Hercules
Tags: murder

Plot synopsis:
Hercules is the leader of a band of mercenaries composed of the spear-wielding prophet Amphiaraus of Argos, the knife-throwing thief Autolycus of Sparta, the feral warrior Tydeus of Thebes, the Amazon archer Atalanta of Scythia and his nephew storyteller Iolaus of Athens. Hercules is said to be the demigod son of Zeus, who completed the legendary Twelve Labors, only to be betrayed by Hera who drove him insane and caused him to murder his wife Megara and their children during a visit to King Eurystheus. Throughout the film, it is not clearly established that Hercules is truly the son of Zeus, and many are skeptical of the claim as well as of the stories of Hercules' famous Twelve Labors. Despite this, Hercules displays unusual strength and nigh-unmatched skill in combat. Hercules is frequently haunted by the memory of the deaths of his wife and children by his hand, as well as visions of Cerberus.
After finishing a recent mission and saving his nephew on the Macedonian Coast in Northern Greece in 358 BC, Hercules and his team are celebrating and drinking at a tavern when they are approached by Ergenia on behalf of her father Lord Cotys who wants Hercules to train the armies of Thrace to defend the kingdom from bloodthirsty warlord Rhesus. Hercules accepts after he and his men are offered his weight in gold, and the band is welcomed to Thrace by King Cotys and General Sitacles, leader of the Thracian army. However, Rhesus has reached the Bessi tribe in Central Thrace and Cotys insists that Hercules lead the army into battle to defend the Bessi, despite their lack of training. However, they are too late as Rhesus' sorcery has turned the Bessi against the Thracians.
After the Bessi are defeated, Hercules properly trains the army, then Hercules and Sitacles confront Rhesus and his soldiers on the battlefield before Mount Asticus. The Thracians force Rhesus' army to retreat, but Rhesus himself rides out to confront Hercules and is defeated by him. Rhesus is taken back to Thrace as a prisoner, where he is tortured and humiliated. Hercules takes pity and stops the townfolk from throwing more objects at him, then Hercules mentions Rhesus' actions of burning down villages, Rhesus tells him it was not him or his army, and tells Hercules that he has been fighting on the wrong side. Later in the hall of the palace, Rhesus has been chained up and left on display. Noticing that Ergenia has taken pity to him, Hercules confronts her and finds out Rhesus was telling the truth in that he was merely retaliating against Lord Cotys's aggressive attempts to expand his kingdom. Although Ergenia doesn't agree with Lord Cotys's methods, she goes along with them for the sake of her son Arius, Lord Cotys's successor to the throne, who is being threatened by Cotys.
After receiving their reward, the mercenaries are ready to leave, but Hercules decides to stay behind to stop Cotys, and all but Autolycus choose to follow him. However, they are overpowered and captured by Sitacles and his men. While chained, Hercules is confronted by King Eurystheus, who is in league with Lord Cotys. Eurystheus reveals that he drugged Hercules the night his family died, viewing him as a threat to his power. Hercules's family was in fact killed by three vicious wolves sent by Eurystheus, resulting in Hercules's constant hallucinations of Cerberus. When Lord Cotys orders Ergenia to be executed for her betrayal, Hercules is encouraged by Amphiaraus to believe in himself just as everyone believes in him. In a show of superhuman strength, Hercules breaks free of his chains, saving Ergenia and slaying the wolves with his bare hands. Hercules releases the prisoners, including Rhesus, and then confronts King Eurystheus, impaling him with his own dagger. He is attacked by Sitacles, who is then stabbed by Iolaus.
Outside, Hercules and his forces battle Lord Cotys and his army. Arius is taken hostage, but then rescued by Autolycus, who has decided to return to help his friends. In the ensuing battle, Tydeus is mortally wounded while protecting Arius, but fights on slaughtering numerous Thracian soldiers. Hercules again uses inhuman strength and pushes a massive statue of Hera from its foundations and uses it to crush Lord Cotys and many of his soldiers. The remaining soldiers see Hercules as lightning flashes in the background. The surviving soldiers bow to Hercules, and Arius takes the throne, with Ergenia at his side, while Hercules and his men depart in search of other adventures.
As the credits roll, an animated retelling of the Twelve Labors shows how Hercules accomplished these feats with the help of his companions.

Review: Additionally, the DVD showed that it contained the full frame version, which it did not and subtitles, which it did not.Check out the Sci Fi channel for showings.Love this movie..
The point of the movie was not the heroics, nor the political intrigue, nor the subplots, nor the eye candy (though, I have to admit Paul Telfer was certainly that!
It was about an ordinary man who, through his actions and determination, fought back against the prevailing beliefs of his day, to come to the ultimate self-realization: I, AND NO ONE ELSE, DETERMINE MY DESTINY.I watched this journey with my 10 year-old son, and in addition to the above, found example after example of courage and morals demonstrated.
(Wish it was a little less gory in spots though.) The second biggest lesson my son took away from the movie was how Hercules, though it wasn't completely "his fault", took full, unremitting responsibility for his actions, and made every effort to make full restitution and make the wrong right.
I love Greek Mythology and this saga did a good job bringing the hero Hercules to life.
Hercules was a welcome relief in the fantasy genre from the usual "dribble" on T.V. What ruined the overall story-line were two things: -Too many commercials -The original version got cut by over an hour.
The movie feels as though joining plot points were dropped to squeeze it into its time slot.If it were longer, it might make more sense, but it still wouldn't be much good.
So it's got a couple of intriguing ideas, but it doesn't do anything useful with them.Bad dialog, cardboard characters, and one interesting scene involving Hercules and his three antagonistic sons.
Story id of course very loose take on the legend but it doesn't matter since this movie and not a book Also great acting from everybody.
Same with Perkinks as evil mother.Only negative side is that special effects aren't very good at times.Great movie !
I was expecting some half hearted attempt to portray the Herakles myths, and because the commercials for it looked serious, I was expecting something that was halfway decent.Ten minutes into the film, I realized that it was utter CRAP.
This movie, with all the sex, violence, and nudity, was clearly intended for an older audience, yet the story presented in this was nearly inaccurate as the Disney film..
I really enjoyed it and would like to see the longer version, which will hopefully come out on DVD.
I think the movie was good and my son liked it.
I think Leeanna Walsman did a great job in this movie.
The movie also had some pretty good special effects.
Its strongest appeal comes from having attractive people as naked as US network TV will allow, but it's all tease and no substance, and having nymphs as backup characters can't justify several hours of bad TV.There are two basic problems that the cast can't overcome.
Yes, making changes to the Hercules myth (which is certainly not a single monolithic story in the first place) is traditional, but this version is relentlessly dull and much too frequently dumb (and sometimes downright head-shakingly peculiar), with terrible pacing, bits borrowed from here and there (and several parts seemingly belonging in different films), and truly awful dialogue.
I have no idea what the budget for this project was, but it sure looks like crap compared to "Clash of the Titans" or even "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and doesn't even compare very favorably with the old Lou Ferrigno and Italian 'spaghetti' Hercules movies.
Just painfully miserable.There are plenty of other problems -- the story is needlessly complex and can't keep up with itself, and Hercules himself isn't presented as a very interesting character.
But the terrible script and equally terrible effects sink the whole thing right off the bat.In fairness, "Hercules" was apparently intended as a four-hour miniseries but truncated (for this airing, anyway) to a three-hour TV movie.
I saw it on Monday night on NBC wow what a great movie, with new upcoming actors such as Paul Telfer!
The majority of the movie was kept as was the old stories of Hercules...
From the blatant disregard of the source material (sure to infuriate anyone remotely familiar with mythology) to the predictably insufficient production value, this entire mini-series is a train wreck.The cast (which includes some good actors, whom I pity) delivers the illogical dialogue in the same generic "European" accent so common to bad epics.
I know they meant well - really, they did.The locations were pretty cool but again, I felt like I was watching a bad remake of Lord of the Rings..
Paul Telfer, who plays Hercules in this TV film, has to be the hottest thing on two legs EVER.
Wow.But this film is a 100% distortion of the Hercules story.
I saw this movie as a part of the Scifi channel two part-four hour mini series and I must admit that I stayed up the second night to catch the second half.
Another complain I had was that the older Hercules (Paul Telfer) was not a very good actor and his emotional scenes were really awkward to me.
This frequently felt like the matinée movies of my youth with Steve Reeves et al, although a bit bloodier (but not necessarily more violent, however) and, unfortunately, talkier.
People, I recommend you to skip this movie, the story is also twisted, you won't enjoy it..
I have a particular interest in Greek mythology and actually found this movie quite interesting.
If you want *real* mythology, flawlessly executed, look for Armand Assante's "The Odyssey." Great storytelling doesn't need to be tweaked - the stories are fantastic on their own.
I enjoyed this movie because it put a twist in the myth.I did not understand why at first but the twist works within reason...Hercules had "12 tasks or Labours" He borrowed Cerberus from Hades and returned the hound when he was done.
His father (Zeus) took Amphitryon's form when he slept with Alcimene the departures are varied and complex but it all works...I love the special effects.
Your typical nymph would look like a bimbo but Leelee brings a simple charm to her role that's delightful to see.Paul Telfer looked good and brought ruggedness and humility in equal doses to the name.
