Amazon.com

There was some amazing, classic animation done for superhero cartoonsdone as far back as Max & Dave Fleisher's Superman series of the early 1940s (echoes of which can be found in Batman: The Animated Series). Those were done for the big screen; by the mid-1960s, superhero cartoons were being brought to television, and some of Marvel Comics' biggest heroes--Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, and the Incredible Hulk--were the stars. Unfortunately, television didn't have much in terms of cachet--or production values--at the time, and all four heroes suffer for it.

The Hulk gets short shrift here; the interesting thing about the character has always been twofold: the misunderstood misfit trying to make a quiet life for himself, and the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde duality of the Hulk and his alter ego, Dr. Bruce Banner. On the two episodes here--"The Power of Dr. Banner" and "The Origin of the Hulk"--the animation is minimal and barely serves to capture a single facet of either character's personality. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voiceovers and plenty of narration. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (7)

hulk
this movie is the pilot ortest run show that spawned the tv show.it is a bit overly scientific at parts but is great nontheless.the docs ol lady gets killed and he couldnt save her.he is taking it really bad when he discovers gamma radiation in his patients.these patients summoned extraordinary strengths during times of stress.he gave himself a dose but accidentaly did way too much and started becoming the hulk.bill bixby is the doc and lou ferigno is the hulk.its been my experience that most kids only watch when the hulk is on the screen.it is better written than the more moden version but not nearly as good.i think only hardcore hulk fans will enjoy it despite its well thought out and intellectual approach.it is emotional in parts for all you chicks out there.being as how the doc is a wussy and this was the forerunner to a network tv show,there arent even any cleavage or seductive smiles in this one.jack mcghee starts tracking the hulk everywhere.hes a reporter and this movies winner for unnecessarily over odsessively obnoxiouscharacter.it is not consistent with the comic book so dont get your hopes up.bill bixby is an excellent actor besides his wussy nature.i think this show is the best show ever made!

Before the TV series, we got THIS!
Before the 70's tv series, all we had was this. I fell bad for everyone who wached this. All this is are pictures flying across the screen and mouths cheaply moving. And why does the hulk talk? Yes, he does talk like in the old comic and he sounds like frankinstein instead of what you would think he would talk like.
This was very bad, even for the 60's. Get the tv series instead.

Old-school Marvels II
At last, the Hulk's classic animated series is finally on video to enjoy. Everything about "The Origin..." was as it should be. General "Thunderbolt" Ross' Army chasing after Hulk, Igor's espionage which caused the "accident" to happen, and Dr. Bruce Banner's romance with Betty Ross. What surprised me the most was the Gorgon (actually, his true name's the Gargoyle). That "mini-me" villain was feared by many despite his size. But I couldn't help but sypathize when he cried and begged Banner and Rick Jones and sacrificing his own life.
In "The Power..." the spotlight was more on Banner. He was wanted by the Penatgon, the Russian gov't and even local bandits. But when things too much to take, out came Hulk! The best part of the episode was when Hulk ended his fight with the Ruusian Army tanks with his gamma-powered shockwave trick that was, need I say it, incredible. The character I can't help but noticing was Major Talbot. This GI joke was always obsessed with destroying Hulk in the name of duty, as well as getting his mack-on with Betty. at least, the payback was sweet when Hulk handled Talbot, who yelled like SNL's Mr. Bill and fainted...ha-ha-ha!
As part of the theme song says, "ain't no monster crowned who is as lovable..." as Hulk. ... I look at Ol' Greenskin as the real deal. And if you fans agree, buy this video...or "Hulk smash!"

The Ever-lovin Hulk Is Back!
Shoddy production values notwithstanding, It was a blast seeing these shows for the first time in many years. I too remember well all the Marvel characters that made up The Merry- Marching Marvel Society ( " march along, march along"). I recommend any baby boomer and fan of 60's pop culture to get this and the other videos in this collection. Now if only Fox would create a proper boxed set for these and more videos.. One 90's advantage here : Closed Captioning! I could never fully decipher all the theme song words...however is it not BELTED by gamma rays instead of melted? Enjoy, True Believers!

