Ronald D. Moore Movies
Screenwriter Ronald D. Moore is closely associated with the Star Trek franchise, its shows and feature films. He broke into the venerable sci-fi dynasty by successfully submitting two scripts as a freelance writer for Star Trek: The Next Generation. This led to a position on the writing staff that resulted in his writing or co-writing 27 episodes and a promotion to producer. When the series ended, he moved onward and upward, to become the supervising producer of the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Moore also co-wrote the scripts for the feature films Star Trek: Generations (1994) and Star Trek: First Contact (1996). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 2009
A spaceship from Earth is equipped with a virtual-reality device to help those aboard cope with their 10-year mission. But when the system malfunctions, it puts the Phaeton's crew -- and the fate of their planet -- in jeopardy. ~ Joe Friedrich, All Movie Guide
Edward James Olmos directs this feature-length drama that tells the story of the Peabody-winning series -- from the perspective of the Cylons. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan finds man's creations plotting to destroy their makers, but when their genocidal scheme leaves survivors. Now, two Cylons must try to eliminate the remnants of humanity, while Adama (Olmos) and his fleet struggle to survive. From the nuclear devastation that began the miniseries to Sharon's (Grace Park) attempt to kill her commander, all the show's biggest moments are seen from the enemy's point of view. The film also stars Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, Dean Stockwell, Michael Trucco, and Aaron Douglas. ~ All Movie Guide
Set fifty years before the events of Battlestar Galactica, Capricia follows the rivalry between two feuding families competing and thriving in the 12 Colonies. Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) and Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) both sit at the head of powerful tables. Their world is at the peak of its power, yet as science and technology both continue to grow, so too does the potential for disaster. As artificial intelligence and technology paves the way towards the future - and the dreaded Cylons - corporate conspiracy and sexual politics put the Graystones and the Adamas on a tragic collision course. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, (more)
The untold story of the Battlestar Pegasus comes to the screen in this special, two-hour episode of Battlestar Galactica detailing the transformation of Major Kendra Shaw into a fearless tool of war known as a "razor." As the Cylons prepare to launch a genocidal attack on the Twelve Colonies, Major Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen) arrives on the Battleship Pegasus reporting for duty. In the aftermath of the devastating attack, Major Shaw is trained by Admiral Helena Cain to employ suicidal fighting tactics and commit atrocious war crimes against her own people. Any sense of hesitation or doubt is methodically stripped away from Major Shaw, rendering her a living weapon driven by murderous instinct. But such a weapon can ultimately do as much damage as it does good, and it isn't long before this severe form of warfare takes a heavy psychological tool on the tormented Major Shaw. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2006
A rescue mission to Caprica to save the humans trapped there accidentally leads to the discovery of a habitable planet. Elsewhere, Tyrol is haunted by nightmares. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
- 2006
The attack on the Cylon resurrection ship is carried out by Battlestars Galactica and Pegasus. Meanwhile, Adm. Cain and Cdr. Adama set their coups in motion. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Determined to restore unity among the divided colonists, Adama attempts to reconcile with Lee and orders a search-and-rescue mission to Kobol to locate President Roslin's squad of tomb hunters. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
- 2005
After President Roslin interferes with his plan to attack the Cylons, Adama considers a coup. Meanwhile, Starbuck uses the Cylon raider to retrieve a mystical talisman on Caprica; and Boomer embarks on a desperate mission to destroy the Cylon basestar near Kobol. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
- 2005
After contemplating drastic measures to prevent her Cylon side from taking over, Boomer discovers a planet that may be the mythical Kobol. Meanwhile, on Caprica, Boomer's double wrestles with her feelings for Helo; and Starbuck's affair leads to tension with Apollo. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
- 2004
In the distant future, intelligent robots known as Cylons were created to serve as slaves to the people of the Twelve Colonies on the planet Caprica and to fight humanity's wars. Later, the Cylons would become sentient, rebelling against their mortal masters. As a result of the Cylon rebellion, man and machine engaged in a bloody war that would eventually end in stalemate, after which a treaty was signed. The Cylons subsequently withdrew into a remote region of deep space, and for the next 40 years, a tense, silent treaty existed between the Cylons and the Twelve Colonies. Over the course of the next four decades, humanity would deploy an envoy to the neutral Armistice Station to meet with a Cylon envoy on each anniversary of the treaty's signing. Though no Cylon envoy would show for the first 39 years, something terrible happened on the 40th anniversary: immediately after a beautiful Cylon in human form appeared on the Armistice Station, the neutral zone was vaporized and a devastating nuclear attack was launched on Caprica and the Twelve Colonies. As a result of the attack, the entire human race was nearly destroyed, and only those who were lucky enough to be aboard starships at the time were spared. Led by the Colonial warship the battlestar Galactica and its commanding officer William Adama (Edward James Olmos), those survivors fled into deep space. But the Galactica was set to be commissioned at the time of the attack, and is hardly an ideal vessel to harbor humanity's last hope. With only 50,000 humans left, the only hope for humankind is to locate the mythical "13th Colony" known as Earth before they fall prey to the Cylons. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Boomer is unsettled when she awakens drenched to the bone and in possession of an explosive -- moments before the fleet's water supply is drained by a sudden explosion aboard the Galactica. Meanwhile, on Caprica, her doppelganger attempts to rescue Helo (Tahmoh Penikett). ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward James Olmos
- 2003
This calculatedly bizarre 12-episode cable drama series incorporated elements from Something Wicked This Way Comes, the Tod Browning film Freaks, and the entire David Lynch oeuvre. Set in America's Dust Bowl in 1934, the series chronicled the fortunes of a seedy carnival/burlesque troupe as it moved from one flyspeck town to another. Unfolding in a slow, deliberate and deceptively casual manner, the basic plot line boiled down to an allegorical battle between "a creature of light and a creature of darkness." The former "creature" was Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl), a chain-gang escapee with a mysterious past and an even more mysterious gift for healing, who had latched on to the carnival almost by accident; the latter was sinister evangelist Brother Justin (Clancy Brown), who held the town of Mintern, CA, in thrall with a combination of charisma and mind control. Other characters included Samson (played by Twin Peaks alumnus Michael J. Anderson), the all-wise dwarf who narrated the series and who ran the carnival on behalf of the seldom-seen Management; Samson's right-hand man, Jonesy (Tim DeKay); sexy snake charmer Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau); surprisingly prescient mentalist Lodz (Patrick Bauchau); tarot card reader Sofie (Clea DuVall) and her comatose mother Apollonia (Diane Salinger); "lizard man" Gecko (John Fleck); strong man Gabriel (Brian Turk); bearded lady Lila (Debra Christofferson); singing Siamese twins Alexandra and Caledonia (Karyne Steben, Sarah Steben); and Brother Justin's slightly unhinged sister, Iris (Amy Madigan). Created by Daniel Knauf, Carnivàle premiered September 14, 2003, on HBO. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
In the middle of the night, Ben (Nick Stahl) brings Ruthie's (Adrienne Barbeau) body back to the carnival, hides her in her trailer, and tells Gabriel (Brian Turk) to stand guard. Then he goes to Lodz (Patrick Bauchau) for help. Lodz brings him to Management, who seems to know an awful lot about Ben and his gift. He explains that Ben can only bring Ruthie back to life by taking the life of another, and he must choose the life he takes. Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger) and Stumpy (Toby Huss) discuss each other's indiscretions, and agree to try to make their marriage work. Sophie (Clea Duvall) argues with Apollonia (Diane Salinger) again, and tells her she's leaving that night. She later makes flirtatious plans to meet both Jonesy (Tim DeKay) and Libby (Carla Gallo) after the show. A state trooper comes looking for Ben. Samson (Michael J. Anderson) protects him, but after hearing about his meeting, he tells him that, to Management, people are "pieces moving around on a board," and warns him not to bring harm to anyone connected to the carnival. Ben goes into town to look for a potential victim, but he can't bring himself to murder anyone. He sits down in a local graveyard and slashes his own throat. Scudder (John Savage) suddenly appears beside him, telling him, "It doesn't work that way. You're meant for greater things." Ben will have to make a choice. Meanwhile, Justin (Clancy Brown) makes a deal with Dolan (Robert Knepper) to get his message out to the world. Norman (Ralph Waite) confronts Justin, and in attempting to reveal Norman's greatest sin, Justin makes a shocking discovery about his own nature. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2003
In the aftermath of Dora Mae's (Amanda Aday) murder, the show is packing up and leaving Babylon, but first, Samson (Michael J. Anderson) insists, someone must pay for the crime. Jonesy (Tim DeKay), convinced that Management doesn't exist, has a falling out with Samson, who implores him to trust him. "I trusted you, even when no one else would," Samson tells him. Ben (Nick Stahl) is still stuck in the abandoned mine dream world, which is soon transformed into a WWI bunker, where he comes upon a dead soldier being eaten by an unseen beast. As Ben cautiously approaches the beast, a German soldier creeps up on Ben. The beast is revealed to be a huge bear, wearing a fez. Ben manages to get away and runs into a younger, sighted incarnation of Lodz (Patrick Bauchau), who is looking for his bear. Shortly thereafter, Ben wakes up to find Lodz standing over him, demanding to hear about his dream. An armed group of men from the troupe go into town, where they find Babylon deserted. But eventually, they run into Stangler (John Hannah). As he's the only townsperson available, they take him prisoner and mete out their strange traditional punishment on him. Samson learns that the town of Babylon was cursed when they tried to lynch Scudder over the death of a miner. He also learns the horrible reason why Dora Mae was murdered. Meanwhile, Justin (Clancy Brown), still mourning over the church fire that killed several children, removes his collar and hits the road. He finds a campfire, where he reluctantly tells his tale of woe to an inquisitive Tommy Dolan (Robert Knepper). As it turns out, Dolan is not a hobo, but a radio personality, and he tells of Justin's plight on his show. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
1934. The Dustbowl. The last great age of magic. In a time of titanic sandstorms, vile plagues, drought and pistilence - signs of God's fury and harbingers of the Apocalypse - the final conflict between good and evil is about to begin. The battle will take place in the Heartland of an empire called America. And when it is over, man will forever trade away wonder for reason. See the conflict of good vs. evil played out against a pair of vivid and unusual backdrops: a traveling carnival working the American Dustbowl circuit, and an evangelical ministry in California.
- Starring:
- Nick Stahl, Clancy Brown, (more)
Director John Woo brings Hong Kong-style martial arts action to this comic book-flavored sequel that eschews the complicated plot and political maneuverings of its predecessor in favor of pure, adrenaline-charged thrills. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, an operative for the top-secret government agency IMF (Impossible Missions Force). Fellow agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) has gone rogue, stealing a sample of a deadly synthetic virus named Chimera that could rapidly wipe out the world's population. Ambrose's plan is to sell Chimera to the highest bidder in exchange for shares of stock in the winner's company. Summoned by the new IMF chief (Anthony Hopkins in an uncredited cameo role), Ethan is assigned to recruit the help of Ambrose's former lover Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton), a gorgeous woman who left Ambrose broken-hearted and who may be able to quickly regain his confidence. Once he meets and spends a night with Nyah, however, Ethan is smitten, and now must both capture Ambrose and keep Nyah alive as she infiltrates a nest of vipers. Sophisticated disguises, gun battles, and high-speed chases are the order of the day, very much in the James Bond mold. Mission: Impossible 2 is based on a story by Star Trek: The Next Generation writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, with a script polish by Robert Towne. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, (more)
