ULYSSES at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

"Ulysses" Tony's Comments:
Kirk Douglas sets sail, this time to Italy to star in this sweeping epic about one of Greek Mythology's most famous figures, Homer's travelling hero "Ulysses". This film is one of the very first peplums (most of them emerged in the late 50's, early 60's after Steve Reeves' "Hercules") and marks Kirk Douglas' first foray into the sword and sandal genre. Kirk Douglas makes a fine "Ulysses", displaying all the strength; passion and charm that is needed to make this legendary character come to life. Douglas and his outstanding supporting cast that includes Hollywood heavyweight Anthony Quinn and the beautiful Silvano Magnano are complemented by fantastic cinematography by Harold Hal Rossen. Plenty of swordplay, some well-staged action set pieces, and a fantastic Cyclops (it may seem dated by today's standards of computer generated effects but nevertheless did the job well back in 1954) put this peplum a notch above many of the others. "Ulysses" is a lively entry among the spaghetti epics and with a young bearded Kirk Douglas in the title role how can you go wrong.

Ulysses [DVD](1955) DVD
It's high adventure, Homer-style, with Kirk Douglas as the brave adventurer who battles the one-eyed Cyclops, encounters sorceress Circe (who turns his crew into pigs), and ignores the sounds of the Sirens before he returns home to win back the hand of wife Penelope. Anthony Quinn and Silvana Mangano also star; Ben Hecht and Irwin Shaw worked on the script. 104 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, Spanish.
Ulysses Against The Son Of Hercules [DVD](1963) DVD
Two of mythology's greatest heroes--Ulysses and, um, the offspring of Hercules--are pitted in a fierce struggle until both are captured by bizarre half-man, half-bird creatures. Now, they must team with each other to stop the nasties, controlled by a beautiful but evil queen. Georges Marchal and Michael Lane star. 91 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Dubbed in English. Plays All Regions.
Gulliver's Travels (1996)/The Odyssey [DVD](1997) DVD
Armand Assante is wandering warrior Odysseus in the lavish mini-series "The Odyssey," based on the epic poem by Homer. After their victory in the Trojan War, Ithacan king Odysseus and his men undergo a danger-filled 20-year journey home that leads them into encounters with the man-eating Cyclops, the bewitching Circe and other perils. With Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini, Vanessa L. Williams, Christopher Lee. Two-disc set also includes "Gulliver's Travels." 6 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English.
Helen Of Troy [DVD](2003) DVD
The mythical tale of forbidden love set against the backdrop of a great war is brought to spectacular life in this epic mini-series. Possessing beauty that men would kill and die for, Helen's heart belongs only to Paris, the banished prince who rescues her from Sparta as he begins a quest to reclaim his throne in the land of Troy. With Sienna Guillory, Matthew Marsden, Rufus Sewell, and Stellan Skarsgard. 177 min. on two discs. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1; Subtitles: French, Spanish; "making of" documentary; featurette.
The Avenger [DVD](1962) DVD
The majestically muscular Steve Reeves slings a lot of bull (literally) in this action-filled tale of a fight for freedom between Etruscan slavedrivers and oppressed Trojans. The bull stampede is not to be missed. AKA: "The Last Glory of Troy," "War of the Trojans." 100 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Plays All Regions. Dubbed in English.
Beyond The Movie: Troy [DVD](2004) DVD
Uncover the true story of one of the ancient world's most legendary wars in this National Geographic program. See how the remains of the city of Troy, made famous in Homer's "The Iliad," were found in northwest Turkey in 1870 by German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann, and learn if the story of the Trojan Horse had any basis in historical fact. Soundtrack: English; interviews.
Troy: Myth Or Reality? [DVD](2004) DVD
The ancient city of Troy may have been uncovered in modern-day Turkey in the 1870s, but how much of the account of the Trojan War from Homer's Iliad is true? Separate fact from fiction in this documentary that examines the archeological evidence to shine new light on one of antiquity's most fascinating stories. 50 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; featurette.
Troy (Ultimate Collector's Edition) [DVD](2004) DVD
A stellar cast and amazing battle sequences highlight Wolfgang Petersen's epic adaptation of Homer's "The Iliad." When beautiful Spartan queen Helen (Diane Kruger) falls in love with Trojan prince Paris (Orlando Bloom), the stage is set for war between Troy's armies, led by Paris' brother Hector (Eric Bana), and a Greek invasion force under the command of mighty warrior Achilles (Brad Pitt). Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Julie Christie, and Peter O'Toole co-star. Unrated director's cut; 196 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Spanish. Collector's edition includes souvenir art book, behind-the-scenes photos, and more. Two-disc se