Matthew Bennett Movies
One of the most popular television series of the late '70s science fiction boom gets a new look for the new millennium in remake, created as a made-for-cable miniseries. Four decades after the Cylon Wars, the Cylon robots (some of whom have since assumed human form) have launched a vicious nuclear attack, leaving only a few Colonial forces to lead the survivors to safety. Led by starship commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) and politician and possible presidential successor Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), the crew of the Battlestar Galactica searches the galaxy for the mythic 13th Colony of Kobol (otherwise known as Earth), their destination and only hope for survival. Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries also stars Jamie Bamber, James Callis, and Grace Park. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Edward James Olmos
Hired by a cheap tabloid, washed-up reporter Tom Merrick (Casper Van Dien) begins collecting research for a series of articles on famous disasters. Along the way, he makes a curious discovery: In the photos of such catastrophes as the San Francisco Earthquake and the Hindenburg explosion, he notices that the same person keeps showing up in the crowds. It soon develops that a group of futuristic "tourists" have signed on with an organization called Thrill Seekers, which whisks its customers to historical tragedies so that they can experience the thrill of being eyewitnesses. Much to his horror, Tom finds out that these time-traveling tourists have shown up in his own town, preparing to watch a cataclysmic disaster that has not yet transpired -- one that, unless prevented, will claim the lives of Tom's ex-wife and son. Originally telecast as The Time Shifters by TBS on October 17, 1999, this made-for-cable feature has since been released to video as Thrill Seekers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Casper Van Dien, Martin Sheen, (more)
- 2000
Willie Garson guest stars as Martin Lloyd, a wild-eyed conspiracy theorist and self-proclaimed "space alien". Amidst his ramblings about JFK and the CIA, Lloyd intimates that he might have the "lowdown" on the Stargate program. Just to cover all bets, General Hammond (Don S. Davis) asks O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) to investigate Lloyd's claims. Prepared to dismiss Lloyd as a harmless crackpot, O'Neill is compelled to change his mind by a subsequent series of bizarre and deadly occurences. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This series for the Showtime premium cable network was based on the hit 1990 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. In the year 2070, David Hume (played by Michael Easton) is a futuristic law enforcement officer who discovers that the death of his partner was not accident -- that it was the work of powerful men with a hidden agenda. Hume and his android partner, Ian Farve (Karl Pruner) are determined to find the truth, no matter the risk. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Easton, Karl Pruner, (more)
- 1999
A newspaper columnist is murdered, thereby reopening a 20-year-old homicide case. Detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) track down the central character in the original case, who was a juvenile at the time. This leads to a tricky dilemma for the D.A.'s office -- a dilemma eagerly pounced upon by the defense attorney. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Debuting over the CTV network on January 23, 1998, the hour-long Canadian drama series Cold Squad was a precursor in both style and substance to the American weekly Cold Case. The series involved the concerted efforts of a dedicated Vancouver detective unit to reopen and (hopefully) solve unsolved murder cases, some of them several decades old. Julie Stewart headed the cast as Sgt. Ali McCormick, the unofficial head of the squad. There was a great deal of personnel turnover during the series' seven seasons on the air, with a complete supporting-cast overhaul at the beginning of Season Three (see the huge cast list below). The winner of eight Gemini Awards, the 98-episode Cold Squad ended its Canadian run on June 4, 2005; it was picked up for syndication in the United States on September 15, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Lacey Chabert was still the darling of the television series Party of Five when she accepted the leading role in this suspenseful TV movie. When the biological mother of adoptee Jenny Newhall (Chabert) is murdered, Jenny's adoptive father Greg (Gregory Harrison) immediately falls under suspicion. This tragic set of events rocks the small, tranquil town in which the Newhalls live to its foundations, ultimately laying bare a number of unpleasant and long-hidden secrets. Making matters worse, Greg Newhall all but confirms his "guilt" when he escapes custody--but who is the actual culprit? (You'd be surprised--or at least, that's what the film producers hoped!) Based on a novel by Patricia McDonald, When Secrets Kill first aired over CBS on April 6, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1995
When Canadian mountie Fraser (Paul Gross) and American cop Ray (Raymond Vecchio) are assigned to protect their respective country's diplomats at a NAFTA convention, Fraser manages to run afoul of his Mexican counterpart, government agent Anita Cortez (Maria Therese Rangel). One mishap leads to another, and before long Fraser is reduced to addressing invitations for the convention under the supervision of several 12-year-olds. Even so, Fraser and Anita manage to forget their differences long enough to go after a suspected assassin. Take a look at the names of the three "Special Agents" in the supporting cast--sound familiar? First broadcast on American television, this episode made its US debut on February 16, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