Kids video or collectors item?
As pointed out by the two previous reviewers, this video is a direct copy of two silver age comic books. I can tell you that modern kids do not like the 1966 Marvel Super Heroes animations, and this video is more suitable for a superhero comic book fan. It's too bad that Fox did not research the identity of the voice actors who deliver Stan Lee's over the top dialogue perfectly. There are actually 13 different Hulk stories animated in the full series. Only two of them are presented here. The original comics continued a story line over many issues and almost the entire early Hulk "cosmic sagas" are available and would make a great box set. If you're listening Fox, Hulk animations are available for Hulk #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, Tales to Astonish # 60-81, and Avengers #2. Why not include the entire thing in its original serial format and leave in the title cards and recaps? If the silver age comic book trade on E-Bay is any indication, these videos presented in this form would be valuable. As kid videos, they are worthless. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Forsooth! 'Tis the stuff of Norse Gods
Present-day mythology at its best headlined gy the God of Thunder! The 1st story gor underway in "...Hercules", as Thor got smack-dab in the middle of a love triangle here. Thor loves Nurse Jane Foster, but his father Odin wasn't having it. With help from Zeus, he sent Herc down to Earth to court Jane away from Thor, who got struck by jealousy as Jane planned (why?). Thus, the most powerful fight between the scions of Asgard and Olympus began...for the heart of a mortal woman? Anyway, I was rooting for Ol' Goldilocks to win until Odin took some "advice" from Seidring and made his own son lose by removing half his powers. And wouldn't you know it, Jane came running back to after Thor after all that. Is love strange or what?
Next, Thor got a dose of futureshock from "The Tomorrow Man" of the 30th Century. It was spectacular when Thor's hammmer sent him traveling through time. Not only that, he didn't "wait to exhale" as he blew Zarko away with force and retrieved the Z-Bomb Zarko stole. However, in Round Two, Zarko got his revenge due to Thor's evil half-brother Loki's scheme and Odin's stripping half of Thor's powers again. Verily, Thor dealt with everything Zarko threw at him...and was victorious.
By the power of the mystic Uru hammer, you got to get this video at all costs. If you fans agree, so be it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

There was some amazing, classic animation done for superhero cartoonsdone as far back as Max & Dave Fleisher's Superman series of the early 1940s (echoes of which can be found in Batman: The Animated Series). Those were done for the big screen; by the mid-1960s, superhero cartoons were being brought to television, and some of Marvel Comics' biggest heroes--Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, and the Incredible Hulk--were the stars. Unfortunately, television didn't have much in terms of cachet--or production values--at the time, and all four heroes suffer for it.

Between Odin's ever-changing looks (Thor's father rarely manages to keep the same face--let alone the same outfit--from shot to shot) and the over-the-top dialogue, it's hard to follow whatever semblance of plot was scripted. On the two episodes here--"Enter Hercules," in which the Norse God of Thunder battles his equally brawny Greek cousin, and "Battle of the Gods," in which Loki enlists the Enchantress and the Executioner to defeat Thor--the animation is minimal. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voiceovers and plenty of narration. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (4)

God of Thunder...Mighty Thor!
I keep hearing complaints that this is less than average animation. First of all it was made in the late 1960s. Second of all its probably the only cartoon available of Thor. I used to rent this at a store that has long since moved on. After the store closed I thought I would never see them again, so I was very happy to see them rereleased. This video and others like, Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider Man, and Sub Mariner are all classics. They are basically the moving art of Jack Kirby. These videos are entertaining and provide some laughs. Highly recommended, especially for true fans of the classic Super heroes. If youre expecting Pokemon or Beetleborgs, dont buy this.

A Fascinating Artifact
From what I've seen of this reissue series (Thor and Hulk), it's a great example of exuberantly shoddy Sixties science fiction - in terms of lovable cheeziness it compares well with Star Trek, its hallowed contemporary. In fact, I suspect Bruce Banner's lab and Doc McKoy's sick bay shared a few sound effects.

Everything about the cartoons is laughable by today's standards, of course, but that's what makes them so darn funny. Hercules' dialogue had me flopping off the couch in tears, slack with laughter. And the fights aren't as goofy as you'd expect, either!

Good stuff.

Enter Hercules depicts Mighty Thor at his finest.
I don't remember a better Thor show, even looking way back when he was on TV each week after school. Naturally, the animation is a bit behind the times however.

Kids video or collectors item? Fox Home Video's Mistake
The latest round of Marvel Super Heroes video releases by Fox Home Video missed a golden opportunity by not realizing the audience for these videos. Released twice before (as kiddie videos) by Prism Entertainment in 1985 and Best Film and Video in 1992, I can tell you first hand that modern kids don't like these the way 1966-68 kids did. Instead, Fox should release these as a comic collector's edition targeting the original audience now grown up. This Thor tape is an adaptation of the comic books, "Journey into Mystery" #124 & 125 (Enter Hercules) and "Journey Into Mystery" 103 & 104 (Battle of the Gods). The art is recognizable as that of Jack Kirby, Don Heck, and Joe Sinnott. The animation is bad, but the art is great as are the voice characterizations. Fox should look for the entire "Marvel Super Heroes" tv series including the original "Merry Marvel Marching Society" theme song and make a proper box set with historical notes and credits to the writers, artists and voice actors. Each is an adaptation of a silver-age comic book. They have no kid value, but these videos do have historical value if Fox would work a little harder. I saw these cartoons originally on "Captain Satellite" from KTVU San Francisco, and KCRA in Sacramento in 1966. Fox really missed the boat. These videos have value, but not for the kids of today. How about a box set Fox? Do it right! ... Read more

Description

All the magical adventure of J.R.R. Tolkien's thrilling Lord of the Rings trilogy comes to life in this brilliantly animated tale of the enchanted land of Middle Earth - and the brave band of hobbits, heroes and wizards who set out to save it! ... Read more

Reviews (306)

Ok in the beginning....bomb at the end....
Ok, I give this 3 stars, just for dignity, otherwise, I would of given it two. This video made my sister and I laugh at first, the beginning is with actors behind this red sheet! Or thats what it looked like. The animation was very well detailed, but I was confused at times when at Bree or at fights with Orcs and warriors, there were real people!! It just kind of ruined it. And SAM!! That has NO excuse to be soooo horrible!! Sam is my favorite and they make him this extremely fat, space-toothed loser with a Goofy voice! I was just about to turn it off when he got on! The songs were...ok, not that bad. The Ringwraiths reminded me of demented grandmas sniffing like bloodhounds, and whats with the Saruman being called Aruman or whatever?
I think I actually kept watching this film because of Frodo, and to see what the characters and story plot would look and be like. Frodo I though was pretty adorible, especially when he sees Gandalf after 17 years (look for that). Bilbo and the party was good...Merry and Pippin were cute, and Aragorn? Is he Navajo? Anyways, Legolas, ehhh...Orlando Bloom is definately better! ;) But the plot at the end was lame, and slow and boring, and actaully very blunt at the end. Please, only see this film if you just want to appectiate how wonderful Peter Jackson's film trilogy is.
Last Summary: Animation: 3 out of 5
Arrangment of Plot: 2 1/2 out of 5
Pace of Film: Well paced at first, then after that I was fast forwarding....especially the battle parts...zzzzz
All together: Barely a 3.

Talk About the Soundtrack, NOT the Movie
All of the reviews I read on the page about the Soundtrack reviewed the MOVIE, instead! At least, the ones I bothered to read.
Concerning the SOUNDTRACK, Rosenman's score compares VERY favorably to Howard Shore's scores for Peter Jackson's films. I actually prefer Rosenman's score over Shore's for one simple reason ... there are tracks on THIS soundtrack that I can hum along with. They're MEMORABLE, compared to Shore's.
Now, don't get me wrong ... I LIKE Shore's three soundtracks ... just not as much as I like Rosenman's. It's just that there are few tracks on all three of Shore's works that I think to myself, "You know, I'd really like to hear such-and-such track (May It Be, Gollum's Song, and Into The West being notable exceptions)." Very few of the tracks evoke a memory or an emotional response from me, by which I gauge an exceptional soundtrack. Rosenman's soundtrack DOES!
Best Tracks being: Mines of Moria, The Battle In The Mines: The Balrog, Riders of Rohan, Helm's Deep, Dawn Battle; Theoden's Victory, and Mithrandir.
Shore's LotR Soundtracks would get 4 stars each. Rosenman's, 5 stars.
Just my take on the matter. I hope it helps.

Good Story, Bad Art
This movie would've been fabulous, but the art and animation were terrible. Combinig rotoscope with cel animation was a bad descision: The Nazgul, orcs, and Balrog looked very out of place with the animated backgrounds and Fellowship. Also the character designs were dissapointing: Saruman had vibrant red robes! Also, the beginning looked very fake: the shadow-behind-the-red-curtain looked cramped and poorly done. The story, however was very good: It stayed true to the book, save for some character parts, namely Legolas repalcing Glorfindel. If this movie were made nowadays, though, PJ's LOTR trilogy might've been smoked. This movie would've been good with decent special effects.

Sloppy, awkward and without depth or detail
Even without the comparisons to the extraordinary Peter Jackson-directed epics this 1978 animated adaptation of Tolkien's LOTR book trilogy falls completely flat on it's face.

The animation is absolutely ridiculous even when taking into account that it was made in 1978 and that technology was extremely primitive back in those days but even then, the animation is absolutely atrocious. Even worse are how the characters look. The Hobbits in here made me burst with excruciating laughter because they looked more like giant oranges with chipmunk teeth. Gandalf and his nemesis Saruman both looked like scrapped Santa Claus cartoon shots and what's up with renaming Saruman, Auruman? Was it to avoid the confusion with the name Sauron? Beats me. Boromir looks like some crazed viking drunk than an actual warrior.

So much else completel fails on this animated movie. I really love the books so much because of their rich detail, incredible characters, and imaginative scope of the various languages, races of beings, and much, much more but none of the greatness of the books is present on this animated movie and everything that is great about the books gets badly soiled and reduced to complete dust.

Ralph Bakshi really drops the ball on this one and his directing is really sloppy and the movie is literrally cut off at the end where it starts with Bilbo's 111th birthday as usual but ending suddenly with the Battle of Helm's Deep and never going any further. No wonder this movie flopped. It's really bad and is unworthy of one's time.

Unless one's a Tolkien completist or extreme zealot, this animated version of LOTR is just a waste of time. I'm not saying that this deserves to necessarily be thrown in a magnesium fire necessarily but this movie could really have been a great animated movie but they completely blew their chance at it.

Worth a Second Look
OK let's start by saying that this is NO comparison to the fantastic recent trilogy of movies by Peter Jackson, and it is animated (I'll come back to that) but it is still a good movie. Considering the year of production for a second, director Ralph Bakshi had a vision, and the same kind of idea as Jackson, but without the backing, the money, or the technology to carry it off. The film follows the book very closely, and those having watched the new movies will see and hear identical scenes in this version, lifted straight from Tolkeins pages. The idea was to make TWO movies (but not simultaneously) which means this is a little muddled in mixing books 1&2, made with the obvious expectation of a sequel.The animation is mixed with a process called rotoscoping (traced over live action integrated into cell animation)in a surreal fashion in places which adds much in the way of atmosphere, and certainly makes the dark armies appear more menacing. This idea of animation was more than a little groundbreaking at the time, even though it was done chiefly to save money, and annoyed more than a few puritans in the business. Sadly this movie went down like a lead parachute at the box office, and with it went Bakshi's backing for the second film, and knowing this means you are expecting an anti climax of sorts. The DVD has little in the way of extra's, but the budget price certainly makes it worth owning. Repeated viewing does get you inside the directors vision, and obvious love of the material, and one could argue that had this been made 20 years later, Peter Jackson & Co may have been out of work, Enjoy this Cult and Collectible Classic at a great price. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This vintage 1966 cartoon features Marvel Comics' king of the deep, the Sub-Mariner. In the first story, Atlantis Under Attack, the sacred trident of Neptune is stolen and all signs point to Namor's trusted grand vizier, Lord Vashti. In disbelief, Namor follows Vashti's trail to the carnivorous sea forest while the real thief, his archenemy Attuma, lies ready to attack the city. The second story, To Conquer a Crown, opens with a military demonstration by Atlantis's munitions expert, Namor's cousin Biera. When the citizens protest the apparent warmongering, Namor calls on Biera to explain that the arms are for defense only. To the prince's surprise, the treacherous Biera turns on him and challenges him to a duel of strength for the throne. Namor accepts, not knowing that Biera holds the ultimate weapon. Each story is divided into three six-minute serial-type segments. The animation is minimal, restricted mostly to camera zooms and moving limbs and mouths, punctuated by Batman-style sound effects ("Wham!"). Other heroes in this series include Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sub Mariner The King of the Seas
This is some old classic Marvel cartoons with the primative animation. I only wish they would release a complete set with all the episodes. I am sure they are in an archive somewhere. Why is it that Marvel fans are not asking for more of these classic masterpieces of animation. I loved some of the old comics converted into limited animation in this one. The voices are just right. Subby himself was voiced by a prominent actor who I don't remember here. All in all it's a treat for those who forgot these things existed so long ago.

Another Classic from Marvel.
Classic artwork and subtle animation help to make this another must have in the Marvel comic lover's collection. Features two episodes from the 1960s series of the title character. Somewhat cheesy, but a lot of fun. The big fans of Marvel comics will appreciate the most. Its the only Sub Mariner cartoon available so enjoy.

Better than I thought
I watched sub-mariner when I was 8 years old. The animation was better then what I remembered. If your a cartoon buff you will enjoy the video. It's a little corny but still interesting. The villians were good to.