Elizabeth Perkins was arch as Alcimene and that role will never be the same again.I thought Sean Astin was too close to SamWise in his portrayal but I think it will take a truly evil role or a total departure from character for us to see him as anyone else.The special effects were good and convincing in some cases bar the Hydra.
It's not a mind-blowing epic, it's a small beautiful tale, simply to paint the human side of Hercules, he was a demi -god but did not achieve immortal status till he died.Good Movie, A Must Own. Wow !
This was the best mini series I have ever seen.It is a little different from the original legends of the roman hero Hercules,but it's still 2 thumbs up.To me,the best actors are Sean Astin(Lord of the Rings)and Leelee Sobieski(Here on Earth),but you can be the judge of which actors you like the best.Anyway,it is very entertaining,well,if you like action,adventure and drama,then enjoy.I do not recommend this to children under age 7,because there are some big battle scenes that may not be okay for children under age 7,but if you let them watch The Lord of the Rings,then I guess it's okay,or just don't listen to me,PLEASE.I have seen Leelee Sobieski and Sean Astin both work with Elijah Wood,and now they are working together in this mini series,how cool.The costumes in this mini series are really cool too.In all,if you want a cool and all the rage mini series,then I recommend this for you!.
Hercules: The TV- Movie Hercules - A very twisted and molted version of the story about the Greek superhero.
Sean Astin rehashes his Sam Gamgee image by playing Lupin, a thrown in character to make the whole thing a buddy-movie picture.
An unexpected good performance comes from Timothy Dalton (one of the lesser James Bonds) as Hercules's father.
Once again, someone was given the chance to make a good movie and relay decent and truthful information about an amazing and interesting person to the public - but then decided to make a total piece of vile filth that I found extremely horrific!!!
For example:1) Zeus took the form of Amphitryon when he seduced Almene, not this made up character played by Tyler Mane.2) Alcmene was in labor for 7 days because Hera wanted Eurystheus to be born first, so that he could be King, instead of Hercules.3) Hera, not some swamp harpy, was tricked into nursing Hercules, and when he bit her, milk squirted out across the galaxy, creating the "Milky Way".4) Amphitryon (or Hera) released the asps into his crib, not his mother!
When I make my Hercules movie, I will make sure that these pathetic writers don't get within a million miles of it!
It is so frustrating when someone like myself would love to make a great movie about Hercules, and these idiots are hired instead.Just like with Merlin, you did not read T.H. White's "The Once and Future King", you just made it all up.Hopefully, by 9:00pm everyone changed the channel anyway to either the series finale of "Raymond" or to "24".
It makes up utterly needless things to try to integrate other myths in clumsy ways which bring into question the writers' having ever read the myths, like changing birds to harpies, lions to sphinxes, the Oracle of Delphi to Tiresias, and bulls to a pedantic version of Proteus, even integrating aspects, never seen outside of Sam Raimi's entertaining series, concerning his first marriage, to a woman with the co-opted name of one of the Furies so it sounds appropriate to the period.I could accept much of that, but it also fails completely in pure film standards; most painful is the dialogue, leaden, portentous pseudo-Shakespearean tripe.
Anyway, YEAH THIS MOVIE STINKS!I only watched because I couldn't believe it was as bad as the review in Friday's paper.I now know that person was kind.Boring plot dragged out to the point I could careless about anybody in this movie-not even the hero!Mythology should be fun and dramatic,example:"clash of the Titans" This mess had me wishing the GODS would rise up as one and put us and this bomb out of OUR misery!Soylent Green is people!.
At the start of the movie, I was amazed by its bold and unique take on the legend of Hercules.
From a certain point on, I was under the impression that the film had become a playground for kids who wanted to play roles from the movies.
Too bad, with such an approach and a much better director, better-chosen actors, and more focus on particular details that were ignored or in disproportion throughout the movie, it might have actually been great..
I never thought I would lament the days of the old Kevin Sorbo Hercules, but I think I do.
It was a bit bizarre actually as at times, it would portray characters who were real with a mysticism and build myth around them, yet at the same time, was using mythological creatures within the movie itself.
Nothing to get super worked up over but nothing to not want to watch either.The effects were surprisingly good for a low-budget TV mini and while the monsters looked pretty hokey on the cover art, I was actually happy with them in the movie.
Leelee Sobieski had an outstanding performance as well as Paul Telfer as Hercules.
Love It. I have a DVD version of this that is 3 hours 37 minutes long and if I have watched it once I have watched it a dozen times.
Granted it is a long way off from being an accurate depiction of Hercules the legend but I overlook that and watch it for the entertainment value.
