William Zabka Movies
Supporting actor, onscreen from the '80s. ~ Rovi
One woman's day goes all to pot in this resinous comedy from independent filmmaker Gregg Araki. Jane (Anna Faris) is a college dropout and aspiring actress who suffers from a certain lack of ambition, doubtless reinforced by her fondness for marijuana. One morning, Jane wakes with a busy day ahead of her -- she has a big audition, she has to pay the electric bill on her apartment to prevent the power from being shut off, and she needs to pick up some pot after paying her debt to her dealer -- and decides to take the edge off her anxieties by getting a little stoned. Under the influence, the cupcakes her roommate Steve (Danny Masterson) has made for his friends to enjoy at the weekend's Sci-Fi convention look too good to resist, and she gobbles them down. What Jane doesn't realize until it's too late is that the baked goods were laced with some especially strong marijuana, and what starts as a pleasant buzz turns into a world-class high that refuses to go away. As Jane struggles to make her way through the day, fate keeps throwing her into strange and surreal situations involving police officers, Steve's lovesick best friend, and a rare original manuscript of The Communist Manifesto. Smiley Face also stars Adam Brody, John Krasinski, Jane Lynch, Michael Hitchcock, John Cho and Roscoe Lee Browne. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anna Faris, Roscoe Lee Browne, (more)
A race with a 25-million-dollar prize is at the center of this action film starring Antonio Sabato Jr. Tensions are rising as the big event draws near, and with a monster hurricane threatening to strike, the potential for a violent confrontation between man and nature is growing. Produced and directed by Phillip Roth, Hypersonic also stars Adam Baldwin and William Zabka. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Antonio Sabato, Jr.
In this made-for-cable sequel to Pythons, the U.S. Army's Colonel Jefferson (Marcus Aurelius) has successfully neutralized the horrific 12-ton, 57-foot python that had been developed as a jungle weapon by a top-secret intelligence organization. Unfortunately, still another synthetic "Beta Snake" has escaped from Sub-Basement 9 of the Russian-American Joint Military Operations -- and this one is 85 feet long, and even meaner and more invulnerable than the original python prototype. When the slimy predator slithers into the Ural Mountains, it is up to disgraced ex-ballplayer Dwight Stoddard (Dana Ashbrook) and his Russian wife Nadia (Simone Jade McKinnon) to capture and kill the monster. Alas, mysterious American Greg Larson (Billy Zabka), who claims to be a "biotechnician," proves to be the real snake in the grass in this melodramatic Bulgarian-American coproduction. Pythons II was first telecast in the U.S. by the Sci-Fi Channel on August 17, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Zabka, Dana Ashbrook, (more)
Lance Henriksen stars as ex-FBI agent Richard Gaynes in this made for video techno-thriller, which has much in common with the classic 1966 science fiction feature Fantastic Voyage. A brilliant bomb expert, Gaynes is miniaturized and injected into the bloodstream of comatose terrorist Anthony Moran (Julian Vergov). The reason? There's a microchip imbedded somewhere within Moran that is set to trigger a worldwide nuclear holocaust within 24 hours. Going along for the ride is the requisite Sexy Woman Scientist, played by Robin Givens. Originally rated R, Antibody was toned down a bit for its "official" US debut, which occurred February 8, 2003 on cable TV's Sci-Fi Channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A covert US/Soviet military experiment designed to create the ultimate telepathic and telekinetic soldier backfires when the sole successful test subject goes AWOL in an explosive tale of action-packed conspiracy starring Judge Reinhold. It was a risky venture from the onset, and when only one of the five test members emerged from the top-secret military experiment suitable for battle they could never have imagined the trouble he would cause after learning the real purpose of his training. With time running out before the powerful soldier called Mindstorm decides to turn on his handlers in an attempt to get revenge for their deception, it's up to former Black-Ops officer Evan Mink (Reinhold) to find and contain the unstable warrior and ensure that the government's dirty little secret doesn't hit the headlines. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
When we first meet beautiful, psychic private investigator Tracy Wellman (Emmanuelle Vaugier), she's confronting a psycho pedophile in a junkyard in a nearly fatal effort to rescue a young boy being held prisoner. Luckily, FBI agent Dan Oliver (Antonio Sabato Jr.) is nearby to help. But he's not around for her next case, in which she meets her mental match in mysterious cult leader David Mendez (Eric Roberts) as she tries to free a senator's daughter from his oily clutches. Naturally, agent Oliver leads the charge against the fortified cult compound -- with Tracy inside. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Antonio Sabato, Jr., Emmanuelle Vaugier, (more)
