THE MOVIE

After 5 pilot TV movies made in the previous year, 1995 would see the beginning of a fresh new TV series produced by director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead Trilogy, Spider-man) entitled Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. It’s mix of contemporary humour, corny one-liners and high production value turned it into one of the most successful TV series of it’s time.

During it’s 6 year run, Hercules would spawn yet another legendary hero, her name was Xena Warrior Princess, a spin off series that for some time ran parallel with Hercules that also contained the same style of comedy and production value as it’s predecessor.

Xena was first introduced into the Hercules series as a bitter warrior with a dark past. With a taste for power and destruction she lead her army to conquer kingdom after kingdom. However, in spite of all this death and destruction, deep down, there was still some good in Xena…and it would take Hercules to unlock that goodness buried deep within her.

These 5 episodes follow Xena’s struggle to find goodness within herself and the subsequent adventures that she would share with Hercules whenever the need arose.

Disc #1
Hercules – The Warrior Princess
When Iolaus is seduced by a beautiful female warrior, Xena (Lucy Lawless), he is unaware that he is the key to a plot to kill Hercules.

Hercules – The Gauntlet
The ferocious warrior-princess Xena joins forces with Hercules when her troops become disloyal under the command of Darphus, Xena’s merciless and cold-blooded lieutenant.

Hercules – The Unchained Heart
Hercules and Xena track Darphus, her former lieutenant, who has risen from the grave to carry out Ares' evil plan to take over the world.

Disc #2
Xena – Prometheus
Hercules and Iolaus join forces with Xena and Gabrielle to free Prometheus, who has been imprisoned in chains by the gods.

Hercules – Judgement Day
Xena Warrior Princess arrives in town when Serena, Hercules’ wife, is found dead and Hercules is the prime suspect.

THE TRANSFER

Video:

The episodes are presented in 1.33:1 full screen format.

The video quality presented here is pretty much what you would expect from a television series. Image quality is generally clear and colourful throughout with only a hint of grain evident during occasional dark interior scenes, however unless you’re really looking for it, you probably won’t notice it.

I did notice however that the Xena episode Prometheus, doesn’t stand up to the same quality as the rest of the episodes included here. This one looks quite washed out and grainy and looks almost like a video recording. A bit disappointing considering the quality of the other episodes.

Audio:

The audio is presented in English, French and German Surround 2.0.

The audio presented here is also what you would expect from a television series. Dialogue is crisp and clear throughout. The surrounds are used quite frequently and to good effect in each episode, providing ambient effects and supporting much of the action for which there is plenty of. The LFE is used quite subtlely, with very little impact coming from this channel.

THE EXTRAS

By the gods!! Where are the extras…?

SUMMARY

As fans of both these TV shows already know, this is a fun and humorous way to spend a few hours, and a good introduction into the world of Hercules and Xena. However with no extras included and with varying video quality, this may be one just for the fans…