User Reviews

For those who didn't exactly take the series seriously might have a heck of a time with this comeback movie for The Incredible Hulk. But for those who did take them seriously (those being me), I find this a rather silly entry.

The humane aspect is what fueled the series. Bill Bixby was an irresistible lead and his quest for a cure never failed to be interesting. In short it was the drama that made the show as appealing as it was. In The Incredible Hulk Returns we see him team up with Thundergod Thor as David's attempts to cure himself are once again thrashed. The Hulk and Thor battle criminals who are out to steal David's machine, the one he built which might have helped to cure him.

The film starts off well and then goes downward after Thor's introduction. He's made to be pretty silly but still he's engagingly played by Eric Kramer and somehow he's pretty likable. The action scenes are fine and the Hulk moments are solid. Lou Ferrigno looks incredible and everything concerning David Banner and the Hulk is good stuff. But the campy feel and humor is something the shows didn't go much for and undermine the whole proceedings, like it wasn't taken seriously enough. But maybe that's what they were aiming for.

Jack Colvin makes a welcome return as relentless reporter Jack McGee who once again misses out on the big story. As always Bixby is rock solid and the flick works in some places but misses in others.

It's still an above average entertainment for a fan of the series.

This was a fantastic movie. After an absence of about six years the Hulk was back teaming up with the Norse god Thor to battle a bunch of gangsters. The film may have had minor faults but not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the movie.

The Hulk certainly looked different. He seemed a lighter shade of green, he seemed taller and he definitely looked more muscular. But he looked in great shape as he battled with Thor and then teamed with Thor.

Thor was another comic book character from Marvel. The comic book Thor had a red cape and could fly. This Thor could not fly and had no red cape but to be honest that would have looked rather corny on film. Eric Allen Kramer played Thor who laughed in the face of danger and only seemed truly happy when he was involved in a battle.

The movie itself could be considered different to the original series. This movie was more like an episode of Knight Rider with it's stunts and it's action but I'm not complaining.

Jack Colvin was back as Jack McGee in this movie. It would be the final time we saw McGee as he would not return in the next two films. He didn't really have a prominent role in this film, certainly not as prominent as he had in the series. That was my only complaint.

All in all, a great movie. Fans of comic books will love it.

RELEASED TO TV IN 1988 and written & directed by Nicholas Corea, "The Incredible Hulk Returns" is the first of three movies in the wake of the TV series that ran from 1977-82.

PLOT: Bill Bixby stars as Dr. David Banner, who is working incognito at a research facility in Southern California and on the verge of curing his gamma radiation-induced curse. Meanwhile Banner reunites with younger colleague Don Blake (Steve Levitt), who has found a magical Norse hammer, which can summon Thor (Eric Allan Kramer), an ancient Viking warrior. When a vital piece of technology is nearly stolen and David's sweetheart is kidnapped (Lee Purcell), the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) and Thor must team-up to save the day. Jack Colvin returns as nosy reporter Jack McGee.

Despite the TV-budget limitations, this is a very entertaining Hulk movie, even better than the pilot movie from 1977. This is mostly due to the inclusion of Thor, who's pretty close to the Marvel Comics version (Stan Lee was a consultant), albeit with a brown costume rather than dark blue. This is because Thor here is (evidently) NOT the god of thunder from Asgard, but rather a mighty Viking from the distant past aided by the mystic hammer. His personality isn't like Thor in the comics (i.e. one-dimensionally noble and boring), but rather like Marvel's Hercules, where he's hearty, loves a good fight, women & brew. Kramer knocks the role out of the ballpark with his merry & mighty charisma.

The biker bar episode is a highlight with Peisha Arten standing out as one of the "Whoa, Mama" biker babes. The ending is kind of sad accompanied by Joseph Harnell's melancholic piano theme.

THE FILM RUNS 93 minutes and was shot in California (Malibu, North Hollywood and Los Angeles). ADDITIONAL DIRECTING: Bill Bixby. ADDITIONAL CAST: Charles Napier, Tim Thomerson and Jay Baker.

GRADE: B+

Though not a huge fan of 'Hulk' I caught this show and found it extremely funny and entertaining. Yes, this is far from fine drama, but I found it to be a cut above shows of its type and wish I could watch it again.

After six years since its last prime-time show (June 1982) Stan Lee and Nicholas Corea brought back Marvel Comics' strongman "the Incredible Hulk. Though this time David Banner has become the closest ever to be cured. He has a new girlfriend,bumped into a old colleague,and well into his medical career. Unlike in the past he worked odd jobs until his alter-ego was summons. But David banner in this movie has a new life were he doesn't feel he has to runaway anymore. Till an old colleague sneaks into David's job and his trouble begans. David's colleague tells him a story that during his journey up north he discovered a hammer that can summon an old viking hero. As the old viking hero appeared David mis-judged his well-being as being destructive which forced him to become the hulk. That was one of the best scenes in the movie were the hulk and the viking hero (Thor) battle it out. Overall the hulk over-powered Thor and Thor wanted to call a truce. A real Marvel classic!! Now that their fight got some exposure David had to put his plans for a cure on halt till the situation died down. This also brought on the attention of the trailing reportor Jack Mcgee and some bad guys who wanted to take the gamma transponder that David and his colleagues worked on. Since the hulk was seen David had to go back to his old secrecy way of life,and not letting the new relationship with his girlfriend progress. That's until he found a way of permanently curing himself. But matters got worse as the bad guys capture his girlfriend to get to the transponder. Which leaves David to team up with the viking warrior and his master to save Maggie (David's girlfriend). Though they saved her David had to leave because there was to much attention focused on the green creature and his association with his job. A sad ending as in the former prime-time series. Though I enjoyed Thor because of his comical outspoken personality. A great come-back series. But poor David must continue his journey to find a cure and live a normal life he once had.

When the show left the air in 1982, The Incredible Hulk is all but forgotten. The cast are back with a little twist, they put Thor in the reunion movie. Unlike the TV show, they indeed put in another Marvel character to make the movie worthwhile. I know my comics very well, I know that Thor(Eric Kramer) and The Hulk(Lou Ferrigno) are few of the strong titans around. And Ithink that the fight between the two could have been better. And I'm surprised that Banner(Bill Bixby, 1934-93) didn't pin the blame on Thor. Banner goes by Banion since Jack McGee(Jack Colvin) is after the creature. When McGee goes too far, it's up to the heroes to make the save. Thor takes out the car with Mjollnir(The Hammer), and the Hulk takes out the rest of the trash including Mcgee who had to "hang around" for the police to question him. I know his reporter days are permanently suspended! This reunion movie was great, and when I was younger, I was very afraid of the show. Goes to show how silly I was, I watch reruns nowadays, and I laugh my head off at everything. Great movie, great story, will Banner find the cure? Or will he keep trying? See the movie, enjoy the shows while you can. Rating 5 stars.

I first watched this movie when i was 6 years old. Im 15 now and i still enjoy it. I was always fascinated by the incredible hulk, and with Lou Ferrigno's wonderful performance, you'll never be able to leave your seats.

My favourite scene was David Banner seeing thor for the first time i thought that scene was brilliantly done. However, this film has its weaknesses. The main weakness was the scene where the hulk is trying to pull the helicopter down, i thought he could do that himself and not have thor to help him, despite that they still couldn't pull the helicopter down.

However this didn't really effect the entertainment too much. It is a great shame that the late Bill Bixby isn't with us.

I am so glad they made 3 TV movies of the Hulk, it is great to see Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno reprise their roles from "The Incredible Hulk" TV series, and Jack Colvin reprise his role as investigative reporter Jack McGee in this TV movie.

David Banner, using the alias David Banion, is working for an institute that is into research and he has helped develop a gamma radiation machine that will probably cure him. David Banner is living with his co-worker and lover, Dr. Margaret Shaw, played by Lee Purcell(Airplane II: The Sequel, Valley Girl, and The Unknown). Margeret does not know his secret. David Banner has not turned into the Hulk in 2 years and does not want to put Margaret in danger.

David is working at the lab late at night and an old acquaintance of his, Donald Blake, played great by Steve Levitt (Private School, Hunk, and The Experts), who knows who David is. Donald tells his adventure exploring a cavern in the mountain, discovers a tomb of an ancient Viking warrior, named Thor, played superbly by Eric Kramer(True Romance, Robin Hood: Men In Tights, and American Wedding). Donald uses a hammer he discovers in the tomb, the hammer of Thor, it is a way to summon Thor. Donald demonstrates how it works, David and Thor meet, Thor makes David anger by pushing him, and turns into the Hulk, they have it out, but they stop fighting cause of the police showing up. Jack McGee is at the institution the next day asking questions, David sees McGee and hides cause Jack McGee things he is dead.

I won't tell you the rest, but I will tell you there are forces out to steal the gamma machine, Jack LeBeau, played by a sci fi great Tim Thomerson(Trancers 1-6, Nemesis 1 and 3), and his goon, played by Charles Napier(Rambo: First Blood Part II ,Austin Powers:The Spy Who Shagged Me).

This movie is awesome, I give it 10/10 and 2 thumbs up.

A good sequel movie! Really loved the addition of Thor!

The Incredible Hulk tv series created a down to earth reality that was completely ignored by this movie.

While huge doses of gamma radiation won't really make someone into the Hulk, the original show still presented a real world type setting. Nothing remotely like Thor appearing ever occurred.

When I heard about this in 1988, I was excited, But I was not expecting Thor, the other superhero from Marvel Comics. The story begins With David Banner(always well played by Bill Bixby)who takes on another identity. Finds work has a research scienctist. Builds a machine called the Transponder, That cure from becoming the hulk. And just when about to go ahead with it, he is interupted by an old friend named Donald Blake(Steve Levitt) who tells David a big secret of his own. He has a magical hammer that can summon a mighty warrior named(played with a lot of charm by Eric Kramer). But they both soon realize that a bunch of bad guys want to get their hands on the transponder, and they will stop at nothing. Its up to the Hulk and Thor to defeat them. The best hulk movie in years, It beats out The Trial Of The Incredible Hulk and The Death Of The Incredible Hulk. Lou Ferrigno is always good has the Hulk. Eric Kramer is also good has Thor. Why don't they another superhero team up. Like one day they could do a live action Spider-Man teaming up with the X-Men. The most interesting T.V. movie in years. Its a Marvel classic.

This is the best of all the Incredible Hulk TV movies on the grounds that it had a satisfying ending. All the other Hulk movies were good movies, but the ending just didn't deliver. Admittedly the story is actually the weakest of the Hulk movies but Bixby and crew inflate the material to make this a very satisfying movie of the week and coupled with the good ending this is again the best Hulk to date.

It has been almost two years since the Hulk last made an appearance and Banner has successfully assumed a new identity and, with soft music and the love of a good woman, has managed to control his anger. Working on a device that he believes can cure him of his Hyde side, Banner thinks things are going well until a former student turns up with stories of a hammer, an ancient tomb and a man called Thor. Demonstrating what he means sees the war god Thor appear and Banner is soon pushed beyond his own limits and the Hulk returns. The ensuing battle damages the lab and produces some sensational headlines in the local papers – headlines that draw investigative reporter Jack McGee back into the picture. Meanwhile, behind the scenes a sinister plot is developing to kidnap Banner and steal the transponder device.

The surprising thing about the negative reviews on this film are not that they are negative (surely this film deserves them) but that the writers seem so very surprised by the failings in it. Did they, I wonder, not expect that the acting would be average at best, the plotting corny, the effects very basic and the whole thing dated and silly. All these things are true but I had expected them and, although they are still annoying at least I was ready for them and tried to enjoy the film the best I could. Comic book fans may get a kick out of a story that sees the Hulk and Thor put together, but for many viewers it will just seem silly throughout. Annoyingly, it takes itself seriously too much of the time and this does make the whole thing seem sillier. At times it has humour (mainly from Thor) but this is nowhere near often enough to lift the film. The narrative is all about setting up a fight at the end (the usual warehouse stuff) and doesn't do anything within this of any interest.

The lack of characters can be understood within a tvm but they are still a real loss. Banner is his usual haunted self (despite calling himself Bannion – what a great disguise) and all this means is he mopes around thinking calm thoughts. Bixby is part of the reason it all takes itself too seriously and his performance is too worthy and self-important for such a silly film. Ferrigno is pretty poor of course but this is to be understood and the cheesy Hulk moments are something that comes with the territory. Surprisingly Kramer dominates the film and I was glad every time he came back on the screen. This is not to say he is any good, but at least he is quite funny. Colvin shows his face a few times but adds nothing to anything; Purcell is the usual love interest role and brings nothing new and, to be honest, most of the support cast are clunky and unconvincing – a few well-known faces in there add interest but not a great deal else.

Overall this is a silly film with no characters, overused slow-mo, poor effects and is pretty much basic in most regards. There is enough here to please fans and those with low expectations however please don't be surprised by how basic the whole thing is.

Marvel Comics loves to team its superheroes up far more than DC ever does. In the comics, this means frequent crossovers, enough to make you wonder whose book you're reading. On TV, it means guest heroes who don't have their own shows.

This often happens in the cartoons, but this TV movie -- the first of the post-cancellation Hulk specials -- was actually the first time Marvel tried it in live action. And it was only the second team-up of ANY live-action superheroes. (The first was Green Hornet guesting on the 1960s Batman show, an episode viewed more often than the actual Green Hornet series!)

I liked the Hulk series, even though his powers were limited for a TV budget. Bill Bixby's acting as Banner compensated for any change to the hero's motif. But he still was a gamma-charged powerhouse whose appearance was triggered by rage. Thor didn't survive as well with the Hulk's writers. He's not a Norse god here, just a revived Viking warrior. Donald Blake doesn't become Thor, he summons him from the hammer like a genie, with lightning instead of smoke. And Thor doesn't even get to fly. Or wear a red cape. And the acting doesn't compensate for these changes.

Apparently the writers were envisioning Thor as a "buddy" series spinoff. If Hulk was "The Fugitive," then maybe Thor would have been "Route 66"? I think the writers should have spent more time with comic book themes than with 1950s TV shows.

You may know of the brutal viking god which travels on his wagon and summons thunder, known as Thor. You might also know of the big green strong thingy known as the Hulk.

Now can you imagine what a team of those two would look like? A muscly green thingy with supposedly no intelligence together with another muscle-machine from 1000 AD that knows nothing of today's society, and mostly wants to drink mead and beer... I wouldn't have dared to guess myself, all that I can say is that it sums up to a lot of FUN.

As a friend of mine said after i lent him the movie: "I haven't had this fun in five years".

The acting is excellent, I especially like the guy who plays Thor. It's a sad thing that the great Bill Bixby - who is the main character and also has directed most of the movie isn't with us anymore.

A couple of things are worth mentioning though. The movie doesn't sport humor that everybody likes (what movie does that anyway?) and it's a straight-to-video release so don't have too big expectations on the actual picture quality and special FX (clearly drawn with a pen!!) The plot is also a little diffuse at times.

But this doesn't sink it down from an "excellent" grade. 10/10, hands down. Others may agree or disagree, but this time I'm the grader!

Six years after the TV series was sadly canceled, with David Banner's fate unresolved, we got this return, so we fans should be happy right? Well, not really.

Bill Bixby returns of course, and picks up where he left off from 'A Minor Problem' without missing a beat. Lou Ferrigno is back as the Hulk, and is as impressive as ever. Jack Colvin returns for the last time(sadly) still trying to find his John Doe, and still falling short.

This time however, another Marvel Superhero appears...Thor. Huh? Thor? Really? The original series was grounded in reality, with no other superhero or villain aspects at all, so to include a fantastic, bordering on magical character like Thor is beyond silly, it's downright insulting. Actor Eric Kramer does give it his all, though.

