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The Death of The Incredible Hulk DVD Review

Sunday, June 8 2003

The following was originally posted on Genre Online:

Title: The Death Of The Incredible Hulk
Region: One
Genre: Comic Book Live Action Adaptation TV Movie
Stars: Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno, Elizabeth Gracen, Philip Sterling, and Andreas Katsulas

Writer: Gerald Dipego

Based On Characters Created By: Marvel Comics

Director: Bill Bixby

Feature length: 94 minutes

Extras: Bonus Trailers

Languages: English and Spanish Language Monaural Sound

Subtitles: English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles

Packaging: Keep Case

Chapter Stops: 28

Sound: Monaural Sound

Year of Television Broadcast: 1990/DVD Release: 2003

Home Video Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

This third and final TV movie produced by New World Television featuring Bill Bixby, who also served as Director and Executive Producer, as Dr. David Bruce Banner and Lou Ferrigno as his alter ego, the incredible Hulk was not actually supposed to be the final TV feature in the series, but due to Bixby’s subsequent illness and death, the film ironically by default concluded the tragic story that began with the TV series premiere in 1978. One can only imagine how they might have brought Dr. Banner and the Hulk back to life now, but as far a TV features go, “The Death Of The Incredible Hulk” maintains the same melancholy tone for the most part with the rest of the series though at times it can be a little campy.

However the storyline is pretty good with Dr. Banner secretly assisting a noted scientist with research with the hope that a cure for his affliction can finally be found. Of course things never go right for Dr. Banner and soon he becomes embroiled in a gambit to stop Russian terrorists that leads to the ultimate act of heroism and sacrifice for the Hulk. Bixby still gives a performance that lends a sense a dignity that helps to rise the material a bit above the standard genre TV movie of that time and it is great to watch Ferrigno in his final romp as the Hulk.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is releasing “The Death Of The Incredible Hulk” to DVD in a full frame (1.33:1) aspect ratio that preserves the way the film was broadcast and while there is a fine video grain present with some scenes looking a bit soft, the quality is more than acceptable. A clear English Two-Channel Monaural Soundtrack is provided along with a Spanish Language Monaural Soundtrack and English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as options.

There are no extra value features included on this DVD. Trailers for “Daredevil,” “X-Men,” “X2: X-Men United,” and Tim Burton’s remake of “Planet Of The Apes” are included though. The menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. With Anchor Bay Entertainment’s “The Incredible Hulk Returns & The Trial Of The Incredible Hulk: 2 Disc Set” already available and Universal Studios Home Video’s “The Incredible Hulk: Original Series Premiere” streeting day and date with “The Death Of The Incredible Hulk” I find it hard not recommend all three DVD titles collectively from their various distributors as a set consumers can buy individually and treasure. “The Death Of The Incredible Hulk” will debut on DVD-Video from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Tuesday, June 3, 2003.

Click here to order this DVD now! Order The Incredible Hulk: How the Legend Began at the same time and get free shipping!

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