By 1990, NBC had been successful at bringing back the Incredible Hulk in two made-for-television movies, and they had a wild idea: what if they killed him off? Comic book fans all over the world scoffed at the idea that the Hulk could actually be killed, but producers wanted to try something new, and felt this was the way to go.
The story begins at a scientific research facility, where Dr. David Banner, masquerading as a mentally challenged janitor named "David Bellamy", is hoping that the research of one of the scientists at the facility, Dr. Ronald Pratt, might finally be able to cure him of the creature. Pratt just sees this man as a friendly custodian, so he doesn't suspect anything. Of course, Pratt starts to wonder when he comes to work one day and his formulas have been changed and corrected. One night, Pratt is able to catch Banner in the act, and David proceeds to tell Pratt all about his condition.
The story begins at a scientific research facility, where Dr. David Banner, masquerading as a mentally challenged janitor named "David Bellamy", is hoping that the research of one of the scientists at the facility, Dr. Ronald Pratt, might finally be able to cure him of the creature. Pratt just sees this man as a friendly custodian, so he doesn't suspect anything. Of course, Pratt starts to wonder when he comes to work one day and his formulas have been changed and corrected. One night, Pratt is able to catch Banner in the act, and David proceeds to tell Pratt all about his condition.
Banner, Pratt, and Pratt's wife decide to try an experiment where they would induce a transformation so that they could get a blood sample while the creature is out. They subdue his destruction by trapping him inside a force field, get the sample, then immediately put him to sleep.
One night, Jasmin and other members of the eastern European spy network break into Pratt's lad, right before Pratt is able to inject Banner with the proposed cure he had developed. A fire breaks out, Pratt is knocked unconscious, and Banner transforms. The Hulk is able to get Pratt to safety, but the scientist is now in a coma. Soon, Banner meets, then falls in love with Jasmin, and the two plan on flying to an island together and live out the rest of their lives in peace. However, a radio broadcast reveals that the spy network has kidnapped a now-conscious Pratt and his wife. Banner and Jasmin rush to save them, and in the process it is revealed that Jasmin's sister was never kidnapped, but is actually the true leader of the spy network. A plane carrying Jasmin's sister attempts to run her over, and Banner rushes to her aid, transforming in the process.
The Hulk is able to ram the side of the plane, and save Jasmin. The plane still tries to take off, but Hulk latches on and tries to climb inside. They tried to shake him off, to no avail. Finally, when the Hulk gets into the plane, Jasmin's sister attempts to shoot him, but mistakenly hits the plane's fuel tanks, and the plane explodes. The Hulk is launched out into the night sky, where he plummets to the ground below, destroying the concrete when he lands. Jasmin immediately rushes to his side, and as he undergoes one last transformation, Banner dies.
Now before I give my opinion, let's just explain the craziness surrounding this film. For starters, much like utilizing different characters from the Marvel Comics library in the last two films, this time around She-Hulk was originally slated to appear. A legitimate reason for why she did not hasn't ever really been given. And even though this film featured the Hulk/Banner's death, it was never supposed to be the actually final film. This was all part of a plan hatched by NBC and producers, as the story would have continued in what would have been called "The Revenge of the Incredible Hulk", and it would have featured a Hulk who could talk because Banner's consciousness was trapped in the Hulk's body. And one of the characters they wanted to appear? None other than Tony Stark/Iron Man!
Sadly, as can happen, plans can go awry. It wasn't too long after finishing production on this film that Bill Bixby's health started to decline. And in 1993, he tragically died of cancer. Producers & Lou Ferrigno knew that without Bixby, there was no movie. So all plans for more films were immediately cancelled.
I remember first seeing this movie on a VHS tape I was watching as a kid. It was one of those where most of the movie was recorded over with something else, and the spot it picks up on is the ending plane/death sequence. Once I witnessed the full film, I found it to be pretty decent. As a matter of fact, out of the three made-for-television movies, I choose this one over the other two. It stuck with the basic premise that the original TV series did: Banner searching for a way to cure himself. And how fitting to open the movie with a black background and white titles, the same way the pilot episode of the series opened. Bixby was of course fantastic in the role of Dr. David Banner. And you gotta respect the man for sticking with this franchise for as long as he did, especially after knowing that before the pilot was even shot, Bixby originally turned them down. And what can be said about Lou Ferrigno? That man continues to be recognized as the Hulk to this day! He did a wonderful job portraying the Green Goliath.
It is sad knowing that this ended up being the finality for a series that ran from 1978-1982, produced 82 episodes over 5 seasons, and the three TV movies on top of that. If conditions could have been different, I would have loved to have seen what they would have done with the character. But of course, that could have led to no big screen Hulk films, or Hulk in "The Avengers". And while I do think falling out of an exploding plane is kind of a wimpy way for the Incredible Hulk to go out, it was a touching scene. The busting of the concrete as he hit the ground was a nice touch. In the end, I would very much so suggest fans of the TV series to give these movies a viewing.
Sadly, as can happen, plans can go awry. It wasn't too long after finishing production on this film that Bill Bixby's health started to decline. And in 1993, he tragically died of cancer. Producers & Lou Ferrigno knew that without Bixby, there was no movie. So all plans for more films were immediately cancelled.
I remember first seeing this movie on a VHS tape I was watching as a kid. It was one of those where most of the movie was recorded over with something else, and the spot it picks up on is the ending plane/death sequence. Once I witnessed the full film, I found it to be pretty decent. As a matter of fact, out of the three made-for-television movies, I choose this one over the other two. It stuck with the basic premise that the original TV series did: Banner searching for a way to cure himself. And how fitting to open the movie with a black background and white titles, the same way the pilot episode of the series opened. Bixby was of course fantastic in the role of Dr. David Banner. And you gotta respect the man for sticking with this franchise for as long as he did, especially after knowing that before the pilot was even shot, Bixby originally turned them down. And what can be said about Lou Ferrigno? That man continues to be recognized as the Hulk to this day! He did a wonderful job portraying the Green Goliath.
It is sad knowing that this ended up being the finality for a series that ran from 1978-1982, produced 82 episodes over 5 seasons, and the three TV movies on top of that. If conditions could have been different, I would have loved to have seen what they would have done with the character. But of course, that could have led to no big screen Hulk films, or Hulk in "The Avengers". And while I do think falling out of an exploding plane is kind of a wimpy way for the Incredible Hulk to go out, it was a touching scene. The busting of the concrete as he hit the ground was a nice touch. In the end, I would very much so suggest fans of the TV series to give these movies a viewing.