Kenneth Johnson was not involved at all, and his absence denied this film any heart, and the whole tone of this just feels wrong.

A shame, but does have a familiar ending...

Although it's hidden behind a nondescript title, THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS actually turns out to be something of a gem of a superhero movie. It's a TV movie spin-off from the classic late '70s TV series which starred Bill Bixby as Bruce Banner and Lou Ferrigno as his hulked-out alter ego, and both actors return in a tale which pits the Hulk against that Norse god of legend, Thor.

Yes, it's Thor and Hulk, in the same movie, some twenty years before Marvel became popular again with the likes of THE AVENGERS flick. Obviously, THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS is an entirely different kettle of fish, packed full as it is of cheesy '80s-era special effects, camp costumes and even camper acting, but at the same time it's a lovable film with plenty to enjoy.

I don't know, I do appreciate these older comic book adaptations which play up the camp - they're somehow more endearing than the new, po-faced, wisecracking superhero flicks. THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS feels a little like the BATMAN TV show of the 1960s, with a couple of erstwhile heroes working their way through various criminal types as they battle to bring down some thieving foes. Bill Bixby's calm presence centres the whole thing, but Ferrigno is the scene-stealer as ever; as for Eric Kramer's Thor, well let's say his acting is an acquired taste. The familiar B-movie faces of Charles Napier and Tim Thomerson round out the cast of what is a surprisingly entertaining and action-packed superhero outing.

OK let me get the negatives out of the way 1st, what did they do to The Hulks face? he looks odd and not like the Hulk we loved in the series. I know they had to change his hair to cover Lou's new hearing aid but it seems the teeth they used were too big. Plus what happened to the trademark changing into Hulk music? its all some lame orchestral version and talking of the music, it was pretty awful and too loud. Finally whats this Viking posing as Thor all about? No one should be summoning the mighty Thor this way. You'll see what i mean when you see in the movie a guy used Thors hammer to summon Thor like the genie in a lamp.

You wouldn't think so by the above comments but i loved this movie, 1st of all after the premature ending of The Incredible Hulk TV series its a big welcome back to David Banner (Bill Bixby), Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk) and Reporter Jack McGee (Jack Colvin), 2nd it's great to see The Hulk moving at normal speed, i mean the slower scenes in the TV series were good but to see him running towards that bad guy, grab him and throw him through the air in real time looks real good.

This movie seem ahead of its time, doing what the recent Hulk, Thor, Avengers etc movie are doing, thats bringing together Marvel characters to maybe form a super hero group. This movie has Thor (It also feels like a pilot for maybe a Thor series) and future Hulk movies had plans to feature more Marvel characters.

This is the last time we see Reporter Jack McGee. During the series i thought Jack was a pain in the butt to start with then the further we got into the series the more it seemed that Jack was coming around to seeing who the Hulk truly was, after being saved a few times by The Hulk Jack returned the favor by saving The Hulk too (knocked the arm of a policeman who was going to shoot the Hulk and drove his car in front of the Hulk to shield him from getting hit by a bazooka are a couple that comes to mind) and it would have been cool to have finally seen Jack and David sort things out between them.

Overall this movie is on par with the best episodes of the series, it may have got 10 out of 10 if it wasn't for those few things i mentioned at the beginning of this and it really was so much a welcome return to the small screen for The Incredible Hulk.

This is followed by The Trial of The Incredible Hulk.

I do not understand how this movie could have been so successful when it came out, it sucks !!!! The story is completely silly, the Bruce Banner character has nothing to do with the original Bruce Banner, the special effects are horrible and Thor, do not make me talk about him. If the first movie was bad already, then why did they make a sequel?