Wilfred Schmidt's suspense film Dark Descent stars Dean Cain as Will Murdack, a member of the Deep Submersible Division. Murdack is sent to investigate why people are dying in an underwater mining installation. Between the physical pressures of being 35,000 feet underwater, the psychological ravages of never seeing sunlight, and the constant claustrophobia, Murdack must work quickly to rescue himself as well the workers. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Billy Zane stars in this action-adventure story as Michael Sanger, an expert racecar driver with a passion to do something out of the ordinary. Sanger and his crew have designed a special rocket-powered car, and their goal is for Sanger to become the first man to break the sound barrier on dry land. A 50-million-dollar purse is being offered to the first person who can crack Mach 2, so Sanger is not alone in his quest. With several top drivers aiming toward the same goal, does Sanger have what it takes to prevail? Landspeed also features Ray Wise, Scott Wiper, and Pam Gidley. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Billy Zane, Pam Gidley, (more)
A secret project turns out to not have been so secret after all as an air disaster threatens to become an international incident in this action thriller. Peter Stanton is an aviation engineer who is asked by the United States military to design a new super-sized stealth aircraft. Since Stanton's project is officially off the government's books (though the Pentagon is indeed footing the bill), his sponsors create a cover story that the new craft is actually a civilian airline carrier being jointly developed by NASA and three major airlines. In order to give the new jet a proper test and support their cover story, the plane, known as FALCON, will carry a group of special passengers for its first flight, a hop from New York to Paris that will take less than two hours. However, Stanton finds out the hard way that not everyone on his team is honest and idealistic when a team of Serbian terrorists take over the plane, intending to land it on the arctic ice cap. The Serbs miscalculate, and soon Stanton has two major problems on his hand: bringing the FALCON up out of the ocean, and saving the passengers from the terrorists before the Serbs can make use of the jet's sophisticated weapons systems. Falcon Down stars William Shatner, Judd Nelson, Cliff Robertson, Jennifer Rubin, and Dale Midkiff. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Science must confront a power greater than our own in this unusual sci-fi-thriller. As seismic activities around the world begin going haywire, causing untold damages in major cities and claiming thousands of lives, the President of the United States orders Kasia Czaban, one of his top scientific advisers, and Mason Rand, a leading weapons expert, to investigate the phenomenon and see if it can be stopped. Kasia and Mason's investigation leads them to the Himalayas, where they discover a strange object of otherworldly origin that can generate its own power and water, spawn and support its own life forms, and either extend or extinguish human lives at will. What is this strange item? What is its role in the history of our universe? And can Mason and Kasia unlock its secrets without falling prey to its dangers? Epoch stars David Keith, Stephanie Niznik, Ryan O'Neal, and Shannon Lee. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Keith, Ryan O'Neal, (more)
Fire captain Jack Thomas (John Bradley) has his hands full when greedy developer Wendell Mays (Tom Arnold) arranges for his industrial refinery near the city to catch fire and explode for the insurance money. Not only are Thomas' firemen overtaxed and his veteran hero (Michael Dudikoff) in grave danger, but the nearby hospital is inadequate to handle the disaster, leaving the head doctor (Amanda Pays) to cope with internal politics as well as internal medicine. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
One seriously large snake makes for a staggering body count in this horror thriller. Dr. Anton Rudolph (Robert Englund) is a scientist who has spent years breeding and perfecting the ideal living weapon -- a gigantic python that's 60 feet long and can swallow nearly anything in its path. Rudolph is transporting his new creation by air when their plane crashes near a small town and the mutant snake escapes. Rudolph is forced to team up with Bart Parker (Casper Van Dien), a military security expert, to round up the snake, but in the meantime, more than a few locals are pointing fingers at eccentric John Cooper (Frayne Rosenoff), who has a fondness for snakes and a bad reputation with the local cops. Python also features supporting performances from Jenny McCarthy and Wil Wheaton. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Three elite alien-fighters are out to find a creature who can change its appearance at a moment's notice in this sci-fi thriller. Shaun (Olivier Gruner) is the leader of the Interceptor Force, a small band of highly-skilled soldiers who are the first line of defense in the event of a hostile attack by space aliens. When a spacecraft crash-lands in the desert, Shaun and his partners Russell (Glenn Plummer) and Dave (William Zabka) are sent in to investigate; they discover that an angry alien has arrived on Earth and that the creature has the dangerous ability to assume the form of any being it wishes -- making it all but impossible to find. Interceptor Force also stars Brad Dourif, Ernie Hudson, and Angel Boris. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Olivier Gruner, Brad Dourif, (more)
A band of gangster wannabees find themselves in over their heads after they rob a bank that has been laundering money for a powerful East Asian drug cartel. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Antonio Sabato, Jr., Shannon Lee, (more)
- 1996
Aimed at children, this epic fantasy adventure is set in the mythical and peaceful land of Aralon and centers on its king's courageous struggle to protect his people from the warlike Morlin people. To forever quell the violence and bloodshed, the desperate King Francis requests that the royal alchemist Aeschylus devise a means by which Francis could control time. In that way, he can become the master of the universe and decide exactly who shall live or die. But as is the way with fairy tales, things don't go exactly as planned when the raven-haired witch Karnissa gets involved. Meanwhile, a page falls in love with a princess and endeavors to win her love by proving that he is just as brave as his older brother, a famous knight. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
