Rockne S. O'Bannon Movies
When a series of cargo ships vanish into the open waters of the Bermuda Triangle, a team of determined specialists attempt to uncover the mystery of the planet's most perplexing phenomenon in Storm of the Century and Rose Red director Craig R. Baxley's spooky sci-fi miniseries. Billionaire Eric Benirall's (Sam Neill) ships have gone missing at an alarming rate, and it's high time to find out if there's a human factor behind the strange disappearances. With each surprising revelation the plot surrounding the Bermuda Triangle only seems to deepen, though, and as the bizarre stories about the cursed waters slowly begin adding up to a bigger picture, Benirall and his fearless crew are about to discover that the truth is most certainly always stranger than any work of fiction. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Stoltz, Sam Neill, (more)
The cult-favorite science fiction series Farscape comes to a close with this miniseries. The bloodthirsty Scarran Empire unexpectedly declares war against the Peacekeeper Alliance, and the Peacekeepers are forced to strike back with all they have. The Peacekeepers' last, best hope lies in astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder), an earthling who joined them when he was drawn into a wormhole in space. Can Crichton find a way to lead the Peacekeepers back through the same wormhole before they're destroyed by the Scarrans? Produced in part due to the volatile reaction from fans after Farscape was canceled with many plot threads left unresolved, Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars also features original cast members Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Jonathan Hardy, Paul Goddard, and Gigi Edgley. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Browder, Claudia Black, (more)
- 2002
In this second episode of the two-part story "Into the Lion's Den," Scorpius (Wayne Pygram) threatens to blow up the earth unless Crichton (Ben Browder) agrees to help him harvest some new wormhole research. When all other efforts to stymie the PeaceKeepers fail, Crichton rallies the crew in a desperate attempt to destroy the Command Carrier. But where do the fluctuating loyalties of Crais (Lani Tupu) lie in this present crisis? "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" first aired on April 19, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Crichton (Ben Browder) is not quite as dead as was previously assumed, but he may wish that he was after the crews of Moya and Talyn stage a tumultuous reunion. Meanwhile, a new group of escapees from the PeaceKeepers is shuttled on board. Unfortunately, one of the refugees may be a PeaceKeeper "mole" -- but is it the Scarran Naj Gil (Thomas Holesgrove), the Nebari Hubero (Kate Beahan), the female Hynerian Orrhn Pak, or the exiled PK technician Markir Tal (Matt Doran)? "Fractures" first aired on August 24, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The Retrieval Squad poses a new threat to the recuperating starship Talyn. Aeryn (Claudia Black) has a traumatic reunion with her supremely judgmental mother, Xhalax Sun (Linda Cropper). And Crichton (Ben Browder) and Crais (Lani Tupu) must rely on their wits -- and more problematically, on each other -- to survive a trek through a jungle planet. "Relativity" made its first American TV appearance on June 6, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Armed with new star charts from the botanist Br'nee (introduced in the previous episode "Bone to Be Wild"), Moya and her crew try to slip past the PeaceKeepers unnoticed, but to no avail. As Rygel (Jonathan Hardy) evinces a willingness to sell out his fellow crew members to regain his royal power, PK captain Crais (Lani Tupu) is ousted by his superiors and the hybrid Scorpius (Wayne Pygram) is installed in his place. Moya, her new infant starship, and the crew members (even the duplicitous Rygel) continue to formulate escape plans, but the situation remains unresolved by the end of the episode. First broadcast January 28, 2000, "Family Ties" served as the traditional cliffhanger ending for season one of Farscape. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Answering a distress call from a volatile asteroid field, Moya and her crew land on an unusually fertile world. Here they come across two residents with radically contradicting stories: M'Lee (Francesca Buller), who had sent the distress signal, claiming to have witnessed the massacre of her family, and botanist Br'nee (Marton Csokas), who insists that M'lee herself was responsible for the slaughter. Meanwhile, Aeryn bonds with Moya's "baby," an infant starship which may or may not align itself with the dreaded PeaceKeepers. "Bone to Be Wild" first aired on January 21, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
