Ron Smerczak Movies

Filmed in South Africa, this lengthy biographical drama details events in the life of 19th-century British imperialist Cecil Rhodes (Martin Shaw) through an extensive series of overlapping flashbacks. The BBC original ran for eight hours, but for telecasting in the United States, the BBC edited the film down to six hours. The U.S. premiere was on PBS' Masterpiece Theater on January 4-6, 1998. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a South African exile returns to his homeland to find that justice hasn't brought peace. Vusi Madlazi (Ice Cube) is a student and political activist living in San Francisco; he was born in South Africa, but his connection to anti-apartheid rebels made his family fear for his life, so he was sent to the United States, where he's been ever since. When he attends his father's funeral, Vusi visits South Africa for the first time since the fall of apartheid and Nelson Mandela's rise to power. However, he discovers that not all the changes in his country have been for the better; drugs and gang violence have begun to overtake Soweto, and his older brother, once a dedicated anti-apartheid activist, isn't sure what to do with his life now that the changes he fought for have come. Vusi's mother asks a favor before he returns to America; his younger brother Steven (Eric Miyeni) has run away, and she wants Vusi to look for him. While searching for Steven, Vusi meets his brother's girlfriend Karin (Elizabeth Hurley), who works as an exotic dancer. It turns out that both Karin and Steven have become addicted to crack, and Steven's disappearance is probably linked to a $15,000 debt he owes to crime kingpin Muki (Ving Rhames). Director Darrell J. Roodt's previous film was Cry the Beloved Country (1995), the first major film produced in South Africa after the collapse of apartheid. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This British drama tells the story of a soldier who escaped captivity after a mission gone-awry. Paul McGann plays Corporal Chris Ryan, one soldier in a crew sent on a mission to destroy SCUD missiles after Saddam Hussein threatened Israel. Ryan's team was attacked, leaving several dead and the rest in captivity. Ryan was the only one to escape -- and recount the tale. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

Burly British actor John Rhys-Davies forsakes the good-guy motions he'd gone through in Raiders of the Lost Ark and TV's The Untouchables to play the villain in 1993's Cyborg Cop. If you've guessed that this is Robocop redux, you're on the money. The title character has been converted from man to machine on a remote Caribbean island. Unfortunately, Cyborg Cop is as evil as his mentor (Rhys-Davies), so it's up to the mechanical man's DEA-agent brother to straighten him out. Lovely scenery, some exciting scenes, lots of grade-A ham from the redoubtable Rhys-Davies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

American Eagle deals with three Vietnam survivors, particularly one who carries a grudge against his war buddies after they stop him from a wanton killing of a Vietnamese civilian. The film delves into the post-Vietnam decades that finds two of the vets unable to leave the violent wartime behind them as they join mercenary efforts around the globe. Eventually one tries to change his ways but runs into a (U.S.) government that won't let him stop the killing. ~ All Movie Guide

This thriller has a strong anti-nuclear message. It is set in Thorpeville, a Southern town that has an abandoned nuclear-power plant and chronicles a bizarre series of rapes and murders. What is most puzzling is that each of the female victims are found to be radioactive. Investigating the strange killings are sheriff Jake Stern, pathologist Doc Roberts, slightly crazed Vietnam vet Freddie, and a clever reporter Patti Smart. They eventually deduce that the killer is some sort of nuclear mutant and their prime suspect is James Manners, the man who designed the faulty reactor. All of the investigators soon find themselves entangled in a complex conspiracy/cover-up that culminates in an explosive finale. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

When it first came out, this erotic thriller was billed as the first adult film in South Africa. Set in Los Angeles, the story centers upon Brent Huff, a hard-boiled detective takes a case that takes him to the Bahamas where he gets involved with a seductive Beverly Hills vamp and unsuccessfully tries to make their nights as steamy as they are hot. Unfortunately for him, she is still grieving over the death of her husband and does not accept him as her lover until they return to LA. It is there he finds out that a greedy killer is willing to do just about anything to get his hand on her late husband's fortune. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this British exploitation film, an elderly husband and wife begin torturing young women whose behavior offends their puritan sensibilities. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide