is hit with an insane amount of gamma rays. The result of the accident is that he transforms into a giant green wrecking machine when he loses his temper.
The government, who has been funding Dr Banner's testing, is now after him because he may prove to be a valuable weapon in their hands. As he runs from the military, he encounters his estranged father (Nick Nolte) who turns out to be an even worse enemy than he first thought, and all while trying to protect his love interest Betty (played by Jennifer Connelly).
As a respectful nod to the man who first brought the Hulk to the screen, Lou Ferrigno appeared in a quick cameo as a security guard.
My Rating:
3.7297 out of 5 stars
I know some will find my rating a little high for this film, but please let me explain:
This was the first attempt at recreating the Hulk in 13 years!! The following appearances by the Hulk may have been better than this film, but you MUST remember that THIS film was the foundation which they built on.
Despite Hulk's cartoonish look, this was the only movie in which his power of jumping extremely long distances was shown off (yes he did it in other movies, but this one actually showed how far he could go) and his power of growing bigger and stronger when he would get angrier was also shown.
Among the heroes, fans cried out in unison for a certain green monster to be brought back from the ashes. With the advancement in movie technology, there was no reason we could not be appeased.
In the year 2003, the fans were given their request, although many did not like the outcome.
Eric Bana took up the mantle of Dr Bruce Banner (yes, BRUCE is back!) to bring the Hulk back to live action greatness. Dr Banner falls victim to an accident in his lab when he is hit with an insane amount of gamma rays. The result of the accident is that he transforms into a giant green wrecking machine when he loses his temper.
The government, who has been funding Dr Banner's testing, is now after him because he may prove to be a valuable weapon in their hands. As he runs from the military, he encounters his estranged father (Nick Nolte) who turns out to be an even worse enemy than he first thought, and all while trying to protect his love interest Betty (played by Jennifer Connelly).
As a respectful nod to the man who first brought the Hulk to the screen, Lou Ferrigno appeared in a quick cameo as a security guard.
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| "Big green thing? Heh, I was better." |
My Rating:
3.7297 out of 5 stars
I know some will find my rating a little high for this film, but please let me explain:
This was the first attempt at recreating the Hulk in 13 years!! The following appearances by the Hulk may have been better than this film, but you MUST remember that THIS film was the foundation which they built on.
Despite Hulk's cartoonish look, this was the only movie in which his power of jumping extremely long distances was shown off (yes he did it in other movies, but this one actually showed how far he could go) and his power of growing bigger and stronger when he would get angrier was also shown.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK 2008
Five years after what many considered a "disaster", the Hulk was repackaged and redone. The always excellent Edward Norton took on the task of redeeming the monster and did a wonderful job at it!
In a semi-sequel/retelling of the 2003 film, Dr Banner is trying to live a peaceful life to keep his "other side" from coming out. As always, trouble finds him and the Hulk wreaks havoc which causes the military to once again attempt to hunt him down. This time, experimentation has continued and the military has a serum of their own in which they hope to make another superhuman to battle and capture the Hulk.
In a complete recasting, William Hurt acts as the general charged with bringing Banner down while his daughter Betty (this time played by Liv Tyler) once again tries to help Bruce. When a specialist (Tim Roth) comes in to help the military hunt the Hulk down, he volunteers to be injected with the serum to transform him. The result is an unforeseen change which leads to fellow comic book character, and Hulk rival, Abomination to battle the Hulk.
Ferrigno is again shown the respect deserved by having another small cameo and also being the Hulk's voice (something he did not do at all in the television series).
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| "YOU'RE Dr Banner? I don't think so pal. I know the guy." |
My Rating:
3.89371348 out of 5 stars
Just like the 2003 movie by Ang Lee, this movie suffered from a lack of a true enemy to the Hulk. Yes, Abomination was a physical threat, but so was Banner's father in the first film. The problem is that a movie cannot thoroughly explore the anguish of Banner as a man like the television show could because of time constraints.
However, the movie was still enjoyable and the Hulk himself looked more realistic than the first film. He also seemed to be more serious and meaner.
