Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Hercules and the Circle of Fire (1994) (TV)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Doug Lefler

Writers:

Andrew Dettmann (written by)
Barry Pullman (written by)

Release Date:

5 November 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Action | Adventure

Plot:

Hercules and Deianeira go in search of fire to save the world from cold. All the world's fire are fast going out...

Plot Keywords:

Hercules | God Woman Relationship | Mythological | Shipper | Sequel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kevin Sorbo	...	Hercules
Anthony Quinn	...	Zeus
Tawny Kitaen	...	Deianeira
Kevin Atkinson	...	Cheiron
Stephanie Barrett	...	Phaedra
Christopher Brougham	...	Warlock / Janus
Nell Weatherly	...	Hag / Girl
Simone Kessell	...	Girl / Hag
Alexander Gandar	...	Telemon
Joseph Greer	...	Peleus
Kerry Gallagher	...	Amalthea
John Watson	...	Temple Priest
Sharon Tyrell	...	Temple Priestess
Mark Ferguson	...	Prometheus
Yvonne Lawley	...	Peasant Woman

Country:

USA | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:15 (video premiere) | Germany:12 | UK:12 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Company:

Renaissance Pictures

Movie Connections:

Followed by Hercules in the Underworld (1994) (TV)

Fairly average film that lacks fun, energy and tension but might please the fans of the very basic TV show

Born of a human mother but fathered by Zeus, King of the Gods, Hercules has a strength that is only matches by his compassion for others. He lives his life helping others but his quests are made more difficult by the murderous intentions of his stepmother, who sees his existence as an ongoing reminder of Zeus' infidelity. Staying with his friend Cheiron, Hercules (and indeed everyone else) is bemused when all their fires go out at the same time. Learning it is not a phenomenon limited to their small village, it transpires that Phaedra has decided to quench all the fires on Earth, destroying mankind in the process. Joining Hercules on his quest to find fire and bring it back to man is the feisty mortal Deianeira, who doesn't get on with him but has no choice but to accept his help.

Not having really ever bothered to stay in on A Saturday night to watch the TV show on channel 5 in the UK, I felt vindicated by the fact that it now fills the kids schedules on the weekend mornings of the same channel. Despite this though, I still ended up stumbling into this movie in a fit of boredom and, sadly, came out of it the same way. The very basic plot is just a frame to allow yet another adventure for Hercules to go on – you know the formula, effects, fights, big men and sexy women. Ticking off these boxes the film delivers a very average product that is to the rough standard that I expected but still didn't do that much for it. Its insistence of keeping things modern mean that it does have an uneasy humour to it but this is not enough to cover how very basic it is. The effects are very TVM and the "adventure" lacks excitement or real tension. Director Lefler can decide what element he wants to focus on and directs it all with a leaden hand The cast do what you'd expect them to. Sorbo does his usual thing and in fairness does have a certain amount of charisma about him as long as he isn't asked to do more than hit people with a bit of a cheeky look in his eye. Despite having watched her in this about 10 minutes ago, I doubt I could pick Kitaen out of a lineup; she shows her skin and emotionally spars with Sorbo but it is nothing that hasn't been done before and she is totally by-the-numbers. Quinn takes the money and is as stiff as a board.

Overall an average tvm "swords and modernism" film that tries to be a fun adventure but doesn't pull it off that well. It isn't that fun or that funny and the adventure lacks energy or excitement. The cast are amusing despite being nothing special at all. Fans of the series might enjoy it but I doubt anyone else will find it worth their time.