User reviews

'The 10th Kingdom' is something for all ages. It combines every known fairytale, especially stories from the Grimm Brothers, with other fantasy stories, including Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings'. The story is about a girl named Virginia (Kimberly Williams) who enters a fantasy world through a magic mirror. Together with her father Tony (John Larroquette), Wolf (Scott Cohen), who looks like a man but has a tale and animal instincts, and a prince turned into a dog (Daniel Lapaine) they have to save the kingdom from the evil queen (Dianne Wiest). The entire journey they are followed by Huntsman (Rutger Hauer) who is ordered to kill the heroes.

The story is predictable in a way, but original with some nice touches. We have appearances of Snow White, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood for example. There is even a musical number that involves 'We Will Rock You'. As a complete story it is never boring and that is quite impressive for something over 400 minutes long. Most of the funny moments are with Wolf. He is played by Scott Cohen, an actor who I only knew from 'Gilmore Girls'. He does a very nice job with his character. I could say more about the production but that is not really needed. It is entertaining for kids and adults, that's it. To spot all the references to fantasy stories is a nice extra.

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.

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 was telling my brother the other day that this mini-series is for everyone who ever loved fairy tales when they were kids, and I'm telling the same thing to my fellow IMDb users now. The opening title sequence is one of the most beautiful things you will ever see on TV. The performances are all top-notch, especially Scott Cohen as Wolf, Ed O'Neill as Relish the Troll King and Rutger Hauer as the Huntsman. The guest stars get to hog the limelight as well. John Shrapnel is truly menacing as the Governor of Snow White Memorial Prison, a guy you would love to hate. Two of my favourite dwarfs, Warwick Davis and Mike Edmonds get in on the fun as well. Ann-Margret doesn't really do much with her appearance as Queen Cinderella, though. The really great thing is the story. It reminds us how not all fairy tales are fluffy and sentimental (The Grimm fairy tales weren't just named after their authors, you know), and great new worlds are presented before us (Kissing Town is a highlight.). The romance between Virginia and Wolf is truly touching as well. Humour is also provided by the bungling Trolls Burly, Blabberwort and Bluebell and by Daniel Lapaine as the Dog in the Prince's body ('Prince Wendell loves biscuits!'). There are a couple of hairy moments (the trial in Little Lamb Village) but overall, you will love this. I recommend that you also read the novelisation of this series as it clears up a few plot points.

The 10th Kingdom has to be one of the most captivating, spellbinding movies to come along in years. So many have tried, but few have succeeded in creating such a beautifully woven masterpiece as The 10th Kingdom. There isn't a moment of this movie that I did not wholeheartedly enjoy.

Sure, it's long...very long. But with its spectacular visuals, compelling storyline, and off-beat but lovable characters, The 10th Kingdom takes you along for the journey that so captivates, you hardly notice the time that passes. This movie is an adventure of epic proportions that I would rank up there with The Neverending Story and The Princess Bride. Actually, as far as fairytales go, I daresay this is better.

The cast is perfect for each of their roles and acted them out spectacularly. The script is excellent with its many references to so many beloved fairytales...rapunzel, cinderella, snow white...and so many more.

This is a classic in the making. Please, if you haven't yet, check this one out. You'll be so very happy you did. Ten out of ten stars...without a doubt.

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 *****

The 10th Kingdom was much better than I had expected, and I had high hopes going into it! It was a visual delight with fantastic effects and locations. I couldn't wait for each installment. Scott Cohen did a fantastic job as the over-the-top Wolf. I was routing for Wolf and Virginia from their first meeting. Dianne Wiest makes a potentially one dimensional character come to life. Kimberly Williams and John Larroquette shine! The trolls are delightful and disgusting at once, particularly Ed O'Neill. The movie reminded me of all of the fairy tales I heard growing up. I was eagerly awaiting the addition of each new well-known character. Camryn Manheim as Snow White was a surprise, but she did a wonderful job. Happily ever after may not have lasted as long as Prince Wendell wanted, but its definitely back with the 10th Kingdom!

I read the book in high school and loved it. Then I watched the series for years afterwards. It became a huge 'comfort movie' for me, as now I just stream all 8 hours at once and usually have it on while I'm reading or studying, or even cleaning the house. I still laugh at the trolls' antics, at how ridiculous Wolf is, and I'm still spellbound by the story itself.

People are hard on the acting levels and the cheesiness. These things don't bother me, as long as the story, scenery, music and cinematography are aligned, and they most certainly are. Of course it gets cheesy. The book is far more graphic and sexual, and they had to make this appropriate for families.

If you're wanting to get drawn into a fascinating dark fairytale story, and you've already binged Once Upon a Time (the cheese levels are equal in both shows), you'll love this.

This is, hands down, my FAVORITE movie of all time. I'm a sucker for magic and happily ever after; and I love every minute of this film. I've watched all seven hours of the DVD countless times. It will never get old. If the run time is what's holding you back, just know that this was shown as a mini-series. So you can watch it in pieces. For me, I'll keep watching this for ages to come. Definitely recommend!

I first saw this movie on TV when it aired as a 3 part series. We taped it on VHS to watch later. I said it was my favorite movie at the time (I was 7) and I can honestly still say that today. This movie is incredible and holds your attention the entire time! We use to take this movie with us on long road trips across the U.S. and it would entertain us for hours. It made the trips fly by, and I could watch it over and over again. I recommend this to everyone and even make my closest friends sit down with me and watch it for an entire Saturday afternoon. It's worth the watch, trust me!

For those of you who reviewed this mini-series after only watching the first episode, it does get better. Otherwise, I agree with the general sentiment that that the first(*) episode is difficult to get through. Flat, simplistic dialog. Hammy, over the top acting. Williams-Paisley is dull and lifeless in that first episode and Cohen beyond obnoxious in his efforts to convey 'eager puppy'.

I can only assume early jitters as the series improves dramatically with the second episode. There are occasional, brief lapses when the dialog and acting falls through the floor. Perhaps these moments are the result of a rushed shooting schedule and on those days they simply couldn't take all the takes necessary to get it right. Fortunately those moments are brief and few.

No high art here but I did throughly enjoy this modern reinterpretation of the Grimm material. Casting is a bit lumpy but overall enjoyable. Williams-Paisley eventually settles down and delivers a genuinely heartfelt performance. Wiest is good but not nearly menacing enough. Hauer too could have shown more bite. Larroquette gives a passable performance though he has done much better, (_Camera Store_). O'Neill is far too much oaf and not enough snarl. The other three trolls, Lewis, O'Gorman and Birkett, are delightful and I loved their Ferengi inspired performance. The Prince is pretty forgettable either in human or dog form. Davis is wonderful as Acorn. However the tip of the hat goes to Cohen for giving a very enthusiastic performance as Wolf. He is almost nauseating in the first episode but eventually gets the balance right between human and canine.

Definitely worth a watch.

* - I'm counting episodes as they were originally presented; five 90 minutes episodes. Thus when I say first episode, I'm referring to 1.1 & 1.2 as presented here on IMDB.

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 mesmerized by The Tenth Kingdom as a kid. And while this miniseries has some flaws (slow pace; repetitive humour; lame villain; a weak finale with a weird twist; bizarre development of Virginia and Wolf's relationship), there is also plenty of positives (mythology of the fairy tale world; Cohen's Wolf; a few original jokes; a cool pilot episode with magical urban-fantasy vibe). All in all, I enjoyed this series.

I would say that the show definitely looks and feels different if you're watching is it as a kid and as an adult. Many jokes and hints were lost on me when I watched the show as 6-7 years old.

Lots of dazzling special effects and good cinematography. Plus a very appealing (if oft done) premise.

