Yvonne Lawley Movies
- 1999
Meg, the lusty lookalike of Warrior Princess Xena (both characters are, of course, played by Lucy Lawless), joins forces with Joxer (Ted Raimi) and Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) to steal a valuable item from under the noses of two corrupt regents. That item is the "key" that is said to lead to the crown of Athena. When the so-called key turns out to be a cute little baby, Meg suddenly feels very maternal. But before the episode ventures completely into Raising Arizona territory, the infant turns out to be something quite different than he appears to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1998
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Norse god Thor (Ben Reed) continue their uneasy alliance to prevent the death of Baldur (Rupert Cocks) -- thereby sparing the world from the horrors of Rangnarok (aka "The End of All Things"). Alas, Loki (Ian Hughes), Norse god of mischief, is determined to undermine our heroes' efforts. So when Loki locates Gilma's Horn, it begins to look as if Rangnarok will take place on schedule. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1998
In the first episode of a two-part story, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) is guided to Asgard by a disturbing dream. Upon his arrival, Hercules tangles with Norse god Thor (Ben Reed), who at first considers the Greek visitor as his enemy. Ultimately the two immortals combine their powers to prevent the death of Baldur (Rupert Cocks) and thereby avoid the prophecy that Asgard -- and the rest of the world -- will be plunged into Rangnarok (aka "The End of All Things"). Unfortunately, Norse god of mischief Loki (Ian Hughes) messes things up. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Ben Reed, (more)
- 1997
Season four of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys begins with an Olympian spin on a familiar fairy tale. Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and "King of Thieves" Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) climb up a familiar-looking beanstalk into the clouds, all for the objective of rescuing Leanna (Kerry Gallagher), caretaker of the three golden Harpie eggs. Leanna has been kidnapped by a surly giant named Typhoon (Glenn Shadix), but what follows isn't precisely according to the Storybooks -- especially when the eggs hatch yielding something slightly more terrifying than golden chickens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1994
In the third of five made-for-TV movies starring Kevin Sorbo as legendary superhero Hercules, the Earth is in danger of turning into a block of ice unless the fires of the world can be rekindled. This calamitous situation is the handiwork of Hercules' treacherous stepmother Hera, in whose immortal hands the Eternal Torch has been passed. To retrieve this valuable flame and save Mankind, Hercules must do battle with a giant, a duplicitous wood sprite and his own Olympian father Zeus (Anthony Quinn). Tawny Kitean is seen as the enigmatic Deianeira, a role played in earlier Hercules films by Renee O'Connor. Herclues and the Circle of Fire was syndicated in the United States beginning in November of 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Anthony Quinn, (more)
- 1992
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, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Carl Fitzgerald (Sam Neill) is a shy, unassertive man, given to following orders from anyone around him who will take the trouble to boss him about, starting with his nagging mother. In this story, he is very much down on his luck and is forced to take a job as dishwasher in a Greek restaurant in Brunswick, his rundown neighborhood in Melborne. There, he swifly is hauled off to bed by an assertive young waitress. While he is with the girl, he accidentally kills his co-worker, a hysterically abusive and drug-dealing Turk, He calls on his old friend Dave for help in disposing of the man's body. The best solution Dave can come up with is to dump the body in another person's grave, but he manages to boss Carl around a lot in the process. And even Dave's wife gives Carl what-for, lambasting him for his overall uselessness. Somehow, despite his passivity, Carl manages to seem like the ultimate victor in all these confrontations. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Neill, Zoe Carides, (more)
- 1990
Ruby (Yvonne Lawley) stubbornly lives in her own home, despite the efforts of her nephew to put her in an old-age home. Rata (Vanessa Rare) is a single mother, who stubbornly attempts to raise her wayward eight-year old boy by herself. When Rata moves into the basement apartment in Ruby's house, Ruby is prepared to leave it that way, until she discovers that the boy is shoplifting in the neighborhood. Considering that he is ill-brought up, she decides to take matters into her own hands. When the boy's mother comes looking for her child, the conflict that ensues leads to the formation of a really beneficial friendship. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvonne Lawley
- 1984
In this drama from New Zealand, Donough Rees plays Constance, a school teacher bored with routine of her daily life. Constance loves movies and sometimes escapes into a rich fantasy life where she's a world-famous screen star. Constance begins trying to bring a bit of the glamour and excitement of her favorite films into her daily life, and she starts acting like her favorite movie stars. However, her continued retreat into a fantasy world has tragic consequences in real life. Constance was the debut feature for writer/director Bruce Morrison. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donough Rees, Shane Briant, (more)
- 1983
A young New Zealand boy comes to grips with the harsh realities of adult life in this subpar drama adapted from a novel by Maurice Shadbolt. Nick Flinders (Paul O'Shea) is a teenager trying to adjust to life and his parents' unusual devotion to religion when he goes out hiking with his best friend, and the friend dies in an accident on the trip. Overwhelmed by guilt, Nick leaves home to spend time with his grandparents -- but then tragedy strikes again. Encumbered by stilted, unnatural dialogue and acting (with the exception of the grandfather), Among the Cinders burns out after the first few scenes. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul O'Shea
- 1982
- PG
This gothic hillbilly horror thriller was produced in New Zealand and centers around a small rural town, circa 1953, where unusual events lead a teenager to cross paths with a serial killer. Ned (Jonathan Smith) and his pal Les (Daniel McLaren) are a pair of teens in trouble with local bullies after they steal some prize chickens. Their troubles are compounded by the arrival of a carnival, employing the sinister Salter (John Carradine), an evil magician and sideshow hypnotist. The presence of Salter seems to bring out the worst in the local citizenry, inspiring nascent lust and perversion to surface in disturbing ways, much of which is centered on Ned's nubile sister Prudence (Tracy Mann). When a girl is slain in the woods, the trial leads to Salter, who is not only guilty of the crime, but of many more. The Scarecrow (1982), based on the novel of the same name by Ronald Hugh Morrieson, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was the feature debut of co-writer and director Sam Pillsbury, who went on to direct numerous television movies and series episodes in the U.S. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Smith, Daniel McLaren, (more)
