Le 10ème royaume

To the pantheon of unusual spins on fairy tales (Into the Woods, Shrek, Enchanted) we can add "The 10th Kingdom". I didn't expect anything profound, and there is a lot of the stuff that we expect in fairy tales, even in twists on fairy tales. Nonetheless, it's a fun miniseries with some neat surprises along the way. It was impressive to see Rutger Hauer in the miniseries, considering that he died a few months ago.

I wanted to mention Ann-Margret's role. To avoid spoilers, I won't tell you which character she plays. What I will say is that I occasionally come up with stories and imagine certain actors and actresses in the roles. One of the stories with which I've come up would presumably feature Ann-Margret playing essentially the same character that she does here (but with a different name, natch).

Anyway, it's a fine eight hours. Maybe the ending was a little cliched, but everyone else more than made up for that. No shortage of enjoyment here.

When I was first approached to watch this film, I noticed the length and was completely turned away. Ten hours. Who could endure this many interactions with children's storybook characters? Luckily, my wife sat me down and we began this lengthy process. To say the least, I was impressed. Directors David Carson and Herbert Wise did a spectacular job of bringing the magic and detail of fairy tales to the small screen. Through the voyages of our three main heroes, we see so many of our childhood escapes. Places where only our imagination took us before, we are guided through the images of modern television.

Imagination is only part of this miraculous tale. This film keeps with the modern idea of fairy tales with some very dark thematic elements. The scenes with the Trolls and with Snow White were spellbinding. You could literally get lost in this film and never want to escape. John Larroquette and Kimberly Williams are decent in their roles (about average for television), but it is Scott Cohen as the Wolf that literally steals every scene. He plays his part to the fullest extent. Ed O'Neill and Rutger Hauer also contribute well to this story.

Overall, this was a beautiful (if long) story that continually pushed the boundaries of a television mini-series. I never knew where it was going to take me next or which fairy tale it would dive right into. There was never a dull moment and it is a story that can be watched over and over again. This is a treat for anyone with a passion for children's literature!

Grade: ***** out of *****

I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw the previews for this mini series. I thought it was to be a fluff piece on fairy tales. I was quite surprised to see the amazing make-up, the costumes and the scenery. All those things make the series well worth the 4 hours. The storyline is interesting and has a number of fantasy filled subplots. The Trolls were scary and humorous at the same time. The clash of the parallel worlds was done well, with much attention to detail. The different 'kingdoms' were distinguishable and each unique and fantastic. I see definite Emmy nominations and awards here, especially for make-up, costumes, and script.

I watched this at age 10 and remembered it as such a magical and enchanting show. I've just watched it again 19 years later and I felt like a child all over again. Amazing production, brilliant storyline and fantastic acting (the only one I didnt really enjoy was Snow White). I binged watched the 5 parts in one day and loved every minute of it. It's just magical.

I was pleasantly surprised by this mini-series. It's rare to find something that both adults and children can enjoy together. I watched this with my five year old nephew and he loved it, as did I.

This story combines all classic fairy tales with a modern twist. The scenery and costumes were great. Although the running time is long, the story moves keeps your attention and isn't slow paced. The actors did an excellent job. I found myself laughing out loud at the antics of some of the characters, like trolls singing along to Saturday Night Fever. In my opinion Scott Cohen made the series thanks to his portrayal of the wolf. He has gained a new fan in me.

I recommend this mini-series to all, whether young or young at heart.