Latham Gaines Movies
From the producers of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and the mind of author Katherine Paterson comes a rousing fantasy adventure about family, friendship, and the wondrous power of imagination. A perpetual outsider both at home and at school, Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) just never seems to fit in no matter how hard he tries. When his goal to become the fastest runner in middle school is unexpectedly thwarted by newly arrived classmate Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), who enters in an "all boys" race and leaves her competitors in the dust, Jess soon strikes up a friendship with the imaginative outsider. Their bond is soon cemented thanks to Leslie's love for storytelling and Jess' skill as an artist, and the two lonely kids create a secret kingdom called Terabithia that is only accessible by swinging over a stream on a nearby rope. Though Jess and Leslie may be considered outcasts by their classmates, their adventures in Terabithia find the pair doing battle against the dreaded Dark Master and his malevolent creatures while plotting revenge against the schoolyard bullies. Now, thanks to his adventures in Terabithia and his friendship with Leslie, Jess finally finds the confidence needed to stand tall and be himself. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, (more)
- 2004
Before synopsizing the made-for-TV romantic comedy Raising Waylon, it is essential to point out that hero Reg (Thomas Gibson) is a blue-collar bar owner who prefers to date models; that heroine Julia (Poppy Montgomery) is a globetrotting photographer who likes to go out with rock stars; and that, except for only one blind date, Red and Julia are not now and never have been "a couple." All this changes when the parents of 9-year-old Waylon (Jeremy Bergman) are killed in a car accident. It seems that Waylon's parents had arranged that blind date for Reg and Julia, had assumed that the two were "made for each other",and had arranged for them to be Waylon's godparents. According to the terms of the deceased couple's will, Waylon is to be raised by Reg and Julia, with the boy's elderly but peppery Great Aunt Marie (Doris Roberts) allowed to drop in from time to time to dispense advice. Since Reg and Julia don't get along too well, they do their best to alternate looking after Waylon, even though it forces them to reluctantly rearrange their busy schedules. Soooooo. . ..how long will it be before hero and heroine finally realize what Waylon's parents knew all along: That they were, indeed, Made For Each Other? Raising Waylon premiered February 22, 2004 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The first in a series of "true crime" cable-TV films based on the writings of Dominick Dunne, Murder in Greenwich retraces the brutal bludgeoning murder of Martha Moxley, a Greenwich, Connecticut high school girl, in 1975. Although the prime suspect is Martha's teenaged neighbor Michael Skakel (Jon Foster), the boy is able to evade arrest for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the fact that he is related to the politically "untouchable" Kennedy family. Over two decades later, the case is re-opened at the urging of former police detectitve Mark Fuhrman (Christopher Meloni), whose recent association with the O.J. Simpson trial has branded him a racist pariah. Despite his tarnished reputation, Fuhrman is able to enlist the aid of another detective, Steve Carroll (Robert Forster), the original investigator of the Moxley murder. Although Fuhrman and Carroll are clearly never going to be the best of friends, their combined efforts ultimately bring the elusive (and now adult) Michael Skakel to justice. Not surprisingly, the real Mark Fuhrman was one of the producers of Murder in Greenwich, which made its USA Network debut on November 15, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Meloni, Robert Forster, (more)
- 2001
While returning the Helmet of Hermes to the King of Thebes, Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) pause long enough to prevent a human sacrifice. The rescued victim is Genia (Katie Stuart), a virgin who was to have given up her life to protect her people from the wrath of a warlord. Determined to be sacrificed for the "greater good," Genia refuses to listen to the life-affirming words of Xena and Gabrielle -- and disaster ensues. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 2000
In the second of the series' musical episodes, Xena (Lucy Lawless) tries to negotiate a truce between the Amazons and the warlord Draco (Jay Lagai'aia). To that end, she proposes a Battle of the Bands, with songs rather than swords used to determine the outcome. Meanwhile, Xena's mom, Cyrene (Darien Takle), gets the matchmaking urge, and Joxer (Ted Raimi) again crosses paths with his disreputable brother, Jace. Highlights include a group of archaic villagers singing "The Telephone Hour" from Bye Bye Birdie and Xena's down-and-dirty lyre rendition of her TV series' theme song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Attending a reunion of Jason's Argonauts in Corinth, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) discover, to their dismay, that the once mighty King Jason (Jeffrey Thomas), devastated by the bloody unpleasantness involving his bride Medea and their children, has become a dissolute drunkard. Worse still, the Blood-Eyes, a Hera-worshipping cult, have stolen the precious Golden Fleece. With Hercules' encouragement, Jason and the Argonauts set sail again to retrieve the Fleece and restore Jason's self-respect -- and along the way they encounter a familiar-looking band of skeleton warriors. (It is not for nothing that this episode is dedicated to movie special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1996
Lucy Lawless appears in the dual role of Xena and her lookalike, Princess Diana, the daughter of King Lias (Norman Forsey). In a situation worthy of The Prisoner of Zenda, Xena endeavors to protect Diana from assassins by taking her place en route to a royal wedding. Meanwhile, Diana, posing as Xena, causes all sorts of confusion for poor Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
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
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1995
Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) rescue an abandoned baby who has been left to drown in a river. The infant is being hunted by the cruel King Gregor (Edward Newborn), out of fear of prophecies that the child will ultimately topple him from his throne. As if doing battle with Gregor isn't hard enough, Xena and Gabrielle must also help the granddaughter (Mary Elizabeth McGlynn) of the infamous Pandora, who must retrieve the equally infamous Pandora's Box, lest it be allowed to unleash havoc upon the world all over again. This is the first Xena episode to close with one of series' trademarked tongue-in-cheek "disclaimers." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
