Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46146 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-06-03
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 193 minutes

Amazon.com
Universal's Incredible Hulk DVD will satisfy fans of the CBS television series by offering the two-hour 1978 pilot, as well as the feature-length second-season opener, "Married," and a commentary track by series creator Kenneth Johnson. In bringing the Hulk to TV, Johnson decided to focus on its human alter ego, scientist Bruce Banner (here renamed David), rather than its rampages. In the pilot, Banner (Bill Bixby) is haunted by the death of his wife and unleashes his untapped rage in the form of a monstrous creature (Lou Ferrigno) after experimenting with radiation. And in "Married," Banner falls for a researcher (Mariette Hartley in an Emmy-winning performance) who attempts to cure his "hulk-outs." Johnson's solid scripting and direction and fine performances from the leads made the series a critical and audience favorite during its network run, and the DVD--deceptive cover art aside (which features images from the 2003 Hulk theatrical feature)--should again please longtime fans and novice viewers alike. --Paul Gaita

DVD features
Series creator Kenneth Johnson's commentary on both episodes will undoubtedly be the most valuable extra to series enthusiasts, and the veteran TV writer-producer-director (whose credits include The Six Million Dollar Man, V, and Alien Nation) doesn't disappoint in providing a wealth of behind-the-scenes information about the series. For viewers interested in their own directorial careers, the tracks also serve as a valuable learning tool, as Johnson explains his choices in precise detail and recalls the daily challenges involved in shooting a TV movie. Other supplemental features include a brief interview with Lou Ferrigno (which is very similar to the featurettes on Anchor Bay's DVD releases of the post-series TV features), a making-of short for Ang Lee's Hulk, and an excerpt from that film's novelization. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

Surprisingly good film
The first episode of "The Incredible Hulk" (1977) starring Bill Bixby is a surprisingly good film in its own right (it runs about 90 minutes), and is much, much better than the Ang Lee film of 2003. While the series that followed quickly became formulaic and predictable (essentially a riff on "The Fugitive" series from a decade before), the television film that began it all is actually pretty original and moving.

For anyone familiar with the Marvel comics on which the show is based, it's clear that writer-director Kenneth Johnson took many liberties with the original source material, but that's not a bad thing. Instead of focusing on the action, this film is a surprisingly poignant and sad character drama, punctuated with moments of genuine horror whenever the Hulk appears.

Well worth revisiting if you haven't seen it in awhile.

The Incredible Hulk pilot movie is good but not "Married"!
The Incredible Hulk TV pilot movie is very good! The pilot movie directed by Kenneth Johnson is very good! the story about how David Banner (Bill Bixby) became the Incredible Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) is excellent. However, the married episode is not that great. the Married episode's ending is very poor and not good because David Banner loses another loved one (Mariette Hartley as Doctor Fields) in his search to find a cure of his mutation. I will recommend the Incredible Hulk Televison prmiere dvd for the pilot movie but I did not like the "Married" episode that came with it. B +

THE INCREDIBLE HULK: Incredibly good 70'S TV!
I was 7-years-old when THE INCREDIBLE HULK first aired on television back in '78. It was one of my favorite tv shows next to others like THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN. Feeling nostalgic not having seen the show in nearly 30 years, I recently rented the original pilot episode and, much to my surprise and pleasure, it was better than I remembered. I was especially shocked at how serious the show took itself. Sure, some of the HULK's antics may lean a little towards the campy side, but overall, the television show was clearly aimed towards an adult audience. The pilot episode was excellent. Great story, great acting and great 1978 made-for-television special effects. Bill Bixby does a bang-up job with the David Banner character and Ferrigno's portrayal of the Hulk is very good. Watching this fun piece of childhood memories has now persuaded me to add season 1 of THE INCREDIBLE HULK to my dvd collection.