"A scientist is exposed to a massive dose of gamma rays and becomes a superhuman beast..."	Year of Release: 1977 Directed by: Kenneth Johnson Running Time: Approx. 94 minutes Rating: Not Rated Listing on the A.K.A. Page: Nope! A Second Opinion: Doug Pratt's Laserdisc Review Buy it on VHS at: Amazon.com. My Rating:

Dr. David Banner- Bill Bixby! A mild-mannered scientist who has been trying to unlock the true strength capabilities of mankind. He started this ever since he was unable to save his dying wife from a car wreck. After a massive dose of Gamma radiation, every time he is angered he becomes...

The Incredible Hulk- Lou Ferrigno! The massive amounts of Gamma radiation mutated David's DNA so that whenever he is angered, he becomes this huge green, muscular beast. He also heals very quickly and has the mentality of a small child.

Dr. Elaina Marks- David's colleague who's helping him with his experiments. She dies in an explosion in the lab, that was caused by Jack McGee.

Jack McGee- Annoying and very unpopular reporter of a local tabloid. He is responsible for Elaina's death, and is now dead set on finding the "Hulk."

This movie is pretty good, and was part of a continuing trend of making movies based on comic book characters. Among these were Spiderman, Superman, The Flash, and Captain America. But the Incredible Hulk has more heart than those other films. As the movie opens we see the dreams of Dr. David Banner. Ever since his wife was killed in a car accident, he dreams about it recurringly every night. Ever since that incident, he was inspired to discover why other people in similar situations were able to commit tremendous acts of strength and save a loved one or themselves, while he was unable to. After interviewing many people who've committed amazing feats of strength (e.g. a 110 pound woman lifting a car!) he decides to test their blood.
Well he then continues to keep going, and eventually studies the DNA of each person. It turns out that each person has a molecular mutation in their DNA that presumably gave them their strength. He comes up with a theory that the massive amounts of Gamma radiation present in the Earth's atmosphere at certain times, caused the people to become powerful! He tries to call his colleague Elaina, and then does a little experiment. Since he has this mutated DNA himself, he gives himself a massive dose of Gamma radiation and becomes angry when he doesn't show any signs of super-strength! So he leaves the lab and ends up getting a flat tire. As he's changing the tire, he hurts himself and then becomes the "INCREDIBLE HULK!"
The super strong creature destroys the car and runs off. Later the next day, he discovers a little girl who is fishing. The girl sees him and tries to row away on a canoe, but ends up falling in the water. The Hulk knocks over a tree, picks it up, and pushes it towards the girl. As the mighty beast tries to save the little girl, her father comes running. He shoots the Hulk in the arm, causing the mighty creature to charge at him. Before the guy can get off another shot, the Hulk breaks the man's rifle in two, and then tosses him nearly 30 yards into the lake. The Hulk runs off and, after he's calmed down, returns to human form. The completely confused David proceeds to run to Elaina's house. Well the two begin to experiment and find out what happens. David is locked in a fortified steel pressure chamber for safety reasons.
All the experiments fail and he decides to get some rest. As he is sleeping, he dreams of the car accident, and then metamorphs into the Hulk again. He smashes the hell out of the pressure chamber and escapes. The now terrified Elaina calms the beast down, and he changes back into David. While all this is going on, Jack McGee is prying at the two scientists for an interview, but ends up turning his sights upon the discovery of a "jolly green giant, that wasn't too jolly." David and Elaina leave the lab to try a type of procedure that may return David to his normal self. The experiment fails and they return to the lab, where Jack has broken in. His whereabouts is discovered and he ends up knocking some chemicals on the floor of a storage closet. After a heated argument, David sees Jack out. As those two go outside, the chemicals that Jack had accidentally spilled, cause a huge explosion.
David turns into the Hulk and rescues Elaina, then runs off into the nearby woods. As Elaina lays dying in the creature's bulky arms, she declares her love to it (David) and then passes on into a better world. At the film's conclusion, Elaina's funeral has just ended and we learn that there is a reward for the Hulk! It has been accused of killing David and Elaina (but we all know who the real culprit is). When everyone is gone, David comes by and in a very ironically sad ending, says, "I love you Elaina. I think you loved me too... although you never said it." And so the heartbroken David Banner moves on and must conceal his identity since he is presumed dead. He will search hopelessly through two more movies and a T.V. series for a cure, to rid himself of his raging alter-ego.

David: "I want to be Dr. Banner, not Dr. Jekyll!"

David: "Mr. McGee...don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

David: "I love you Elaina. I think you loved me too... although you never said it..."