Jeffrey Thomas Movies

As indicated by its title, this episode is a partial homage to Casablanca, especially the scenes wherein Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Morrigan (Tamara Gorski) lose their chance for romance during a lengthy flashback. The substance of the story, however, involves the Oracle of Cyprus (Alison Quigan), who has gloomily predicted her own death. Setting the tale in motion is the sudden appearance of a young woman named Havisha (Simone Kessell), who has apparently been revived from the dead for the express purpose of committing murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Nebula (Gina Torres) arrive in Corinth searching for the Gem of Creation. The gem has the power to hold the demonic Dahak (Michael Hurst) immobile from sunrise to sunset -- and this may be the only hope for releasing the soul of Hercules' deceased friend, Iolaus (also Michael Hurst), from the villain's grasp. Making Hercules' task all the more difficult is the fact that Dahak is passing himself off as the Messiah of Corinth and as such enjoys the full protection of the populace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this follow-up to the previous episode "Top God," Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) accepts the offer of his father, Zeus (Roy Dotrice), to serve as a full god on Mount Olympus. The honor tarnishes when Hercules finds out the real reason Zeus' offer was extended: As his first assignment, Hercules is expected to thwart a power play spearheaded by the evil Ares (Kevin Smith) and Hera (Meg Foster). Along the way, Hera blackmails Zeus into relinquishing his throne, affording him a rare and tantalizing opportunity to experience life as mortal. In the climax of this, the fourth-season finale of Hercules the Legendary Journeys, Hercules engages in a violent, winner-take-all battle with Hera and his half-brother, Apollo (Scott Michaelsen), in the Dark Side of Olympus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As his mother Alcmerne (Liddy Holloway) lies dying, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) mournfully recalls his first taste of war. In a lengthy flashback, Young Hercules (Ian Bohen) and his equally youthful friends, Iolaus (Dean O'Gorman) and Jason (Chris Conrad), eagerly align themselves with King Eteocles (Ray Woolf) to ward off King Stavros' (Martin Baynton) Parthenon invaders. Can it be that all this bloodshed has no purpose, or will something good emerge from the carnage after all? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode flashes back to the days of the younger Hercules, Iolaus, and Jason, played respectively by Ian Bohen, Dean O'Gorman and Chris Conrad. The three youthful Argonauts embark upon a mission to fight the Ghidra, the fearsome two-headed "pet" of Hera. Friction develops amongst the trio when the beauteous Medea (Jacinda Barrett) comes along for the ride; Jason is smitten by Medea, but her heart belongs to Hercules. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While arranging a surprise birthday party for Hercules (Kevin Sorbo), our hero's mother and several of his friends are served poisoned punch by the scheming Callisto (Hudson Leick in her first series appearance), acting on orders from Hera. To save his loved ones, Hercules must join Callisto on a journey into the Labyrinth of the Gods to locate an antidote in the Tree of Love. The mission becomes near-impossible when Callisto suddenly achieves immortality and engages Hercules in a fierce and deadly battle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally presented to an unsuspecting New Zealand public as the real deal, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson's masterful mocumentary initially proved so convincing that unsuspecting viewers bought it hook, line, and sinker. A remarkably detailed look at the life of early filmmaker Colin McKenzie (Thomas Robins), the film traces the life of the young innovator as he makes incredible advances in the realm of cinema years before they are generally though to have occurred. From McKenzie's creation of the first "talkie" in 1908 (the first true sound feature is generally considered to be 1927's The Jazz Singer) to his creation of the first color film three short years later (which is generally considered to be 1922's The Toll of the Sea), the discovery of the remarkable advances made by him would forever change the face of film history. With Jackson himself providing commentary on the importance of the recent "discovery" of McKenzie's lost epic Salome -- which was preserved in a garden shed for nearly a century -- the significance of this "lost film" is further cemented by interviews with such notable film figures as Miramax's Harvey Weinstein and film critic Leonard Maltin. As McKenzie's rise and eventual downfall is documented through the use of newspaper articles, still images, and rare behind-the-scenes footage of Salome, the viewer is drawn into a remarkably staged ruse that is so effectively executed that it even includes interviews with McKenzie's "wife," Hannah (Beatrice Ashton). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Iolaus (Michael Hurst) thought that his problems with the beautiful but deadly Enforcer (Karen Sheperd) were over when she was killed and carted off to the Other World. Now, however, he must contend with Enforcer II (Cynthia Rothrock) -- whose essence is fire, and thus is twice as dangerous as her water-essenced predecessor. So powerful is the "new" Enforcer that Iolaus is actually killed, but not before warning his friend Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) of the new threat to humanity. Hades (Erik Thomson), king of the Other World, dispatches the original Enforcer to help Hercules polish off her successor...but how can this bring Iolaus back to life? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Xena (Lucy Lawless) is befriended by young hothead Darius (Nick Kokotakis), whose village has been plundered by a father-and-son team of warlords. Things apparently take a turn for the better when the warrior son calls a peace conference, but it turns out to be a ruse, merely to bide time while the warlords' soldiers prepare to kill everyone in the village. In the ensuing tumult, Xena is seriously wounded. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A Canadian-Australian co-production, the 20-episode adventure series Gold was set in New Zealand during that country's "gold rush" in the 1860s. The central character was Johnny Rogan (Yannick Bisson), an 18-year-old Canadian who accompanied his older brother to the Land Down Under in hopes of striking it rich. After his brother's death, Johnny pitched camp in the town of Dunstan, entering into a partnership with rogueish prospector Henry Garrick (Andy Anderson) and finding time to squire the local pubkeeper's daughter, Lily Owens (Lucy Bayler). Originally shown on Canadian TV through the auspices of Alliance Atlantis, Gold was later released to video in "feature film" form, with selected half-hour episodes stitched together and rechristened with such titles as Gold: A Fistful of Gold, Gold: The Merchants of Venus, and Gold: The World's a Play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Divorce lawyer Danny De Vito warns his prospective client that the story he's about to tell isn't a pretty one, but the client listens with eager intensity -- as do the folks out there in the movie in the audience. The War of the Roses can best be described as a slapstick tragedy concerning the decline and literal fall of a marriage. After 17 years, Oliver (Michael Douglas) and Barbara (Kathleen Turner) Rose want a divorce. Not for this couple is there anything resembling a "civilized understanding": Barbara wants their opulent house, and Oliver isn't about to part with the domicile. Barbara nails the basement door shut while Oliver is downstairs, Oliver disrupts Barbara's fancy party by taking aim at the catered dinner, Barbara lays waste to Oliver's sports car....and so it goes, culminating in a disastrous showdown around, about and under the living room's fancy chandelier. DeVito and screenwriter Michael Leeson never let us forget that the couple's self-indulgent imbroglio exacts an awful price upon their children (Sean Astin and Heather Fairfield). The War of the Roses was adapted from the novel by Warren Adler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide