Garick Hagon Movies

The events leading up to Great Britain's take-over of Hong Kong provide the basis of this epic Chinese historical drama that distinguishes itself from similarly themed films by presenting a relatively balanced view of each side's position during the war, though China ends up looking a little better in the end. The conflict began in 1838 during the Qing Dynasty when British traders were selling mass quantities of opium to the population, thereby rendering them weak and malleable. The royal court assigns viceroy Lin Zexu the task of negotiating with the East India, Co. traders. Denton is the primary offender and the undiplomatic Lin promptly imprisons him. To help Denton, Charles Elliot, a foreign trade representative, is dispatched. Elliot solves the problem by having tons of opium poured into the sea while guaranteeing the British government will refund the trader's money. When the political leaders back in London learn of his rash action, they angrily send troops to attack China. In this way the complex struggle begins. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Tom Skerritt plays an end-of-tether CIA agent in Red King, White Knight. His superiors persuade Skerritt to take one last assignment: to prevent the assassination of the Russian president. Max Von Sydow plays Skerritt's opposite number at the KGB, who despite orders to kill the American agent, teams up with him to save the Soviet leader. Meanwhile, Skerritt's private life is complicated by the return of ex-lover Helen Mirren. Though unrated, the film contains violence and nudity. Produced for the HBO Cable Service, Red King, White Knight was first telecast November 25, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This spy outing hones in on secret agent Magnus Pym (Peter Egan). Having impersonated so many different people during his career as a British spy, Pym eventually lost track of who he really was -- a confusion compounded by the fact that he knew nothing of his actual past. Ultimately feeling that he could trust no one -- not even his so-called friends -- Pym turned his back on the British and began trading secrets with the Enemy. Filmed on location in England, Europe, and the U.S., the seven-episode A Perfect Spy originally aired in the U.K. in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This handsomely-mounted historical epic concerns the birth of the Islamic faith and the story of the prophet Mohammed -- who, in accordance with the tenants of Islam, is never seen or heard (any physical depiction of the prophet is considered a heinous sin within the faith). In Mecca in the 7th century, Mohammed is visited by a vision of the Angel Gabriel, who urges him to lead the people of Mecca to cast aside the 300 idols of Kaaba and instead worship the one true God. Speaking out against the corrupt political and military leaders who rule Mecca, Mohammed and his followers struggle to worship God as they see fit, which eventually leads them into exile in Medina. However, one day God gives Mohammed a message to return to Mecca and take up arms against their oppressors -- while recruiting as many followers as they can along the way. With the help of his uncle, a brave warrior named Hamza (Anthony Quinn), Mohammed and his followers return to Mecca to liberate the city in the name of God. The Message (originally screened in the U.S. as Mohammed, Messenger of God) proved to be highly controversial during its production and initial release. Unfounded rumors had it that Mohammed would not only be depicted in the film, but that he was to be played by Charlton Heston or Peter O'Toole. This resulted in angry protests by Muslim extremists, until director Moustapha Akkad hired a staff of respected Islamic clerics as technical advisors. The advisors butted heads with Akkad, and they quit the production, which led the Moroccan government to withdraw their permission to film in their country. In time, Akkad ended up shooting on location in Libya under the sponsorship of Muammar Qaddafi, which presented a whole new set of political and practical problems for the filmmakers. Finally, when the film was scheduled to premier in the U.S., another Muslim extremist group staged a siege against the Washington D.C. chapter of the B'nai B'rith under the mistaken belief that Anthony Quinn played Mohammed in the film, threatening to blow up the building and its inhabitants unless the film's opening was cancelled. The standoff was resolved without explosion or injuries, though the film's American box office prospects never recovered from the unfortunate controversy. The Message was shot in two versions, one in English and one in Arabic (entitled Al-Ris-Alah), with different actors taking over some of the roles due to language requirements. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Mutants," the efforts by the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) to help the Solonians to begin their evolutionary process are resisted by the despotic Marshal (Paul Whitsun-Jones) of the orbiting Earth Skybase. Equally intent upon crushing a resistance movement, the Marshal pins a murder on rebel leader Ky (Garrick Hagan). Now a fugitive, Ky takes the Doctor's companion, Jo (Katy Manning), hostage and returns to Solos, where the poisonous atmosphere prevents the human crew members of the Skybase from effecting a rescue. But, remember, the Doctor isn't human. Written by Bob Baker and David Martin, "The Mutants, Episode 3" first aired on April 22, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Mutants," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) have handed over the package of bio-readings that will enable the primitive inhabitants of the planet Solos to begin their evolutionary process. In so doing, the Doctor incurs the wrath of the Marshal (Paul Whitsun-Jones) of the orbiting Earth skybase. Determined to prevent the Solonions from declaring their independence, the Marshal forces the Doctor to work on a machine that will destroy Solos' poisonous atmosphere, thereby enabling the Skybase to launch an all-out invasion of the planet. Written by Bob Baker and David Martin, "The Mutants, Episode 5" first aired on May 6, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of the six-part story "The Mutants," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) are summoned to the 30th century, where they are ordered by the Time Lords to deliver a secret package to the planet Solos. The fact that the package contains some crucial bio-readings is but a prologue to the Doctor's latest assignment: To enable the primitive Solonians to begin their evolutionary process. But as can be gathered by the fact that there are more episodes to come, this will not be an easy task. Written by Bob Baker and David Martin, "The Mutants, Episode 1" first aired on April 8, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The fact that The Last Gunfighter is a Canadian western is an oddity in itself. Gilding the lily is the fact that it's really an anti-western, exploding a lot of the mythology that sagebrush fans hold dear. Gunman Don Borisenko is hired by the townsfolk to mete out justice to a cruel land baron. Instead, Borisenko gets romantically involved with Tass Tory, the wife of a local farmer. When the smoke clears, the gunman has killed the rancher, and the farmer has killed the gunman. This bleak endeavor has also been released as Hired Gun and The Devil's Spawn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An ex-intelligence officer tricked by rogue CIA operatives into smuggling a deadly virus out of the U.S. unleashes a firestorm of fury on the agents who kidnap his daughter once the mission has been fulfilled in an action-packed tale of international intrigue starring martial arts icon Steven Seagal. Jack Foster (Seagal) is an ex-CIA operative traveling to Europe with his young daughter for what they thought would be a relaxing getaway. When his daughter is kidnapped upon arrival in Europe and Jack realizes that he has become little more than a small pawn in a much larger game, he vows to bring his young girl back home safe and rain vengeance upon those who thought they could use Jack to fulfill their nefarious plot to hijack the planet. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The many emotional scars left by South Africa's history of institutionalized racism come under the microscope in this drama. As South Africa comes to terms with the legacy of apartheid, their government has created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in which the perpetrators of racial violence and injustice must come face to face with their victims if they are to be forgiven for their crimes. Langston Whitfield (Samuel L. Jackson) is an African-American journalist who is assigned to cover these hearings by The Washington Post; Whitfield doubts the efficacy of this process, and sets out to interview Col. De Jager (Brendan Gleeson), a notorious former officer of the South African police who was famous for his violence against blacks in order to put this method to the test. While in South Africa, Whitfield meets Anna Malan (Juliette Binoche), an Afrikaner poet who is covering the hearing for a radio station and is both appalled and disturbed by the details of the violence inflicted against her countrymen. After striking up a friendship, Whitfield and Malan become romantically involved as they try to come to terms with their feelings about what they've learned. Also screened under the title Country of My Skull, In My Country was adapted from a book by South African author Antjie Krog. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

TV star John Stamos makes a game transition to the big screen in Born to Ride. Stamos plays a motorcycle whiz, who in 1939 is assigned to motorize a US cavalry troop. His irreverence and slovenliness makes Stamos a pariah to his superior officer John Stockwell -- and just to complicate matters, both men are rivals for the affections of Teri Polo. All is forgiven during a desperate (and highly unlikely) mission to Spain, wherein Stamos uses his cycle skills to rescue a defecting Nazi scientist. As history, Born to Ride is a bust; as a vehicle for John Stamos, it has its points. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide