Son of Zeus, the great demigod of Greek mythology, Hercules returns to the big screen in a blaze of fire and brimstone in a multimillion dollar special effects-laden spectacular.
Former rock-and-roll wrestling superstar with the signature eyebrow raise, The Rock, now formally known as Dwayne Johnson, portrays the latest version of the toga-cladded, battle sword-wielding warrior, ripped with superior strength. Johnson seems to be made for this role, and on a recent visit to a Sydney black carpet promotional event, he told me as much.
“Even by your standards you looked super bulked up for this role.” Smiling, he instantly agreed. “You only get one crack at Hercules; you need to do it right and not screw it up.”
It took 16 months of training twice a day. Millions of Twitter followers were alert to his daily routines, but on the flipside, an occasional beer was freedom of choice. It shows; his Hercules bristles with sculpted muscles on muscles, long ringlet hair flowing and a gaze in his eyes as he confronts an evil tyranny of fellow warring gods and an assortment of supernatural beasts. He mentions with a smile a good amount of blood through injuries occurred during stunt work, even breaking the odd prop sword in the process.
Having been as many incarnations of Hercules as there have before, I asked him if he looked back at any of the earlier versions for inspiration on the iconic character.
“Not really, as I have always been a fan of Steve Reeves as Hercules and the mythology in general, so in conjunction with the writers, directors and cast, we aimed to make the definitive version.”
Ironically, Johnson was once touted as the next Arnie when first crossing over from sporting valor to motion pictures. Arnold Schwarzenegger played the hero for laughs in the now cult film, Hercules in New York. His voice was dubbed at the time but has since been reinstated for the DVD version. Years later, Arnie makes a cameo appearance seemingly passing the action man baton to Johnson in the fan favourite, Welcome to the Jungle.
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Another bodybuilder of the time hitting the big time as The Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno slipped on the sandals and loincloth playing a low budget, goddess-chasing Hercules on two occasions in the 1980s. A plethora of beautiful, badly dubbed Italian women were the focus. At one point, Hercules was even animated, and not just the acting.
Italy has a rich history for the character. After the strong man Steve Reeves portrayed the hero in Hercules (1958) and the revered sequel Hercules Unchained (1959), he set the bar high for all who followed. A staple of Italian grindhouse features, Hercules was exploited in multiple spin-offs or parodies, all mostly ultra-cheap quickie films shot on no budget for fading stars. Often sex appeal was the hook with scantily clad ladies in peril being saved by muscle-headed non-actors or athletes wearing underpants holding a sword, sometimes their own.
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) was considered one of the most embarrassing for all concerned, sending fans of the bumbling comedy trio into hiding; it was their only box office flop. However, the worst was yet to come. Hercules Against the Moon Men (1964) had the demigod facing off against aliens intent on unleashing a sandstorm across the globe.
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It wasn’t until the New Zealand filmed television series Hercules with Kevin Sorbo became a primetime hit that the Son of Zeus was cool again. His friend Xena Warrior Princess actually became more of a pop culture icon, but Sorbo’s success did inspire a spin-off, Young Hercules, with none other than Hollywood A-Lister Ryan Gosling. Quoted as saying, “I am proud of my work on the show,” it was short-lived as Hercules petered out behind the huge appeal of sexy Xena, her friends, and their hidden sexual messages scattered throughout each episode.
Most recently released was the astonishingly badly reviewed Legend of Hercules with former Twilight heart-throb Kellan Lutz. Only seen by the curious or masochist at the cinema, this almost direct-to-DVD release was obviously made in haste, with apparent dismal effects and wooden acting, relegating it to unintentional satire as opposed to cracking mythical adventure.
In 1993, the Australian film Hercules Returns took the concept of dubbing a non-subtitled Italian of Sampson and the Mighty Challenge, with comical voiceovers live via the projection booth microphone to an unsuspecting opening night cinema audience in Melbourne. I saw this at the theater; however, it was derived from an actual live touring show where campy films were screened with unscripted live dialogue.
The Rock should change all that with his monstrous, hopefully not too tongue-in-cheek version with full scale sets built from scratch in Budapest. Thousands of extras used on horseback and various massive battle scenes are all real people as opposed to CG animation. Braveheart did this as well as Lawrence of Arabia, two classic films and epic examples of realism instilled on film.
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Seemingly slotting into the role The Scorpion King, still a movie rookie, Johnson first made an impression in Be Cool (the sequel to Get Shorty). Asking him which was harder, comedy or action roles and what he prefers, he tells me Get Shorty is one of his favourite roles, citing the support he received from veterans John Travolta, Harvey Keitel and Uma Thurman. Comedy is ultimately harder with timing and connection with your fellow actors, while action is a whole different mental being. Personally his role in the unique drama, Southland Tales, stunned me.
He displayed sharp comic timing partnering up with Samuel L. Jackson in The Other Guys and in the controversial, obscene Reno 911: Miami, both hilarious cameos. Going against type after the four-by-two, hard-hitting Walking Tall, Johnson appeared as lead in family films such as Game Plan and Tooth Fairy. The latter was originally a vehicle written for Schwarzenegger to star in with Sound of Music legend Julie Andrews. It was a minor kids’ hit, if for nothing else then the fact that seeing the bulked up bag of muscles in a tutu and wings was worthy of a laugh.
Although the body building satire based on a true story, Pain and Gain, was a recent hit, his biggest successes have come from pure action, such as the Fast & Furious films.
There is no shortage of huge action in this Hercules. Based on adored graphic novel The Thracian Wars, there is a unique look to the visuals and the aforementioned real extras used in the huge battle sequences. The taste of Oliver Stone’s miscast debacle Alexander still haunts.
Co-stars John Hurt and Ian McShane give thespian credibility to proceedings, but with director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) in charge, excess may know no bounds. All tent-pole blockbuster films are produced with sequels in mind if the box office soars, and this is no different by finishing with an open ending. With an open affection for Australia, Dwayne The Rock Johnson is a true gentleman, gracious to fans and journalists alike. Filming the upcoming earthquake spectacular at Warner Bros. on the Gold Coast, he described how after over a decade of visiting our shores, he was thrilled to be filming a movie here. Special praise went to his co-star Kyle Minogue, who he didn’t say in what capacity, but did mention her scenes were important to the story, and she was a trooper getting into the physical aspects.
As the largest Hercules yet, looking at me with that winning grin, he says he hopes they have made the definitive version. Lightning strikes Johnson on the big screen, a versatile, natural, winning actor liked by both genders, who defies the notion that wrestlers can’t act!
Hercules arrives in U.S. theaters on July 25th. It opens in Australia one week later on July 31st.
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