The Incredible Hulk was a great series. It had heart, drama, Action, and sadness. The way Bill Bixby played the character was amazing. He knew this character. He must have read the comics before he started filming the first episode. Now I don't know what's so wrong about this film people don't like. Me I love it. The Hulk is my favorite show and this film was a great way to bring back on TV. I have never read a Thor comic book, but I do agree that they could of written a better character for this film then the Thor we see. It's not the actor's fault. Whomever wrote this should of written more for Bill and should of insisted on Eric Kramer builking up more for the role. But other then that this is a great film with some good action scenes. Bill should have taking charge of the script and re-worked it. For Hulk fans this is a must see. make your own judgment.

The hulk series was corny. It was a good corny.

The story of this one is about hulk being angry, trying to find a cure and him going up against the God of Thunder.

It was a fun cluster full of corny.

THOR in this version is not really the THOR we know. Is it any good? mhmm...nah. THOR is more of a true representation of a viking. He looked more norse mytho than compared to the comics.

Thor and Hulk fight was ok.

Verdict: THOR smash hulk

The first and best of three post series Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno INCREDIBLE HULK television movies, and since Marvels' THE AVENGERS is such a hot commodity, this live-action Thor teaming with Hulk circa 1988 was decades ahead of its time...

And comparably dated, but it's hard to deny the infectious charm of Eric Allan Kramer as the Norse god who, discovered from a backstory/flashback by his dweeby keeper played by dweeby actor Steve Levitt, is a scene-stealing stranger in a strange land, making THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS more like a possible Thor pilot than a continuation of the titular green hero....

After Thor (and Levitt's Donald Blake) parties at a local biker bar, he helps Lou Ferrigno's Hulk... And that's after fighting him inside a corporation laboratory where, once again, Bixby's David Banner surreptitiously works, trying to permanently cease his roaring alter ego... And what does every mobile lonely man need?

Enter Lee Purcell as the most beautiful, understanding and science-savvy of all Banner babes: you'll wonder why he'd ever leave... And this is the only movie with Jack Colvin as snoopy reporter Jack McGee, involved in a great scene with Thor dressed in modern surfer garb and not holding back...

Meanwhile, former Hulk voice-over growl-machine Charles Napier (who replaced Jack Cassidy), along with Cajun brother Tim Thomerson, provide the antagonist roles, and what they're after really doesn't matter. RETURNS is about experiencing Thor stuck in modern times, and for the most part loving it...

Since we can't see Bixby and Ferrigno together, Levitt and Kramer are a fun and involving duo. And surprisingly, Banner's pretty much a third wheel in his own vehicle... that really rolls.

There is nothing worse than a movie with such great potential wasted. Such is the case with The Incredible Hulk Returns, a top-rated made-for-television film that premiered on NBC in 1988. The premise sounds amazing on paper: David Banner (he's not named Bruce like in the comics), aka Hulk, meets Thor. There are several different directions this concept could take. It could become a versus battle with the two Marvel icons duking it out. It could be a team-up, allowing the heroes to work together. It could be a psychological character study. Choosing any of three would make a great event that comic book fans would eat up. Unfortunately, writer/director Nicholas Corea chose to try to do all three in a slim 90 minute running time and the results, though occasionally interesting, are dismal.

The versus angle, consisting of a short fight between Hulk and Thor in a lab, is anything but exciting. All the action sequences are played in super slow motion with choppy editing. The Thor/Hulk throwdown is the worst of the bunch. I'd guess there are no more than five hits between the two with each jab taking forever to land on the opponent. It's cheesy beyond belief.

The team-up angle suffers from bad writing. There are no real bonding moments between the heroes and when they finally do join forces, it's forced and unconvincing. Thor is not as he is represented in the comics so it takes longer to warm up to him. Banner/Hulk is far more fascinating yet every time the audience gets a character moment from him, it is interrupted by Thor's annoying banter.

The psychological study is weak. The Hulk television series did a much better job of getting inside of Banner. Bill Bixby tries to do his best but the script lets him down. Re-writes would have definitely improved this aspect. Judging from the quality of the picture, I'm guessing the script along with everything else was rushed.

As bad as it was, a follow-up aired a year later, Trial of the Incredible Hulk in which Hulk teams up with Daredevil. It was a much more satisfying experience for Hulk fans. It's too bad this wasn't.