A young martial arts expert takes on an evil villain for the possession of a magical ring said to grant its wearer unlimited power. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ted Jan Roberts, Jacob Parker, (more)
- 1995
- R
In this martial-arts actioner, Miami mobsters find themselves in mortal danger after an angry police chief hires the world's most vicious fighters and uses them to launch a city-wide vendetta. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bolo Yeung, William Zabka, (more)
- 1993
- R
In this marital-arts actioner two rival boys master the art of fighting and as young adults engage in a deadly and illegal "shootfight," a match with no rules where only the winner survives. Some of the fight scenes are excellent, however, they are quite violent and gory. On video it has been released in two versions: the R-rated one is a little less explicitly violent than the unrated version. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1987
- R
Set in a small town in Texas, a young man begins to lose interest in his sex-brained girlfriend and begins falling for her mother instead. This romantic comedy-drama features C. Thomas Howell, Ann-Margret, Kelly Preston and Charles Durning. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ann-Margret, C. Thomas Howell, (more)
- 1986
- PG
This sequel to the 1984 surprise hit The Karate Kid reunites Ralph Macchio as high-schooler Danny and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita as Danny's martial-arts mentor, Miyagi. Picking up where the first film left off, The Karate Kid Part II finds Danny and Miyagi making an emergency trip to Okinawa, where Miyagi's father is dying. Here they revisit Miyagi's childhood sweetheart (Nobu McCarthy), who, Miyagi believes, had been wheedled into an arranged marriage with loose-cannon karate expert Sato (Danny Kamekona). Little does Miyagi realize that the woman is still single; Sato is still around as well, however, and intent on resuming the fight with his old nemesis. Morita agrees; meanwhile, Danny is challenged by Kamekona's pugnacious nephew (Yuji Okumoto). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, (more)
- 1986
- PG
The real-life Mel Fisher was considered a mercenary by some, a visionary by others. Whatever the case, Fisher was a famous treasure hunter, who spent nearly decades searching for a Spanish Galleon which sank off the Florida Keys in the 17th century. Against all odds, Fisher and his crew were able to retrieve a fortune in gold from the galleon in July of 1985. The made-for-TV Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story first aired November 15, 1986, not long after a drawn-out court battle between Fisher and the U.S. government over ownership of the treasure had come to a conclusion. Cliff Robertson stars as Mel Fisher, while Loretta Swit is cast as his wife, Deo. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cliff Robertson, Loretta Swit, (more)
Self-made wealthy guy Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) decides he needs a better education -- and also to spend some time away from his cheating new wife. Thornton joins his son, Jason (Keith Gordon) at college. Dad hopes to gain his son's respect (isn't that always Dangerfield's motivation?), while his son tries to fit in with his snobbish and brutish fellow students. English professor Diane Turner (Sally Kellerman) forms a strong bond with Thornton, encouraging both father and son to stick out their first year despite all odds. The finale involves some slapstick at the swimming pool diving board, and the obligatory commencement address delivered by Dangerfield, who proves that he can crack jokes without tugging at his tie. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, (more)
- 1985
- PG13
- Add National Lampoon's European Vacation to QueueAdd National Lampoon's European Vacation to top of Queue
Despite the many adventures they suffered in National Lampoon's Vacation, the Griswold family decides to take another crack at having fun. This time, the doltish clan heads across the Atlantic for a whirlwind vacation after winning a game show. Will the monuments of Europe survive? ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
In this uneven teen comedy, an aspiring female high-school journalist assumes a fake male identity after her essay on just that subject -- a woman posing as a male jock -- is rejected in a contest. Miffed by what she assumes is a bias against her gender in the rejection of her essay, Terry (Joyce Hyser) dons the right garb, gets a new haircut, drops her voice down to a suitable male-sounding register and passes herself off as a guy (okay, not believably, but one is willing to go along with the conceit to see what happens). As she soon discovers, moments in the locker room and at phys ed classes can be harrowing, but worse yet, she becomes seriously enamored of Rick (Clayton Rohner) a quiet, good-looking guy who does not run with either the macho or preppie pack. How can she broach the subject of her real identity? Terry's friends have their own romantic interests, all of which are resolved at the high school prom. It just had to be -- this film was followed by one titled Just One of the Girls with another director, and a male cross-dresser as the featured protagonist. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joyce Hyser, Clayton Rohner, (more)