While testing an experimental spacecraft, Commander John Crichton (Ben Browder) is pulled through a wormhole and literally sucked into the middle of a raging conflict in another galaxy thousands of light years from earth. Ending up on Moya, a living starship designed to transport the alien prisoners of the mercenary human PeaceKeepers, Crichton is forced to join a crew comprised of prison escapees, including anarchistic Delvian princess Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan (Virginia Hey), hostile Luxan warrior Ka D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe), and exiled Hynerian despot Dominar Rygel XVI (Jonathan Hardy). Also on board Moya is renegade PeaceKeeper Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), who can no longer return to their own people. In hot pursuit of the escapees is PeaceKeeper Captain Bialar Crais (Lani Tupu), who also seeks vengeance against Crichton for inadvertently killing Crais' brother. With this 90-minute premiere episode, the weekly saga of Farscape began on March 19, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Rockne S. O'Bannon scripted this two-part TV miniseries adaptation of Peter Benchley's novel, found floating in the wake of his Jaws and The Beast. The origins of the tale's hybrid horror begin in 1972 at a secret Navy base off St. Lucia, where researchers cross a dolphin with a great white shark, creating a monster to generate fear and loathing in Vietnam. The Navy covers up the failed experiment, and 25 years later, cut to the Chase -- namely, scientist Simon Chase (Craig T. Nelson), who moves to the island to research a cancer-shark connection. Chase brings along his scientist ex-wife (Kim Cattrall), his 15-year-old son, Max (Matthew Carey), and their pet sea lion. Naturally, the "creature" resurfaces and gnaws on islanders -- with Chase soon in pursuit. Creature effects by Stan Winston. Filmed in St. Lucia, West Indies and Vancouver, British Columbia. Premiered May 17, 1998 on ABC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Craig T. Nelson, Kim Cattrall, (more)
- 1995
An angry swarm of African killer bees attacks the home of a California family causing untold horror and confusion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Nancy Stafford, (more)
- 1990
- R
Fear stars Ally Sheedy as a psychic who frequently helps the police track down criminals. This time, however, there's a serial killer at large who's a pretty efficient psychic in his own right. The story boils down to a battle of wills, and for while it looks as though the villain's will is the stronger of the two. Fear was tensely, tersely written and directed by Rockne O'Bannon, a veteran of the Twilight Zone TV-series revival of the 1980s, as well as the author of the screenplay for Alien Nation (1988). The star-studded supporting cast included Lauren Hutton, Michael O'Keefe, John Agar, Stan Shaw and Dina Merrill. Originally intended for theatrical release, Fear debuted July 15, 1990, over the Showtime Cable Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ally Sheedy, Lauren Hutton, (more)
In this vaguely allegorical science fiction-crime film, a Los Angeles cop tries to solve the murder of his best friend with the help of his new partner -- a member of a star-faring alien race. In the near-future world of Alien Nation, the "Newcomers" are a race of formerly enslaved humanoids seeking refuge and integration into Earth society. These unusual immigrants face anger and resentment from some humans, including Matthew Sykes (James Caan), a cop whose partner, Tug (Roger Aaron Brown), was killed in a shoot-out with several Newcomers. In order to get some insight into Newcomer society and track down the "slags" who killed Tug, Sykes volunteers to take on a new partner,Sam "George" Francisco (Mandy Patinkin), the first alien ever promoted to the rank of detective. As Sykes tries to overcome his bigotry against George and his kind, who eat raw beaver and get drunk on spoiled milk, the friendly, helpful George soon learns the identity of Tug's killer: William Harcort (Terrence Stamp), a pillar of Newcomer society who is secretly manufacturing the same powerful narcotic that was used to enslave his race. It's up to Sykes and George to stop Harcort before he turns his fellow Newcomers into drooling addicts and pulls the skeletons out of his race's closet for all of humankind to see. Omen 3 director Graham Baker made his screenwriting debut with Alien Nation, as did co-writer Rockne S. O'Bannon. Kenneth Johnson, creator of the miniseries V, would adapt Alien Nation into a weekly television show in 1989 and several made-for-TV movies in the mid-'90s. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Caan, Mandy Patinkin, (more)
