Michael Hurst Movies

Although the ride is bumpy in places, there's an exciting journey offered by John Laing's fast-paced thriller. Three orphans have been best friends since their they were children; now they have decided to end their poverty-stricken existence by murdering an American drug courier in Auckland and then flying to Geneva to withdraw $5 million from his Swiss bank account. Richer but on very dangerous ground, the trio of thieves find themselves on the lead drug dealer's most wanted list. To make matters a bit more complex, one of the grown-up orphans falls in love with the ex-wife of the drug ring's head honcho. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Taking place in 19th-century New Zealand, this over-the-top melodrama stars Kevin Smith as Lawrence Hayes, who is spotted by the beautiful but reserved Dorothea Brook (Jennifer Ward-Lealand). She asks Lawrence to do her a favor and marry her sister Rose in order to keep Rose away from her drug-dealing boyfriend, Fraser (Cliff Curtis). In return, Dorothea agrees to remunerate Lawrence for his time by giving him a tract of land of his own. But, along with the land, Lawrence also desires Dorothea. Unfortunately, Dorothea refuses to let go of her girlfriend Anne (Lisa Chappell). The plot further thickens when it turns out that Dorothea is also engaged to marry political boss William Poyser (Michael Hurst).To solve all these problematic relationships, desperate remedies are indeed required, and Lawrence is ready to provide the solution. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

In the last of five made-for-TV movies starring Kevin Sorbo as legendary superhero Hercules, the title character has settled down in a peaceful existence as a farmer with his beloved mortal family. Though Hercules tries hard to teach his children nonviolence, his mighty strength must come back into play when a disgruntled Minotaur begins kidnapping the local citizenry. In his efforts to defeat the monster, Hercules is reunited with his old friends Iolaus (Michael Hurst) and Deianeira (Tawny Kitaen). It ultimately falls to Hercules' Olympian father, Zeus (Anthony Quinn), to prove that the misunderstood Minotaur is not so much a villain as a victim of low self esteem. Many of the action highlights are lifted from Sorbo's four previous Hercules films. Syndicated in the U.S. beginning in late November, 1994, Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur served as the pilot for the weekly series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While en route to a Winter Solstice festival, Iolaus (Michael Hurst) experiences a dream that inspires him to travel northward following a star to witness an important event. He is soon joined by other pilgrims who have shared the same dream and are following the same star. Meanwhile, King Polonius (Edward Newborn) and Queen Maliphone (Denise O'Connell), worried about predictions that their unborn child will not ascend to their throne, begin rounding up all the male children in their kingdom for homicidal purposes. Inevitably, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) becomes involved in this intrigue -- and with equal inevitability, the story concludes in a stable (yes, that stable). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's Strictly Ballroom Olympian style when Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) enters the annual Panathea dance contest with the klutzy Althea (Willa O'Neill). In order to best her beautiful, snobbish lifelong rival Ocea (Jay Saussey), Althea takes dance lessons from flamboyant instructor Widow Twankey (played by "Edith Sidebottom" -- actually, series regular Kevin Hurst [Iolaus] in drag!) With Onea's evil town magistrate, uncle Asterius (Stuart Devenie), willing to kill any competitors of his darling niece, Hercules and Althea are obliged to literally dance for their lives. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, the evil Callisto (Hudson Leick) has traveled back in time to prevent the birth of Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) by murdering the hero's future mother Alcmene (Kim Michalis). To prevent this, Hercules' friend Iolaus (Michael Hurst) likewise ventures "forward into the past." Meanwhile, Hercules and his despotic parallel-dimension lookalike, the Sovereign (also Kevin Sorbo), are trapped in the netherworld. Even if Hercules manages to escape, how will he bring Iolaus back to the present? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The sixth and final season of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys begins as female criminal Arciana (Katie Holmes) breaks out of prison in search of the all-powerful Sword of Hera. Arciana is inexorably linked to the demon Xerxos (Jeremy Roberts), who long ago murdered the family of Hercules' friend and traveling companion Iolaus (Michael Hurst). In their efforts to track down Arciana, Iolaus and especially Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) face an additional challenge in the form of the sinister lookalike of Hercules' lost love Serena (Sam Sorbo). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) saves the life of Typhon (Glenn Shadix), a gentle and somewhat clutzy giant. Alas, it turns out that Typhon is the husband of Echidna (Bridget Hoffman), Mother of All Monsters, with whom Hercules clashed in a memorable early episode. Will Typhon's benign nature turn malevolent when he discovers that it was Hercules who sealed Echidna deep within the bowels of her own cave? And how has Echidna herself been affected by her entombment? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The demonic Dahak (Michael Hurst) invades Eire and slays all the island's Druids. Managing to escape this carnage, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Druidic demigod Morrigan (Tamara Gorski) head to Sumeria, following Hercules' premonition that Princess Nebula (Gina Torres) is in great danger. Upon arrival, Hercules is astonished to find that his deceased friend Iolaus has returned to life -- but this is merely an illusion orchestrated by Dahak. The climax finds Hercules making two momentous decisions that will affect both his future and the future of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Devastated by the death of Iolaus (Michael Hurst), Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) desperately tries to retrieve his friend from the Sumerian underworld. This brings him in contact with "soul collector" Dumuzi (Antonio Te Maioha) and also strengthens his bond with Iolaus' sweetheart, Sumerian princess Nebula (Gina Torres). Ultimately, Hercules turns his back on Greece, opting to wander the Earth in hopes of assuaging his grief and disillusionment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a three-part story, Prince Nestor (Steve Hall) schemes to kill Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) with an arrow dipped in the blood of the Golden Hind, a half-woman, half-deer who also goes by the name of the demigod Serena (Sam Jenkins). Nestor also intends to increase his power by appropriating the Hind's horns and hooves. War god Ares (Kevin Smith) conspires to aid Nestor in his sinister mission -- but unexpected circumstances alter the outcome. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To punish Arges and his brothers for their rebellious ways, Zeus transforms their eyes into stone, which causes anyone who comes in contact with them to literally fade from existence. Unfortunately, Zeus' own son Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) has the misfortune to touch the Rock of Arges, and before long, he has been rendered invisible. In this transparent state, Hercules is vulnerable to the taunts of Ares (Kevin Smith), Deimos (Joel Tobeck), and Discord (Meighan Desmond) -- but with would-be hero Iolaus II (Michael Hurst) on hand, things may take a turn for the better. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide