Television Tuesday - Hercules and the Lost Kingdom

This is the second of the tele-films that preceded the syndicated show. With the bulk of the recurring characters established in the previous film this one moves directly into the story.

It begins with a group of men walking beside a river, they stop for a drink and one of their number is pulled under by a Sylph. The remaining men escape. Meanwhile a young girl is gathering water when she finds evidence of a Giant. She runs back to town with the Giant hot on her heals. In town the giant rips the roof off a tavern. A Tavern that Hercules happens to be residing in. The giant is defeated just in time for the men from earlier to approach Hercules and tell him their story. They are escapees from the Lost city of Troy, and need Hercules's help.

Zeus (again played by Anthony Quinn) appears and beseeches Hercules not to try to find this lost city. He wants him to try and get back in Hera's good graces. Troy happens to be a City which displeased Hera and so she has put a curse upon it. The remaining movie is about this quest, and about Hercules's complicated relation with his step mother Hera. It also introduces a new character who will become a regular. Deianeira, played by Renee O'Conner (who along with the first movie's Lucy Lawless, would go on to star in the Spin Off series, Xena) By the end of the movie she will become the Queen of the restored city of Troy. We see Hercules approached at the end by another man who needs his help, and the two walk off to begin the next adventure.

Over all the movie was not as good as the previous one. It dosen't feature Iaolus so thats a mark against it. It's missing much of the humourous banter. Over all it would have probably been just fine as a 40 minute episode, but was a bit too weak to make a good movie.

Television Tuesday - Hercules and the Amazon Women.

I've decided since I can, and haven't watched all the episodes, that I'll be reviewing the whole series starting with the movies.

Back before the TV series started, they made several Tele-films with the same cast that would eventually go on to star in the series. They are notable for starring Anthony Quinn as Zeus, but otherwise mostly forgettable. They are also notable for being the source of much of the footage used in the opening sequence of the TV series.

Right from the start you can tell its got a low budget, not as low a budget as Conan the Adventurer, but not as good as the later seasons of Hercules and Xena.

We are sort of thrown right into the middle of things, A fellow is getting married and Hercules is to be his best man. This fellow is Iolaus, a long time companion of the half god. He's also portrayed by a much better actor than Kevin Sorbo. He's marrying a woman for some reason he can't quite pin down, and paid a lot for her dowry to boot. She can't cook, dosen't clean, but she is pretty to look at. Sometimes looks is enough.

They go to visit Herc's mother, Alcmene. On their way there they come across a little girl crying. She half tells them a sob story about her dad getting eaten by a monster. Just as they are fixing to fall for her ruse she turns into a Hydra. After battling this beast, clearly put their by Hera, who is out to complicate Herc's life, the two continue on their way to Alcmene's house. While they are there, Zeus pays a visit and tries to help Hercules understand some things.

They head back to town, where Hercules has supper at Ioalus's house. As was told, the wife to be dosen't exactly know how to cook, so its an interesting meal. Before they can tie the knot however, a representative from a village comprised entirely of men comes to seek Hercules's aid. It seems their women have grown tired of them being lay-a-bouts and have run off to found their own village and alligned themselves with Hera.

All manner of adventures ensue, Lots of poorly rendered (by 2011 standards anyway) CGI monsters are slain, and in the end the wedding is still no closer. Seriously, it ends before the wedding. But the show is as I remembered it packed with humour. It's campy but seems to be totally aware of its camp and revels in it. Even though he didn't actually have anything to do with this first movie, It's extremely Sam Raimi..