I've just discovered in the last couple of days that there are tons of Australians who miss Hercules and Xena, yet don't realize that their very own Ch. 10 is showing the last of the Ren Pics productions, the short-lived "Back 2 Back Action" at 4:00 AM, Friday night/Saturday morning.
Why should they care? Well, it's kinda cool to see what Ren Pics does with a non-mythology setting. The answer: pretty much the same thing! A lot of action, a lot of comedy, a lot of anachronism, a lot of hip wisecracking dialogue, a lot of slapstick, a lot of outta-control camera-work, a lot of Hong Kong-style martial arts, and a lot of scantily clad women (and men!)
The first half of B2B is "Cleopatra 2525," which takes the premise of the old "Amazon High" pilot (which we saw parts of in "Lifeblood" on XWP) and sets it in a "Terminator"-style future where mankind has been driven underground. Jennifer (Amarise) Sky stars along with Vicky (Cyane) Pratt, Gina (Nebula) Torres, and Patrick Kake (who was in virtually every Hercules episode filmed, as Sorbo's stunt double.) Look for everyone from Danielle (Ephiny) Cormack to Joel (Strife, Deimos) Tobeck to guest star.
The second half is "Jack of All Trades" which can be pretty accurately described as "Autolycus dresses up as Zorro." Bruce Campbell plays Bruce Campbell...errr....Jack Stiles, an American spy fighting Napoleon's incursions on the South Sea island of Pulau Pulau. Besides teaming with a breathtaking British spy named Emilia (played by the utterly luscious Angela Dotchin, previously seen as Kora on Young Herc and Nautica the Mermaid on HTLJ) he moonlights as a caped crusader called the Daring Dragoon. Hijinks ensue. Look for more of your favorite NZ performers - everyone from Danielle Cormack again (as a very horse-loving Catherine the Great) to Stuart Devenie (Cernunnos on HTLJ) to Michael Hurst to the little girl who played Gab's daughter Hope. Verne Troyer (Mini-Me from Austin Powers) shows up as...... Napoleon Bonaparte!
So be sure to check it out, and then come join us in the Jack and Cleo sections to discuss!
Why should they care? Well, it's kinda cool to see what Ren Pics does with a non-mythology setting. The answer: pretty much the same thing! A lot of action, a lot of comedy, a lot of anachronism, a lot of hip wisecracking dialogue, a lot of slapstick, a lot of outta-control camera-work, a lot of Hong Kong-style martial arts, and a lot of scantily clad women (and men!)
The first half of B2B is "Cleopatra 2525," which takes the premise of the old "Amazon High" pilot (which we saw parts of in "Lifeblood" on XWP) and sets it in a "Terminator"-style future where mankind has been driven underground. Jennifer (Amarise) Sky stars along with Vicky (Cyane) Pratt, Gina (Nebula) Torres, and Patrick Kake (who was in virtually every Hercules episode filmed, as Sorbo's stunt double.) Look for everyone from Danielle (Ephiny) Cormack to Joel (Strife, Deimos) Tobeck to guest star.
The second half is "Jack of All Trades" which can be pretty accurately described as "Autolycus dresses up as Zorro." Bruce Campbell plays Bruce Campbell...errr....Jack Stiles, an American spy fighting Napoleon's incursions on the South Sea island of Pulau Pulau. Besides teaming with a breathtaking British spy named Emilia (played by the utterly luscious Angela Dotchin, previously seen as Kora on Young Herc and Nautica the Mermaid on HTLJ) he moonlights as a caped crusader called the Daring Dragoon. Hijinks ensue. Look for more of your favorite NZ performers - everyone from Danielle Cormack again (as a very horse-loving Catherine the Great) to Stuart Devenie (Cernunnos on HTLJ) to Michael Hurst to the little girl who played Gab's daughter Hope. Verne Troyer (Mini-Me from Austin Powers) shows up as...... Napoleon Bonaparte!
So be sure to check it out, and then come join us in the Jack and Cleo sections to discuss!