Anyhow, no matter those with the low ratings are actually overlooking a very entertaining movie even if it isn't 100% true to the Greek history of Hercules.
Throughout the history of the Greek and Roman legendary movies they have always been open to interpretation depending on who is telling the story and very few of them are anywhere near accurate.
For a quick summery: B grade acting C grade special effects D grade for the overall movie.
Don't get me wrong, the story was pretty good and not kiddish so an adult too ride along with it, the "hero" is good looking so most women will like it :-), not a total chick flick as it contains some fight scenes and some bloodbut the way it is shot...
horrible the special effects->would be better suited for TV->on a kids show and lastly...send some of the actors back to acting school if they ever attended a class there.Trust me there are much better ways to waste 2 hours.You have been warned..
Another reason to see this movie is to learn about the supposed story of Hercules.
I thought some of the special effects a bit corny but overall the story was pretty enjoyable.
With the exception of the low-budget and the short story-line, I really enjoyed the movie.
Paul Telfer played an excellent role as Hercules.
As I said earlier, a longer uncut version should be released and I believe that anyone who truly enjoys mythology would enjoy this movie.
If I had the money, I would gladly produce a re-make of this film for the big-screen and cast Paul Telfer as Hercules.
If you're a true movie buff who understands that low-budget films don't have as great of special effects as big-screen blockbusters, then I think this movie is enjoyable..
It has a potential to be a great movie like LOTR if only it is not forced into 2 hours.The acting is not very convincing either.
Special effects are stupid and look like it is made ten years earlier (although the 1st monster is pretty good) Overall, I give it 4 out of ten for the reasons I described above..
But the story, far from being a botched tweak on the standard Hercules myth, is a totally new take on the myth, and it's a very interesting one.Think about it.
A story that raises such fundamental questions is clearly not a simple retelling of the Hercules myth.
Hercules' speech to the gods, the rising of the people, the (willing or unwilling) sacrifices of Alcmene and Megara, the marriage of Hyllus and Iole are all about this process and its goal.Paul Telfer said something interesting in one of the interviews he did for the movie: "There is also an idea of these myths becoming so pervasive in culture and lasting so long because they are endlessly re-interpretable.
For example, most people know that Hercules performed his labors as a penance for killing his children; and yet, if they look in Euripides' play "Heracles", they will see him quite clearly killing his children after his labors, which were done for a quite different reason.
Which, as Telfer says, is the way it should be.I hope everybody will take another look at the Hallmark "Hercules" when it appears again on TV or DVD and give it a chance to tell the story it is trying to tell.
I can summarize by saying it left a bad taste in my mouth.The movie started out OK, I think the initial characterization of Herc was true to the myths.
Add centaurs, satyrs, harpies and a Nemean Lion more like a Lion Monster, and I'm a happy viewer.6: Speeches Delivered To The Gods: Any movie that opens with Timothy Dalton (as Herc's dad Amphitryon) standing on the bow of a storm-tossed ship bellowing "ZZZEEEEEEEUUUUUSSSS!!!!!!!" is off to a good start.
A few pratfalls and wisecracks, and loyalty to The Hero.All in all, this movie was far more faithful to the Hercules myth than any other version made.
Paul Telfer Made The T.V. Movie Good.
What I thought was very funny in this movie (and I'm sure it wasn't meant to be) was that Hercules killed the Hydra, the lion thing and the bird things but on his last favor he came back without a supposed 3 headed dog and the crowd was saying things like, "What a coward." Then the king said, I ask what the crowd asks, "Where is the head of the dog, you coward." Anyway I enjoyed it as I love mythology and thought the special effects were fine.
It tries to tell the untold story of Hercules never before depicted, but it makes up a new far-fetched version.
The movie is a horribly condensed version of the true story, merging the details and confusing the motivations, quite insulting to the those purists who religiously follow the "myths" we left behind.
Paul Telfer looks a bit like Tom Welling, the actor playing that Kryptonian character, and obviously relishes in the role.
Yet another attempt to film the might Hercules (the Roman name; his original Greek name was "Herakles" but "Hercules" sounds better), here played as an affable lug by Paul Telfer.Hercules is unwontedly born to Queen Elizabeth Perkins after she is raped by who she thinks is Zeus but is really the Earth giant Anteous (I know it's stupid).
His step-father King Timothy Dalton thinks he's a good kid, just needs a little help being pushed in the right direction.
. The actors and actresses were fabulous; but the one thing I was was hoping for when I read the tittle was that they where finally going to show a movie with all twelve of the labors being done and completed but it wasn't.
I wish some day they would create a movie that would have the person portraying the legendary hero Hercules to perform all 12 labors, that would be great; especially with today's computer graphics they could make it a really great movie.