George Henare Movies
When a small boy is mythically delivered to a remote Polynesian island and named Tama, he's received with equal amounts of joy and fear -- the former from the island tribe's chief, the latter from the chief's wife, who notes that the new boy is taking favored status away from their own, biological son. Thus, Tama is ostracized and cast away from his beloved adoptive island, but makes it his goal in life to return to reclaim his true childhood love, Mahana. The Legend of Johnny Lingo was brought to the screen in part by producer John Garbett. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Henare, Rawiri Paratene, (more)
- 2002
As if audiences in mid-2002 weren't nervous enough about anticipated enemy attacks on America, this made-for-cable movie speculates on the disastrous possibilities of a tornado hitting a nuclear power plant. Racing against time, nuclear expert Corinne Maguire (Sharon Lawrence), sheriff C.B. Bishop (Corbin Bernsen) and deputy Jake Hannah (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) try to evacuate the locals and prevent the vaporization of Tennessee (if that power plant goes, "it'll make Chernobyl look like a firecracker"). Complicating matters is the fact that Sharon's 12-year-old Campbell (Daniel Costello) is nowhere to be found. Advertised on the strength of the presence of two NYPD Blue stars in the cast -- one former (Sharon Lawrence), one current (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) -- Atomic Twister made its TBS Superstation debut on June 9, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sharon Lawrence, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, (more)
- 1999
While the demonic Dahak (Michael Hurst) is temporarily rendered helpless by the Gem of Creation, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) feverishly tries to exorcise the soul of his departed friend Iolaus (also Michael Hurst). Meanwhile, god of war Ares (Kevin Smith), newly transformed into a powerless mortal, is being hotly pursued by Dahak's disciples. Suffice to say that the outcome of the story hinges on Ares' rescue -- by his two worst enemies, Hercules and Morrigan (Tamara Gorski). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1999
Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Nebula (Gina Torres) arrive in Corinth searching for the Gem of Creation. The gem has the power to hold the demonic Dahak (Michael Hurst) immobile from sunrise to sunset -- and this may be the only hope for releasing the soul of Hercules' deceased friend, Iolaus (also Michael Hurst), from the villain's grasp. Making Hercules' task all the more difficult is the fact that Dahak is passing himself off as the Messiah of Corinth and as such enjoys the full protection of the populace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1997
Shipwrecked in a melee with pirates, Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) are separated. Gabrielle is subsequently "rescued" by Cecrops (Tony Todd), the captain of a ship that has been doomed to travel the seas forever by Poseidion (Charles Siebert). Even though anyone on board Cecrops' ship is doomed to die if he or she attempts to leave, Xena is determined to rescue Gabrielle -- a determination leading to a harrowing encounter with the infamous whirlpool Caribdus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1994
- R
This is a historical melodrama set against the backdrop of Easter Island's mysterious stone monoliths, directed by Kevin Reynolds and produced by his frequent collaborator, Kevin Costner. Jason Scott Lee stars as Noro, a pre-colonial tribesman living on the remote Pacific island that his people call Rapa Nui. A member of the elite "Long Ears" sect, Noro is to represent his clan in an annual ritual, a dangerous race along rocky cliffs and through shark-infested waters to retrieve the first egg from a sacred bird hatchery that lies offshore. Noro, however, is in love with Ramana (Sandrine Holt), a member of the "Short Ears," a slave class that builds the "Moai," which are giant stone carvings dotting the island. The tribal shaman rules that Noro and Ramana may marry if she spends six months in an isolated cave and he wins the contest. Make (Esai Morales), another Short Ear, is a rival for Ramana and leader of unrest in his exploited caste. Make trains to represent the Short Ears against Noro in the race, but judgment in the contest's result is interrupted by the sudden appearance of an iceberg. Interpreted as an omen, the "white canoe of the gods" leads to a civil war. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Scott Lee, Esai Morales, (more)
This powerful drama was a major hit in its native New Zealand, outgrossing Jurassic Park in Kiwi cinemas. Jake and Beth Heke (Temurea Morrison and Rena Owen) are a couple of Maori descent who are living in a slum in Aukland. While it's obvious that they still love each other, Jake's alcoholism has driven a wedge into their relationship and has left their children emotionally scarred. Jake is charming while sober, but when drunk, he's a violent psychopath given to blink-of-an-eye mood changes and terrible cruelty against his loved ones. Liquor has also made it difficult for Jake to hold onto a job, leaving him dependent on the dole to feed his family. Nig (Julian Arahanga), Jake's oldest son, has turned his back on his father and joined a gang of Maori youths whose initiation rituals include tattooing and torture. Jake's 13-year-old daughter Grace (Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell) prefers to spend her time with her drug-addicted boyfriend -- rather than stay home and fight off the advances of her father's friends. And Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) ends up in juvenile hall when Jake's drinking prevents him from going to court to speak on Boogie's behalf. Once Were Warriors was based on an acclaimed novel by Alan Duff. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, (more)
- 1984
When a strange child turns up on a beach, he is taken in by Luisa (Pat Evison), one of the local villagers. Given the name Jonasi (Telo Malese), the boy is referred to as "the silent one" by the locals when it is discovered that he seems to be unable to hear or speak. Feared and shunned by the villagers, Jonasi spends his days on the beach, where he mysteriously appeared, playing with an albino sea turtle. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Telo Malese, Pat Evison, (more)
