Bill Bixby Tagged Articles at Cinematical

We've been pretty hard around here on a certain movie with adamantium claws. Yes, whenever I'm reminded of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which comes out on DVD and Blu-ray today, I wish I had been shot with amnesia bullets. Still, I appreciated Hugh Jackman's determined efforts to stay out of the damn costume. Whenever Wolverine has donned a uniform in the previous X-Men flicks, he looks like he can't wait to rip it off. In his natural state, as the wandering, memory-challenged Logan, he repels latex like Congress repels taxpayers.

Most actors quickly declare that the biggest challenge in superhero movies is the costume: how to avoid looking sheepish or silly while wearing a form-fitting, custom-made suit that may reveal more than most of us are willing to bare at the beach? With advanced, super-realistic, computerized special effects and ripped body / stunt doubles available as needed, though, I think the bigger challenge lies in bringing the secret identities of superheroes to life: all those moments when supposedly normal people are leading supposedly "normal" lives.

Who, then are the most convincing superheroes without costumes? What actors and actresses have made you believe that their very human characters on screen could transform into larger-than-life heroes and/or heroines with a quick dash into a phone booth? Mind you, I'm not just talking Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen ...

1. Famke Janssen as Jean Gray in X-Men
She cuts a fine figure, doesn't she? Famke Janssen is undoubtedly sexier than Wolverine when they both suit up, yet she really shines whenever she's using her brain -- which is all the time. She doesn't need the costume to be one of the smartest, most empathetic, and most lethal people, in the universe.

I have a confession to make. When other little girls were prancing around with Strawberry Shortcake, I was all about The Incredible Hulk. I even had a super-awesome pair of green Hulk pajamas. Unfortunately, my young love for that television show tarnished me for what's to come. I just can't get into fake Hulks. I get that he's supposed to be huge, but it just looks silly when a human being turns animated -- especially when Lou Ferrigno looked so damn cool all green.

Since there's still no trailer for the new Edward Norton-starring version, I give you my beloved Lou, in all of his green glory, and the wonderful Bill Bixby. Above you can see the opening theme with the first-ever transformation into the Hulk, and then you can head through the jump for the "final hulkout."