John Bach Movies

While spacewalking, Crichton (Ben Browder) is sucked into a small wormhole, ending up on what seems to be a floating iceberg occupied by an oddly garbed old man (John Bach). It turns out that the stranger, whom Crichton joshingly nicknames "Einstein," is from a race known as the Ancients, who centuries before had discovered that the universe was connected by a sort of "wormhole highway" and had dedicated themselves to keep the millions of realms thus connected safe from harm. Crichton is told that his own accumulated wormhole knowledge has the potential to disrupt or destroy all the alternate realities in space -- and thus, Einstein has no choice but to execute him. Several former Farscape regulars make cameo appearances via highlights from earlier episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The second of two network-TV adaptations of Jules Verne's speculative 1868 novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this two-part ABC version originally aired on May 11 and 12, 1997, some two months after CBS's shorter -- and infinitely more faithful -- version. The year is 1886, and an unknown "creature" is terrorizing the high seas, causing merchant vessels to vanish without a trace. Enlisted by the U.S. government to find out what's really going on, oceanographer Pierre Arronax (Patrick Dempsey) and rough-hewn whaler Ned Land (Bryan Brown) set sail for uncharted waters. Ultimately, they are captured by the insane but honorably motivated Captain Nemo (Michael Caine), the inventor of the high-teach submarine Nautilus. This much can be found in the original novel. The rest of the film has less to do with Jules Verne than its does with the popularity of such theatrical features as Star Wars and Titanic, not to mention the then-prevalent specter of political correctness. Because he wants nothing more out of life than to slaughter whales, Verne's nominal hero Ned Land is transformed into the main villain -- while Pierre Arronax comes off none too sympathetically himself, depicted in an early scene as a wanton womanizer who sleeps with his own father's mistress. Also, a bit of gratuitous romance is thrown into the proceedings, with Captain Nemo suddenly acquiring a daughter, and another woman joining the storyline when the Nautilus makes a side trip to the lost city of Atlantis. Finally, what with Verne's good guys turning bad and Captain Nemo clearly certifiable, a new "hero" is introduced in the form of African-American crewman Cabe Attucks (Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje). Oh, and did we mention that Nemo is actually a half-cyborg and a former Indian prince? This "new and improved" 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is only slightly less ridiculous than the 1916 silent film version, which also managed to add a love interest and a spectacular "flashback" sequence straight out of 1001 Arabian Nights. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Holly McPhee (Jacqueline Bisset) is a woman leading two lives. Most people know her as a well-regarded judge and faithful wife, but only a few realize she is also the brains and beauty behind a crime ring responsible for a string of daring robberies, which she coordinates with her lover. Holly's dangerous obsession with crime and illicit sex leads her to bigger and riskier capers, until one day she and her lover find they've bitten off more than they can chew. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Based on the true story of Alexander Graham Bell, this movie shows his efforts to help the hearing impaired and where his inventions led. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi

In 1945, a tribunal was held to investigate atrocities committed by the Japanese upon Australian soldiers during World War II. At an internment camp, 1100 Australian soldiers were tortured and killed by the Japanese, with only 300 survivors. This horrible event was not known until a terrible discovery of decapitated corpses was made at a grisly site on Ambon Island in Indonesia after the war. Stephen Wallace directed this courtroom drama based on the incident and follows the intrepid investigator who uncovers the truth behind the missing Australian soldiers. Bryan Brown plays Captain Cooper, the prosecutor of the case, in which 91 Japanese officers and soldiers are accused of murdering the Australian prisoners-of-war. The chief defendants are camp commander Takahashi (George Takei) and Captain Ikeuchi (Tetsu Watanabe). Takahashi denies knowing anything about the atrocities, as does Ikeuchi. Nevertheless, Cooper presses on to undercover the truth. But standing in his way is the American delegation, led by Major Beckett (Terry O'Quinn). They don't want a case to go forward that would reflect badly on the Japanese high command, since General MacArthur wants to reinstate many of the Japanese officers in a new postwar Japanese order. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

The three-part British-Australian TV production The Paper Man could be described as the miniseries equivalent of Citizen Kane. John Bach headed the huge cast as Philip Cromwell, a canny Australian entrepreneur who through "ways of his own" became his country's most powerful media mogul. Any resemblance between Cromwell and the real-life Rupert Murdoch was, of course, purely coincidental. Telecast in 1990, The Paper Man was seen in the United Kingdom via Granada Television, and in Australia over that continent's ABC network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This Australian-British co-production was based on the historical novel by Ronald McKie. In the last months of WWII, a group of 14 intrepid British and Aussie soldiers combined forces for a daring and dangerous mission. "Operation Jaywick" was designed to cripple the Japanese naval fleet in Singapore harbor. With only a few rickety wooden boats, a handful of weapons, and a surplus of guts at their disposal, the title characters set about to complete their mission and return home in one piece. A collaboration between TVS and Ten Network, the four 60-minute episodes of The Heroes aired in England in 1989. Three years later, many of the same cast and crew members were reassembled for a sequel, the redundantly titled Heroes II: The Return. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dramatically set against New Zealand's North Island scenery, this uneven but well-acted story is about Cathy (Mary Regan) -- a woman trapped in an incestual relationship with her father (Terence Cooper) on a remote sheep farm -- and a drifter named Daley (Bruno Lawrence) who arrives there looking for work. Daley soon develops an interest in Cathy, who is aloof and remote, and he does not understand why. When he does realize what is wrong, he and Cathy make a crucial decision that is bound to end in violence. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

In this suspense thriller, a missing anthropologist is given up for lost by his wife (Darien Takle) and twin brother Edward (John Bach), but his daughter (Emma Takle) is convinced something odd is involved in her father's disappearance. Events conspire to put the three people together on a manhunt for the anthropologist -- among a "lost" tribe in the southern part of New Zealand that is not going to cooperate in the trio's search. If the wife, daughter, and uncle are extremely lucky, everyone will be able to escape intact. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Harley Cokliss (second-unit director for The Empire Strikes Back) made his feature-film directing debut in this Mad Max-inspired action film. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic civilization carrying on after a war for oil has depleted the world's petroleum supplies. An outlaw army under the command of Straker (James Wainwright) controls a gigantic truck used as a weapon of pillage. However, Straker's daughter Corlie (Annie McEnroe) doesn't want to be a part of her father's evil designs. She runs away from her father and takes up with Hunter (Michael Beck), a reclusive biker. With Hunter, Annie settles in a peaceful community led by Rusty (John Ratzenberger). But it is only a matter of time before the Battletruck barrels into town, and the peace of the community is shattered. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

This innocuous New Zealand-filmed "road" movie is buoyed by engaging performances and superb cinematography. The protagonists are young friends Gerry (Kelly Johnson) and Shirl (Claire Oberman) and their much-older travelling companion John (Tony Barry). The trio steals a car and hits the road. With the law on their trail, our heroes (and heroine) still manage to experience a steady flow of picaresque adventures. The huge supporting cast seems to be comprised of friends and relatives of the cast and crew, all of whom seem to be enjoying themselves. Luckily, their enthusiasm is contagious. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi