The Adventures of Hercules
Encyclopedia
The Adventures of Hercules (also known as The Adventures of Hercules II) is the 1985 sequel
to the film Hercules
. It was written and directed by Luigi Cozzi
(who also directed the previous film), and had Lou Ferrigno
reprising his role as the title character.
's creation story (see below). This is followed by the opening titles which are accompanied by short clips that highlight the key parts of the first movie.
The plot begins with a story about the story of Zeus
' Seven Mighty Thunderbolts that kept peace. One day, other vengeful gods (Aphrodite
, Hera
, Poseidon
, Flora
) stole these lightning bolts to create chaos. The lack of these thunderbolts has rendered Zeus powerless and sent the Moon on a collision course with the Earth. As the humans on Earth begin to suffer, one human named Urania speaks to the Little People and learns that only Hercules can save them now.
After hesitation, Zeus finally decides to send Hercules back from the stars to Earth to aid the humans, but the vengeful gods resurrect their own warrior: King Minos. They believe that King Minos, with the help of Dedalos (Daedalus in the first film, see below), can defeat Zeus with science.
Thus begins Kallel's quest to find the Seven Mighty Thunderbolts, which are hidden inside monsters across the Universe.
Also the character Daedalus
who created the robots for King Minos in the first Hercules was renamed "Dedalos" in the sequel. This may be due to the discrepancies between the screenplay and Greek
and Roman mythology
, especially that of gender.
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the film Hercules
Hercules (1983 film)
Hercules is a 1983 Italian adventure film written and directed by Luigi Cozzi. The film follows the exploits of Hercules.Part of the adventure finds Hercules battling giant robots brought to life by stop motion animation. The musical score was provided by Pino Donaggio.Despite not being a critical...
. It was written and directed by Luigi Cozzi
Luigi Cozzi
Luigi Cozzi is an Italian movie director and screenwriter who directed mainly science fiction and horror films in the mid-1970s and throughout the 1980s...
(who also directed the previous film), and had Lou Ferrigno
Lou Ferrigno
Louis Jude "Lou" Ferrigno is an American actor, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron...
reprising his role as the title character.
Summary
The film begins in outer space, just as the first film does, and begins with a retelling of the UniverseUniverse
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
's creation story (see below). This is followed by the opening titles which are accompanied by short clips that highlight the key parts of the first movie.
The plot begins with a story about the story of Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
' Seven Mighty Thunderbolts that kept peace. One day, other vengeful gods (Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
, Hera
Hera
Hera was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon of Greek mythology and religion. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. Her counterpart in the religion of ancient Rome was Juno. The cow and the peacock were sacred to her...
, Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
, Flora
Demeter
In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...
) stole these lightning bolts to create chaos. The lack of these thunderbolts has rendered Zeus powerless and sent the Moon on a collision course with the Earth. As the humans on Earth begin to suffer, one human named Urania speaks to the Little People and learns that only Hercules can save them now.
After hesitation, Zeus finally decides to send Hercules back from the stars to Earth to aid the humans, but the vengeful gods resurrect their own warrior: King Minos. They believe that King Minos, with the help of Dedalos (Daedalus in the first film, see below), can defeat Zeus with science.
Thus begins Kallel's quest to find the Seven Mighty Thunderbolts, which are hidden inside monsters across the Universe.
Cast
- Lou FerrignoLou FerrignoLouis Jude "Lou" Ferrigno is an American actor, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron...
as Hercules - Milly CarlucciMilly CarlucciCamilla Patrizia "Milly" Carlucci is an Italian television presenter, actress and singer. Carlucci played the role of Urania in the 1985 film The Adventures of Hercules. In 1996 she became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. Since 2005 she has been the sole host of the Italian version of Strictly...
as Urania - Sonia Viviani as Glaucia
- William Berger as King Minos
- Carla Ferrigno as Athena (as Carlotta Green)
- Claudio Cassinelli as Zeus
- Ferdinando Poggi as Poseidon (as Nando Poggi)
- Maria Rosaria Omaggio as Hera
- Venantino VenantiniVenantino VenantiniVenantino Venantini is an Italian film actor. He has appeared in over 140 films since 1954.-Selected filmography:* No Sun in Venice * Les Tontons flingueurs * Le Corniaud...
as High Priest - Laura Lenzi as Flora
- Margit Evelyn NewtonMargit Evelyn NewtonMargit Evelyn Newton is an Italian actress who appeared in fourteen films between 1979 and 1990. Frequently billed as Margie Newton, she also received billing, at various points in her career, as Margie Moreau, Margi Eveline Newton and Margi Evelyn Newton.A native of Rome, Margit Evelyn Newton used...
as Aphrodite (as Margie Newton) - Cindy Leadbetter as Ilia
- Raf Baldassarre as Atreus
- Serena GrandiSerena GrandiSerena Grandi is an Italian actress, famous as an icon and sex symbol in Italian cinema of 1980s and 1990s. Known for her junoesque body and voluptuous measurements, she was considered one of the main pin-up girls of Italy....
as Euryale - Eva Robin'sEva Robin'sEva Robin's is a transgender Italian actress and activist. She was born male and developed extremely feminine features naturally. She considers herself an androgynous individual, rather than transsexual...
as Dedalos
Discontinuity between the films
Many of the elements of the first film's story were changed in the second movie. The creation of the Universe, which is described as the result of an exploding jar in the first film, is changed in the sequel to be the creation of "an ancient angel-like figure: a goddess whom the ancients named Emperia. From within her came the Seed of Light." Somehow, this Seed of Light created the Universe.Also the character Daedalus
Daedalus
In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a skillful craftsman and artisan.-Family:...
who created the robots for King Minos in the first Hercules was renamed "Dedalos" in the sequel. This may be due to the discrepancies between the screenplay and Greek
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
and Roman mythology
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
, especially that of gender.