The other high point of this film was the fact that this was one of the bunch of movies being tied together for the much anticipated Avengers movie. So Tony Stark's name was tossed in along with a cameo by the man himself (Robert Downey Jr.) and references to S.H.I.E.L.D. were also made.
THE AVENGERS 2012
Super friends unite against mass forces of evil! Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Dr Bruce Banner (now played by Mark Ruffalo) team up to stop Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his army of aliens!
This is all about Hulk, so let's cut to the chase here.
We waited four years for this movie and we waited to see what Hulk would be like because we were told there would be yet another actor playing Banner and another model used to create the Hulk.
We waited four years for this movie and we waited to see what Hulk would be like because we were told there would be yet another actor playing Banner and another model used to create the Hulk.
I think it's safe to say that this time the Hulk was done so right! He looked incredible (no pun intended), and was not over-shown or under used. His fighting scenes were so memorable that they may just have been the best in the film and he even had some comical moments that were timed perfectly.
I think what added to the Hulk's character was the fact that his movements were done by Ruffalo and not a motion actor. So the Hulk's mannerisms were that of the original actor which gave Hulk more realism as an extension of Banner.
And, come on, how could anyone not love the way Hulk slammed Loki around like a rag doll?
Once again, Ferrigno is given respect by being the voice of the Hulk, although this time he was not credited in the film.
My Rating:
4.83742847 out of 5 stars
The Hulk was FINALLY done justice!! He was portrayed perfectly! When he emerged from pure rage, he was out of control, but when he was brought out by sheer will, he was able to focus on smashing the things. Above that, the banter and conversation between Banner and Stark was amazing and scene-stealing. The Hulk alone is definitely worth watching this movie alone for!
IRON MAN 3 2013
SPOILER ALERT!
Now, the actual Hulk did not appear in this film, but Dr Banner was. After the credits roll, it is revealed that the narration by Stark during the movie is actually him venting to Banner who is nodding off and not paying attention. It's then revealed that in fact the whole movie was Stark retelling events that occurred after their time in New York City (in the Avengers movie) in which he was coping with the mental stress it gave him.
In what is probably the funniest line in the film, Banner states that he is not a psychiatrist and does not have the "temperament" to continue listening to Stark!
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| "Yea Stark....I'm awesome." |
My Rating:
4.48723487 out of 5 stars
The movie itself was enjoyable and it was a huge delight to see Banner as a surprise cameo because audiences already knew of the awesome chemistry Banner and Stark had from the Avengers.
Can lightning strike twice with the Hulk? Ultron is more of a physical threat than Loki, so I believe we can expect to see more hand to hand combat between the Hulk and a being close to his strength.
THE (NEW) HULK TELEVISION SERIES
There has been rumors for a long time about bringing the Hulk back to television, but the last rumors are about a year old. Could it work? We may never know. With the new television series about S.H.I.E.L.D. about to air, there may not be a need for a Hulk series.
Click here to read up on the rumors of a revamped Hulk show.
Could we see Hulk in his own film again? There are big positives and negatives to that question. Mark Ruffalo has signed up for six pictures as Bruce Banner, with the first two being in Avengers and Iron Man 3. So far it's apparent that the Hulk works better as a supporting role than a starring one for now.
In fact, Mark tweeted this in early March about a stand alone Hulk film:
"A lot of folks have been asking about the Next Hulk. The next time you see my Hulk it will be in the Avengers2. No plans for stand alone."
"I am not giving up on another stand alone HULK. But it’s not in the works right now. One never knows what the future will bring."
What do you think? Should Hulk get another shot at a solo act or should we be satisfied with cameos and supporting roles?
Either way, I'm good!
Jay
In fact, Mark tweeted this in early March about a stand alone Hulk film:
"A lot of folks have been asking about the Next Hulk. The next time you see my Hulk it will be in the Avengers2. No plans for stand alone."
"I am not giving up on another stand alone HULK. But it’s not in the works right now. One never knows what the future will bring."
What do you think? Should Hulk get another shot at a solo act or should we be satisfied with cameos and supporting roles?
Either way, I'm good!
Jay
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