Dr. David Banner (superbly played by Bill Bixby, who also directed) gets jailed for assault after stopping two men from terrorizing a woman on the subway. Banner's shrewd blind lawyer Matt Murdock (a fine performance by Rex Smith) turns out to be vigilante superhero Daredevil, who enlists Banner's assistance in taking out arch criminal Wilson Fisk (John Rhys-Davis in top-rate smoothly villainous form). Bixby, working from an earnest and engrossing script by Gerald Dipego, relates the compelling story at a steady pace, maintains a serious tone throughout, and stages the action set pieces with a reasonable amount of flair and competence (a nightmare sequence with the Hulk trashing a courtroom rates as the definite exciting highlight). Moreover, the teaming up of two classic Marvel superheroes is both interesting and inspired, plus the Hulk (intensely portrayed with growly menace by Lou Ferrigno) seems more fearsome and dangerous than ever. Bixby and Smith display a natural and engaging chemistry in the leads, with sturdy support from Nancy Everhard as Murdock's smitten partner Christa Klein, Marta DuBois as the frightened Ellie Mendez, Nicholas Hormann as Fisk's cowed henchman Edgar, and Joseph Mascolo as hard-nosed police chief Albert G. Tendelli. Both Chuck Colwell's sharp cinematography and Lance Rubin's melodic and melancholy score are up to speed. Worth a watch for fans of the series.
Review of The Trial of the Incredible Hulk
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk
(1989 TV Movie)
Enjoyable made-for-TV movie
19 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers