Hercules and the Lost Kingdom

Don't miss this tv-movie because it has it all. Great acting, great effects and fight scenes and it as well as a superb story. It is interesting to see Renee O'Connor (Deianeira) before becoming Gabrielle on Xena, and Robert Trebor (Waylin) before becoming Salmoneus. I'm glad I got the chance to see this on TNT because it was very good.

Hercules rescues a virgin named Deianeira from a cult. She tags along with him on his way to the lost city of Troy. Second of five TV movies that preceded the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys TV series. This one's possibly my favorite of them all. That's due to Renee O'Connor's extremely likable personality, charm, and comedic talent. She would, of course, go on to bigger things as Xena's sidekick Gabrielle in the Hercules spin-off. After this movie, Tawny Kitaen would play a character with the same name as O'Connor's character here. I don't believe they are intended to be the same character since there's no mention of this movie in the next one. The two actresses couldn't be more different, physically or otherwise. Whatever positive qualities Ms. Kitaen has, and I can think of two obvious ones, she is not as good an actress or comedienne as O'Connor. This is also the first appearance in the Hercules world of Robert Trebor, although playing a different role than the comic relief character Salmoneus that fans would come to either love or hate.

As with the other movies and the later TV series, this is a fun, colorful adventure shot on beautiful New Zealand locations. There's humor, drama, action, and some decent special effects for television. Nothing highbrow here but good old-fashioned escapism.

This is the second pilot TV movie that jump-started the "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" TV series, where Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) sets on a quest to find the lost city of Troy and end Hera's evil grip on the place. Joining Hercules on the mission is the Princess Deianeira (Renee O'Connor), whom Hercules rescued from being sacrificed to the river god.

The plot of the movie goes at a faster pace than the previous entry and showcased Hercules' powers more, pitting him against a giant and later against a horde of Hera's minions and city rascals. In addition to seeing the excitement of Hercules and Deianeria's adventures to the lost city, there are also spiritual elements in the movie, including the mysterious spirit being that has been following Deianeria. Also, as an added treat to the adventures, there is a thrilling sequence where Hercules and Deianeira try to escape after being eaten by a gigantic sea serpent.

Like the previous movie, the New Zealand countryside setting is refreshing and the costumes are colorful and vibrantly done. The music score by Joseph LoDuca is very upbeat and appealing and the acting is pretty spot-on, with some good chemistry between Sorbo and O'Connor and a good dose of humor.

The movie does drag a little towards the middle, but other than that, this is a fun TV movie.

Grade B+

I really liked Hercules and the Lost Kingdom. It was a great story and kept me glued from the beginning to the end. It was also wonderful to see Renee O'Connor before she became Xena's best friend, Gabrielle. I think she did a wonderful job as Princess Deianeira. The effects were great also. There is a scene with Deianeira and her father that was really touching. I am glad that I got this video because I missed it when it was first shown on television. Get this video if you are a Hercules/Renee O'Connor fan.

I watch some of these 1994 Hercules re-makes and found that they are just re-makes of the same stories that the Italians made in the early 1960s. Same soret of stories and same characters, especially the villains. I understand that these were directed at a younger TV audience but the ORIGINALS are still much better and certainly more believable. Watch the 1060s versions for some more believable entertainment.