Subby doesn't float
I've seen two of the "classic" Marvel cartoons: Hulk and Subby. Hulk's better (and I'm not saying that just because I'm biased). These cartoons are boring. The only funny thing about them is that, unlike the comic book, the animators tried to make the atmosphere more watery: air bubbles constantly being emitted every time a character speaks and dorky 3rd grade schooler fish which cut across the screen at the most dramatic moments. This is not good storytelling, not good presenting, not good animation. But if you like water, I mean really like water, you might like this. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Old-school Marvels
Except for THE THING, SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED, and X-MEN: EVOLUTION, Marvel Comics animation from the late-1970's (THE FANTASTIC FOUR) to the present (THE AVENGERS) ranged from fairly good to really great. However, the best shows always lie in the Silver Age. My (20th Century) Fox home video picks are THE INCREDIBLE HULK, IRON MAN, THE MIGHTY THOR, and---still my all-time favorite---SPIDER-MAN from Grantray-Lawrence and Krantz Animations. Speaking of Spidey's first series, "The Origin..." was the true, classic adaptation of his first appearance in AMAZING FANTASY # 15 that could put that SPIDER-MAN: CHAPTER ONE "revamp" to pitiful shame, and "..Kaper" was a lightning-fast, "Electro-fying" battle with his archfoe ever seen. I definitely recommend the video collection to every Marvel-ite out there because---hey, let's face it---the old school's the true school. Now, how cool would it be be if the Fantastic Four's first series from Hanna-Barbera Productions was released on Warner Home Video? 'Nuff said, true believers!

Animation better than other 60s' Marvel cartoons
Of all the Marvel cartoons of the 1960s' obviously most of the effort was put into Spider-Man. The other Marvel cartoons; Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, etc. were lifted from now classic silver age comics. The animation of these cartoons is crude to say the least, but the story, dialogue and voice talent is top notch. Spider-Man's stories are all original animation adapted loosely from the comic stories. The story telling comes across as slightly 'hipper' (by late 60s' standards), and there is a lot of filler in the origin story. After all Spidey's origin in Amazing Fantasy #15, did not take-up the entire issue. Although Fox could have fit more than 2 episodes on a VHS tape, I would still recommend this video to anyone who is a comic book fan or Saturday morning cartoon buff.

Classic Spidey
From 1967 an animator named Ralph Baski did the first few entries in this series. More than any other cartoon at the time; with the exception of Hanna Barbera's Fantastic Four cartoon, these cartoons followed the comics more than not. I love the scenes where Spidey swings through New York City. It is primative by today's standards but brings back lots of memories for me because I loved those cartoons. I can only wish that Marvel makes a complete DVD set of this classic. Only thing is I don't believe so because no one is interested. This one was ahead of its time because it tapped into the superhero in all of us.

Spidey Rules!
Not really being a big fan of cartoons, Spiderman is a rare exception. Even though the animation isn't "Walt Disney" quality, it is still very enjoyable to watch. The only criticism, which has been mentioned before in other reviews, is that the tape is too short. It would have been nice to have 8 episodes on a 2 hr tape instead of just 2 episodes making it only have a runtime of 35 minutes. 20th Century did a nice job on the clamshell case and the artwork. Also, offering it in SP mode, and not in EP, like most of the tapes of TV shows seem to be recorded in, was nice too. Even though the tape isn't that long, it's still worth the money to have as a keepsake for fans of Spiderman.

The TRUE Spider-man
It has become increasingly rare when a movie or television version of a character of literary descent (particularly of comic book origins) remains even remotely faithful to its source material. This video is a rare exception to that trend. If you are a lover of the Stan Lee/ Steve Ditko comics that established the entire Spider-Man world this is a real treat of a video. Despite some limited animation (it was the sixties remember), this video compilation shows what Spider-man is all about. Watching the origin episode made me wonder why the whole "with great powers comes great responsibility" angle was removed from all the subsequent screenings of this tragic hero. I would like to see some follow-ups to this release. The theme song alone brands it as a classic. My only reservation on this video is its short length, only two episodes. otherwise five stars ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of the best animated fantasy films ever.
This is probably Ralph Bakshi's greatest achievement. What you have here is swords and sorcery cel-animated movie with all the style of Schwarzenegger's Conan the Barbarian. Bakshi collaborated with famed fantasy artist Frank Frazetta in making the imagery of this movie and it shows.

