The Incredible Hulk smashes his way onto gamma-irradiated DVD and Blu-Ray today and MTV’s Splash Page talks about the extensive list of extras. There is two hours of bonus material and the ability to transfer the whole film to your iPod or computer. Now that’s technology a scientist like Bruce Banner can get behind.

Deleted scenes include an alternate opening for this revamp of the Hulk franchise. Marvel reportedly is not leaning toward a sequel but the end of this film hints that Hulk could appear in other Marvel movies, like The Avengers.

It’s a great day for Hulk fans as the fifth and final season of the Hulk’s TV show comes out on DVD today as well. This one only contains seven episodes, but completists will want it.

Spy drama fans will be interested in the release of The Man from U.N.C.L.E: The Complete Series on DVD. This TV show struck like lightning during the spy craze of the 1960s and James Bond creator Ian Fleming was involved to boot. The box set costs just a hair under $200 but comes in a spy-smooth attache case.

And you can’t talk about classic sci-fi TV without mentioning the anthology series The Outer Limits. They brought this back a few years ago but nothing quite beats the original.

© 2008 Universal Studios

In a battle of unconventional superheroes, Hellboy II: The Golden Army edged out Hancock to win the weekend. Hellboy brought in $35.9 million and became the third comic-book based movie to hold the no. 1 spot, following Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk.  A fourth comic property, Wanted nearly made it but was beaten by Pixar’s WALL-E when those films opened.

Will Smith vehicle Hancock slipped into second place with $33 million. It’s still cementing Smith’s midsummer legend though, pulling in an impressive $165 million in just 12 days. Hellboy’s reign at the top will be a brief one though, as the fourth comic book property to take no.1 will certainly be The Dark Knight.

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After teasing a movie about Marvel superteam The Avengers in both Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk, now they’ve got to determine who will round out the squad.

Iron Man director Jon Favreau told USA Today he and Marvel Studios are looking at Captain America, Thor and Ant Man. That’s in addition to Hulk and Iron Man already set up in their own movies. Films featuring Thor and Cap are reported to be in the pipeline. They’re planning Thor in June of 2010 and a Captain America flick in 2011. This may be the greatest time to be a comic geek in the history of the world.

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures, 2008

The word from critics as well as thousands of moviegoers over the weekend was that Marvel’s Incredible Hulk is a blockbuster. The Hulk pulled in $55 million over the weekend, easily seizing the no.1 spot from last week’s champ, Kung Fu Panda.

That’s two straight hits from Marvel Studios, now setting up a much anticipated Avengers movie with a Nick Fury cameo in Iron Man and a Tony Stark appearance in Hulk. Although I wasn’t exactly clear whether Stark was trying to recruit the Hulk or if that’s the “problem” Stark wants to help with.

M. Night’s Shyamalan’s latest film The Happening opened in third with $30.5 million. The first R-rated movie from The Sixth Sense director opened to pretty lackluster reviews. Hmm, maybe Marvel could revamp his career by getting him to do a Moon Knight movie.

© 2008 Universal Studios

Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have joined in what are generally positive reviews for Marvel’s latest take on the Incredible Hulk.  “Perfectly solid summer action fare” Variety’s Todd McCarthy says. He notes nods to King Kong and of course the Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde vibes that have always been a part of this character.

“The production arm of Marvel Entertainment is 2-for-2 in 2008, hitting home runs with Iron Man and now Incredible Hulk,” according to THR’s Kirk Honeycutt. He confirms the Iron Man cameo that was about the worst kept secret in comic book movie history. I won’t spoil the details for you, but they’re out there if you check around. Suffice it to say it is an awesome time to be a comic book fan.

If the weekend numbers turn out like they appear destined to, Marvel Studios has changed the comic book movie making game forever.

Image courtesy of Newscom.

                                     Comic book historian Alan Kistler has already done must-read lists for those planning to see The Dark Knight and Iron Man, so naturally he’s back to tell us what Incredible Hulk books are essential to understanding the character. 

Marvel, not coincidentally, has been gradually increasing the Hulk’s profile in preparation for this movie. He was shot into space by Marvel’s version of the Illuminati, then made like Russell Crowe as a gladiator on a savage alien world.

Last year he returned to fight World War Hulk against the entire Marvel universe. Now, he’s taking on the summer film blockbusters in what could be his toughest fight yet.

Check out Kistler’s list of the best Hulk stories here.

Image courtesy of Newscom.

For the industry’s opinion on famous director M. Night Shyamalan’s career these days, one need look no further than the promo posters for his latest movie The Happening.

First we sensed it. Then we saw the signs. Now it’s happening. Note there are no references to us visiting The Village, or finding a Lady in the Water. The scuttlebutt is that after back-to-back flops from the director, this Friday’s release puts him in a make or break situation.

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                                      Marvel attempts to make it two in a row as Incredible Hulk, played this time by Edward Norton, hits this Friday. And we hope he hits. Hits lots of things. Smashes them actually, because Hulk fans need that after Ang Lee’s cerebral take on the Jade Giant.

A couple of positive reader reviews have come out after some early screenings. There are apparently several nods to the classic 80s TV show, as well as some other Marvel franchises. Having taken over the chore of making its own movies, Marvel is going to present the first shared comic universe ever on screen. Robert Downey Jr. reportedly has a cameo in Hulk, and of course Samuel L. Jackson’s turn as Nick Fury was one of the best after-credit treats ever.

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That is to say, Marvel Studios is largely pretending Ang Lee’s dialogue heavy, action-light take on the Incredible Hulk didn’t happen. The studio’s president Kevin Feige told Sci Fi Wire the 2003 film will be summed up in an entrance montage. He compares it to the opening of the classic Hulk TV series.

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That’s the question Hollywood big wigs are asking as two entertainment juggernauts are poised to square off next week.

Grand Theft Auto IV, likely the biggest game of the year, is hitting stores across the country April 29. Iron Man, the blockbuster comic book film that marks the official kickoff of the summer movie season is coming May 2. Some movie industry experts are afraid that since both target the same demographic of males aged 18-24, Iron Man may suffer. They cite a dip in TV viewership last year in that age group when 2007’s most anticipated game, Halo 3, hit shelves.

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