Patrick Wilson Movies
Not to be confused with the Broadway performer and star of such films as Hard Candy and The Phantom of the Opera, prolific television actor Patrick Wilson first caught the attention of television viewers with bit roles in such wildly popular fantasy series' as Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. While occasional film roles in such features as Broken English, Savage Honeymoon, and the made-for-television Dudley Moore/Peter Cook biopic Not Only But Always found Wilson smoothly transitioning from the familiar television format, later roles in a pair of Power Rangers spin-offs and the popular New Zealand television fantasy series Maddigan's Quest hinted that Wilson was more comfortable working in serial fantasy. One of Wilson's most regular roles was a continuing appearance as Eric Whitelaw in the rural New Zealand medical drama Mercy Peak. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 1999
Iolaus II (Michael Hurst) offers to wed the mermaid-turned-human Nautica (Angela Dorian) to save her from marrying the evil Lysaka (Patrick Wilson), who has stolen the powerful trident belonging to Nautica's immortal father Triton (Bruce Hopkins). Meanwhile, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) is reunited with his former love, Serena (played by Sorbo's real-life wife Sam Sorbo), whose previous relationship with our hero has been inexorably altered by the events in the third-season episode "End of the Beginning." Hercules agrees to save the life of Serena's husband -- but this requires him to first come to the aid of Triton and Nautica. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1998
In present-day Hollywood, the staff of Renaissance Productions, the people responsible for the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, are in a panic. An earthquake has struck Tinseltown, and the series' titular star, Kevin Sorbo, is missing. In order to save their jobs, the series' producers and writers (all of whom bear startling resemblances to other Hercules characters) are forced to audition new actors for the role of Hercules -- and failing that, they desperately improvise new "Hercules-less" story concepts. The tension results in open hostility amongst the staffers -- much to the delight of perennial Hercules villains Ares (Kevin Smith) and Strife (Joel Tobeck), who behave as if they're responsible for the whole mess. Fortunately, salvation is at hand in the form of...well, best not give too much of the story away. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1997
In a story set during the French revolution, crooked Count François Demarigny, who looks a lot like ancient peddler Salmoneus (as well he should, since he is played by Robert Trebor all the same), poses as a dashing bandit called the "Chartreuse Fox" in order to rob the rich and give to himself. The count's intended victim is Marie de Valle (Danielle Cormack), who turns out to be the real Chartreuse Fox. When Marie is captured and sentenced to the guillotine, the count's henchmen -- Robert (Kevin Sorbo) and Jean-Pierre (Michael Hurst), suddenly electing to pattern themselves after their archaic lookalikes Hercules and Iolaus -- vow to rescue the heroine and dedicate their lives to fighting for the rights of the downtrodden. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1996
Deon (David Drew Gallagher), son of love goddess Aphrodite, awakens one morning to find that he wields awesome powers. This metamorphosis is a gift from his father Jacobus (Bruce Phillips), who conceived Deon during a one-night stand with Aphrodite. Disliking and disrespecting Jacobus, Deon foolishly elects to use his powers to benefit his Uncle Karis (Grant Bridger) -- all the while refusing to accept the fact that Karis is a bandit. It is up to Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) to battle Deon's "gift" and bring the boy to his senses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Robert Trebor, (more)
- 1996
- R
Along with Once Were Warriors, Broken English effectively captures contemporary New Zealand as a society in transition. Broken English dramatizes how the effect of immigration to the cities of New Zealand by both its native peoples, the Maoris, and Europeans seeking refuge from political persecution has not produced a harmonious melting pot. Ivan (Rade Serbedzija) is an embittered Croatian who fled to his wife's native Aukland when war broke out in Bosnia. Brooding over TV news reports on what is happening to his homeland (and displaying more than a little guilt over his flight from there), Ivan lashes out at anyone outside of his insulated Croatian community, including his gentle Maori neighbors. His drug-running business allows him a comfortable lifestyle, but he's still irritated that his young adult daughters won't mind him. The eldest, Nina (Aleksandra Vujcic), is a waitress who takes up with a colleague, a Maori cook named Eddie (Julian "Sonny" Arahanga, who also appeared in Once Were Warriors), in part because he's attractive but also to tweak her father. Complicating matters is an arranged marriage Nina has agreed to with a Chinese immigrant colleague at the restaurant; he's willing to pay her 16,000 dollars just to make his residency legal, so he can be with his girlfriend, Clara. Originally rated NC-17 for an energetic but hardly explicit sex scene between Nina and Eddie, the film was later edited to earn an "R" rating. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aleksandra Vujcic, Rade Serbedzija, (more)
- 1995
After five made-for-TV feature films designed to establish the principal character and his surroundings, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) was awarded his own weekly, syndicated series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. In the opening episode, Hercules' wife and children are consumed in a ball of flame -- and it is all the handiwork of his treacherous stepmother, the goddess Hera. Renouncing his father Zeus for allowing such a tragedy to occur, the embittered Hercules embarks upon a campaign of destruction and vengeance. He is ultimately restored to his proper path in life after rescuing the lovely Aegina (Clare Carey) from a human sacrifice -- and after endeavoring to save his friend Iolaus (Michael Hurst), who had been turned to stone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1995
In the debut episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, the title character, played by Lucy Lawless, has forsaken her former evil ways and has committed herself to burying the past and protecting the innocent. The first task for the "reformed" Xena is to rescue a group of village girls from the minions of the warlord Draco (Jay Laga'aia). Among the damsels in distress is young Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), who latches onto Xena in hopes of finding adventure and excitement. Meanwhile, Xena must face the triple threat of Draco, a disgruntled Cyclops (Patrick Wilson), and a spell of really bad weather. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1995
Lucy Lawless, previously seen on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as the duplicitous Lyla, makes her first appearance as fierce and fearsome warrior princess Xena. Determined to gain full control of the land of Arcadia, Xena realizes that she must first kill Hercules (Kevin Sorbo). Posing as a damsel in distress, she lures Hercules' friend Iolaus (Kevin Hurst) into a trap, the better to lure our hero out in the open. The climactic confrontation between Hercules and Xena is capped by a deadly promise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1994
The second of five made-for-TV movies starring Kevin Sorbo as legendary muscleman Hercules, this one pits the title character against his most fearsome enemy--his own immortal stepmother, Hera. Using a number of disguises, the villainess does her best (or worst) to thwart Hercules in his search for the lost city of Troy. Before long, it is apparent that our hero is surrounded by nothing but enemies, save for the beautiful and mysterious Deineira (played by future Xena: Warrior Princess regular Renee O'Connor)--but can even she be trusted? Anthony Quinn is seen as Hercule's Olympian father Zeus. Hercules and the Lost Kingdom was syndicated in the US beginning in early May of 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Anthony Quinn, (more)