They use a rotoscoping technique that gives the animation a lifelike fluidity found in some of the classic Disney movies like Sleeping Beauty, but keep in mind this is by no means a Disney movie. In other words: THIS MOVIE IS NOT FOR CHILDREN. There is a heck of a lot of violence and scantily clad people on this picture. While it is rated PG I think by today's standards it's more PG-13.

As a hack and slash, barbarian warrior kind of movie this is great. If you loved Conan the Barbarian, The Beastmaster and other movies of this sort then you will love Fire and Ice. There was a DVD release in Europe but none yet in the states. Here's hoping they do it.

Since there is hardly any information at all about this movie I thought to included this synopsis that was taken from the back of the video box (not an entirely accurate plot summary, but it will do):

Fire and Ice, an animated adventure film, is the work of the imaginations of Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta, masters of fantasy and illustration. A tiny village is destraoyed by a surging glacier, which serves as a deadly domain for the evil Ice Lord, Nekron. The only survivor is a young warrior, Larn, who vows to avenge this act of destruction! The evil continues, however, as Nekron's palace of ice heads straight towards Fire Keep, the great fortress ruled by the good king Jarol. When Jarol's beautiful daughter, Teegra, is abducted by Nekron's subhuman ape-like creatures, Larn begins a daring search for her. What results is a tense animated battle between good and evil, surrounded by the mystical elements of the ancient past! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

God of Thunder...Mighty Thor!
I keep hearing complaints that this is less than average animation. First of all it was made in the late 1960s. Second of all its probably the only cartoon available of Thor. I used to rent this at a store that has long since moved on. After the store closed I thought I would never see them again, so I was very happy to see them rereleased. This video and others like, Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider Man, and Sub Mariner are all classics. They are basically the moving art of Jack Kirby. These videos are entertaining and provide some laughs. Highly recommended, especially for true fans of the classic Super heroes. If youre expecting Pokemon or Beetleborgs, dont buy this.

A Fascinating Artifact
From what I've seen of this reissue series (Thor and Hulk), it's a great example of exuberantly shoddy Sixties science fiction - in terms of lovable cheeziness it compares well with Star Trek, its hallowed contemporary. In fact, I suspect Bruce Banner's lab and Doc McKoy's sick bay shared a few sound effects.

Everything about the cartoons is laughable by today's standards, of course, but that's what makes them so darn funny. Hercules' dialogue had me flopping off the couch in tears, slack with laughter. And the fights aren't as goofy as you'd expect, either!

Good stuff.

Enter Hercules depicts Mighty Thor at his finest.
I don't remember a better Thor show, even looking way back when he was on TV each week after school. Naturally, the animation is a bit behind the times however.

Kids video or collectors item? Fox Home Video's Mistake
The latest round of Marvel Super Heroes video releases by Fox Home Video missed a golden opportunity by not realizing the audience for these videos. Released twice before (as kiddie videos) by Prism Entertainment in 1985 and Best Film and Video in 1992, I can tell you first hand that modern kids don't like these the way 1966-68 kids did. Instead, Fox should release these as a comic collector's edition targeting the original audience now grown up. This Thor tape is an adaptation of the comic books, "Journey into Mystery" #124 & 125 (Enter Hercules) and "Journey Into Mystery" 103 & 104 (Battle of the Gods). The art is recognizable as that of Jack Kirby, Don Heck, and Joe Sinnott. The animation is bad, but the art is great as are the voice characterizations. Fox should look for the entire "Marvel Super Heroes" tv series including the original "Merry Marvel Marching Society" theme song and make a proper box set with historical notes and credits to the writers, artists and voice actors. Each is an adaptation of a silver-age comic book. They have no kid value, but these videos do have historical value if Fox would work a little harder. I saw these cartoons originally on "Captain Satellite" from KTVU San Francisco, and KCRA in Sacramento in 1966. Fox really missed the boat. These videos have value, but not for the kids of today. How about a box set Fox? Do it right! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of Bakshi's best
Very good movie... anyone who's seen Bakshi films knows his "different" directing and story telling style, which this one holds true to just as Wizards, Heavy Traffic, and any other Bakshi film. The animation in this one, though, I thought was some of his best work ever... many people may site Lord of the Rings, or possibly Wizards or Fire and Ice... but this is rarely rotoscoped and always looks excellent. The character designs are varied and offensive, the motion is incredible. If you thought Bakshi was "cheap" with his animation, this will change your mind. It looks amazing. The combination live action and animation too works better here than most of his other peices, including the scenes that are all cartoon except for live backgrounds or cars. Excellent buy, though not for everyones liking in narrative style and humor. Oh, and its not racist, just in your face race conscious. This is the highlight of the anti-Disney's career.

A Masterpiece Collectable for the True Bakshionado!
The early works of Ralph Bakshi remain his strongest. It is in the mean streets of New York where his voice resonates. I heard about this film (originally titled "Coonskin") decades ago when Ralph Bakshi was a guest on the Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder. Subsequently I never heard of it since. Then I saw "Wizards" and remembered "This is that 'Coonskin' director!" Shortly thereafter he made "Lord of the Rings", a departure from his asphalt roots. Along with "Heavy Traffic" and "Hey Good Lookin'", "Streetfight" is a brutally honest look at life among folks Disney wouldn't touch with a ten-meter Mouse prod! It's mix of animated characters against live action backgrounds add grittiness to his cartoon satire, giving a crude grafittiesque flavor to a film that aptly covered much of the ground it's taken Spike Lee several films to cover--and this is back when the Spikester was still in junior high! Buy this movie sight unseen, and you'll ask yourself, "Why doesn't Ralph do more work like this?"

Perhaps Bakshi's Best
I'll admit this: this is probably one of my favorite animated films. Some think it should have never been made, but I think it is perhaps one of the greatest films to come out of American animation. Bakshi was definately a magician in his day through his early films that gave social satire while still making you laugh some how.

Now, some black people who see this film will most likely be offended. And they have every right to, after all the black people in this movie are portrayed in a bit of a 1930's stereotype portrayel. However, one thing every one can understand is that the stereotyping or demoting of the black population was never the intention in this film. In fact, the film makes fun of racism and the exploitation of black Americans via the government, Hollywood, and society in general. In fact, one thing few people realized was that Bakshi actually went into Harlem with a tape recorder and asked people: "OK, tell me what its like being Black." That explains why much of this film is done through character monologues.

Any way, most of the white people in this film are portrayed as gay, racist, idiots. Should I be offended? Well I'm not. Italian-Americans are REALLY mocked too, and I'm not offended by that either.

In summary, this is Bakshi's greatest film. It was controversial then and still is today, but it still holds true to its ideals and how it views society.

Bakshi Brilliance
Ever Since the ultra- notorious 'X-rated and animated' cult classic 'Fritz The Cat' hit the screens of 1972 , animation auteur Ralph Bakshi , in only four pictures ("Fritz The Cat" , "Heavy Traffic , "Street Fight" and "American Pop")shook up American animation like Fellini shook up live action. The most conterversiol of the foursome was "Coonskin" now retitled "Street Fight" , this film is not only Bakshi's masterpiece but arguably the greatest piece of animation ever created , written and directed by Bakshi the film is a brilliant acid satire of pop culture , this film manages to be super offenive about EVERYTHING , from Disney musicals to buxom blondes , "Street Fight" is a masterpiece , this film needs to be on DVD.

Nice Social Message But Disturbing Film!
...I must say that the first time I saw this movie I felt sick to my stomach. Being African American I was offended by the characitures of the black characters though Bakshi was sending a message aimed at not only at a black audience but everybody about the hardships of African American life but then which I guess was in the early seventies. In the beginning you Scatman Crothers little catchy song which makes sense if you'd read some Richard Wright in your time. But people who aren't familar with Bakshi's films may immediately take offense especially African Americans but the movie sends a message without being too preachy. Check it out. You may like it. ... Read more

Description

Discover the origin of the Incredible Hulk(TM) in this high-impact animated adventure. In a desperate race against time, Hulk's alter-ego, Bruce Banner, is trying to reverse his curse and return back to his normal self, but his arch-enemies have him on the run. Witness the fantastic transformation of the most powerful being that ever existed as the Incredible Hulk(TM) wages an all-out battle against his attackers and smashes his way to fight another day. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

hulk
this movie is the pilot ortest run show that spawned the tv show.it is a bit overly scientific at parts but is great nontheless.the docs ol lady gets killed and he couldnt save her.he is taking it really bad when he discovers gamma radiation in his patients.these patients summoned extraordinary strengths during times of stress.he gave himself a dose but accidentaly did way too much and started becoming the hulk.bill bixby is the doc and lou ferigno is the hulk.its been my experience that most kids only watch when the hulk is on the screen.it is better written than the more moden version but not nearly as good.i think only hardcore hulk fans will enjoy it despite its well thought out and intellectual approach.it is emotional in parts for all you chicks out there.being as how the doc is a wussy and this was the forerunner to a network tv show,there arent even any cleavage or seductive smiles in this one.jack mcghee starts tracking the hulk everywhere.hes a reporter and this movies winner for unnecessarily over odsessively obnoxiouscharacter.it is not consistent with the comic book so dont get your hopes up.bill bixby is an excellent actor besides his wussy nature.i think this show is the best show ever made!

Before the TV series, we got THIS!
Before the 70's tv series, all we had was this. I fell bad for everyone who wached this. All this is are pictures flying across the screen and mouths cheaply moving. And why does the hulk talk? Yes, he does talk like in the old comic and he sounds like frankinstein instead of what you would think he would talk like.
This was very bad, even for the 60's. Get the tv series instead.

Old-school Marvels II
At last, the Hulk's classic animated series is finally on video to enjoy. Everything about "The Origin..." was as it should be. General "Thunderbolt" Ross' Army chasing after Hulk, Igor's espionage which caused the "accident" to happen, and Dr. Bruce Banner's romance with Betty Ross. What surprised me the most was the Gorgon (actually, his true name's the Gargoyle). That "mini-me" villain was feared by many despite his size. But I couldn't help but sypathize when he cried and begged Banner and Rick Jones and sacrificing his own life.
In "The Power..." the spotlight was more on Banner. He was wanted by the Penatgon, the Russian gov't and even local bandits. But when things too much to take, out came Hulk! The best part of the episode was when Hulk ended his fight with the Ruusian Army tanks with his gamma-powered shockwave trick that was, need I say it, incredible. The character I can't help but noticing was Major Talbot. This GI joke was always obsessed with destroying Hulk in the name of duty, as well as getting his mack-on with Betty. at least, the payback was sweet when Hulk handled Talbot, who yelled like SNL's Mr. Bill and fainted...ha-ha-ha!
As part of the theme song says, "ain't no monster crowned who is as lovable..." as Hulk. ... I look at Ol' Greenskin as the real deal. And if you fans agree, buy this video...or "Hulk smash!"

The Ever-lovin Hulk Is Back!
Shoddy production values notwithstanding, It was a blast seeing these shows for the first time in many years. I too remember well all the Marvel characters that made up The Merry- Marching Marvel Society ( " march along, march along"). I recommend any baby boomer and fan of 60's pop culture to get this and the other videos in this collection. Now if only Fox would create a proper boxed set for these and more videos.. One 90's advantage here : Closed Captioning! I could never fully decipher all the theme song words...however is it not BELTED by gamma rays instead of melted? Enjoy, True Believers!

Kids video or collectors item?
As pointed out by the two previous reviewers, this video is a direct copy of two silver age comic books. I can tell you that modern kids do not like the 1966 Marvel Super Heroes animations, and this video is more suitable for a superhero comic book fan. It's too bad that Fox did not research the identity of the voice actors who deliver Stan Lee's over the top dialogue perfectly. There are actually 13 different Hulk stories animated in the full series. Only two of them are presented here. The original comics continued a story line over many issues and almost the entire early Hulk "cosmic sagas" are available and would make a great box set. If you're listening Fox, Hulk animations are available for Hulk #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, Tales to Astonish # 60-81, and Avengers #2. Why not include the entire thing in its original serial format and leave in the title cards and recaps? If the silver age comic book trade on E-Bay is any indication, these videos presented in this form would be valuable. As kid videos, they are worthless. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Vintage Iron Man
I wish more Marvel fans demanded the old classics like this one. These cartoons may be primative by present standards. However, the stories are lifted straight from the comics. Gene Colon and Jack Kirby's orginal art work come to life on screen with this semi-animated feature. I wish the classic Ralph Baski Spider-Man cartoons were available in this format. To date, nothing has come close to the orginal comics as these videos have. I hope somone at Marvel will release a complete DVD collection of all the 60's cartoons if you're listening.......

TONY STARK IS LOOSE
Watching THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN was like slipping back into childhood. The video features two episodes of the original cartoon series and has a (hilarious in it's own right) short intoduction by Stan Lee. This series, launched by Marvel Comics in 1966, used the original Jack Kirby panels from the comics and set them in motion. All of the attention is applied to detailed still cells, such as that given to the Crimson Dynamo (in the episode of the same name), that often have some post kirby work (such as eye and lip movement) added to create movement. This may sound like a boring animation technique, but when the original art Jack Kirby, the result is incredible. It has a real vintage feel, like a weighty old tube radio. Add this video to your collection so you and your children can watch animation the Marvel way. ... Read more