Unfortunately it featured some of the most annoying, unloveable "protagonists" I've ever seen. Not to mention HORRIBLE writing and EVEN WORSE acting. I couldn't get past the first six hours... if I had heard "suck an elf" one more time, I would've hurled a bowling ball at the TV set.

The worst of all was that even the "bad guys" of the film were uninteresting. Normally when the protagonists are so pathetic one can still enjoy the film by rooting for the "evil" side to win. Not so with this movie - by the 3rd hour I was hoping EVERYONE would get wiped out by some fairy-tale-esque mass poisoning. Maybe they did and I missed it because I bailed out after 6 depressingly disappointing hours. One can only hope!

This project is my favorite series. This series was planned to be filmed for a long time . But because it didn't get enough ratings, they made it short. It would be awesome if such a masterpiece was longer . I am really sad.

This is one outstanding series-turned-movie!

Probably the best thing about "The Tenth Kingdom" is its characters, and just second to that, the story. The characters are endearing from the beginning, and you fall in love with them as the story progresses. Of course, the characters excel mostly due to their fantastic actors, who deliver completely genuine performances. There are lots of laughs, but there is a seriousness that makes everything seem that much more real. The story itself is woven together exceptionally- I have a hard time finding something to compare it to, the story is just that well put together. There is not a single moment in the movie that I just don't like... I love the whole thing, all 417 minutes. And speaking of 417 minutes, that equals just shy of 7 hours. I have seen people say that it has a running time of 4 hours, and also 10 hours. It is neither- it runs basically 7 hours long, and it is worth every minute. I would highly recommend it for all and any ages. The Tenth Kingdom is a fantastic film, that will always be special to my family and I!

Favorite when I was 9 and I watched it on TV for the first time and a favorite now 20ish years later watching it on my phone for the 100th time.

Wolf was my first bad boy crush haha.

Don't know how it took me so long to watch 'The 10th Kingdom', when it is a type of show that is right up my street. Only when it popped up as a recommendation was there sudden recognition of having heard of it and immediately it grabbed my attention. Have loved fairytales all my life (Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm Brothers being big early influences in my love of family literature), including the darker versions. The cast is a good one, with the most familiar names being Dianne Wiest and Rutger Hauer to this viewer.

Finally checking it out as a marathon on a miserable rainy day and feeling under the weather, 'The 10th Kingdom' was an absolute wonder. It totally made my week, made me forget about the time of the month stomach pains that were so agonising the previous night and am still kicking myself at how long it took me to watch it. 'The 10th Kingdom' may not be one of my all time favourite shows, but when it comes to talking about shows that is predominantly fantasy it is right up there with the best as well as the most addictive.

'The 10th Kingdom' looks great. It is beautifully and atmospherically photographed and the scenery and sets are beyond exquisite. The show does such a fine job with fully immersing the viewer into the various worlds and their lores, which is already a major plus point box ticked with it being very important in fantasy. The special effects thankfully are not cheap looking, for television fantasy shows these were actually pretty impressive and leagues above what is often seen in other shows of the genre in more recent years.

Loved the music, which is beautiful, rousing and haunting, with no questionable placement or discordance tonally. Count me in as another person that adored the opening sequence musically and visually. Was very worried that the writing would be really cheesy and corny, with too much emphasis on silliness. This aspect surprised me, as it was a surprising mix of genuinely funny humour (primarily the trolls), very sweet but not too sugary romance, touching sentiment and moments of darkness.

Also found the storytelling throughout very imaginative, the world building and immersion captivating. There were moments of silliness definitely, but not in an embarrassing way and in a way it was part of the charm. The fairytale concoctions were witty and clever and didn't feel cobbled together, and while the storytelling is wisely kept straightforward, without being too safe, it isn't afraid to show a darker side and a darker side that did unsettle without traumatising. The romance is easy to invest in.

Same with the characters, which sound like genre cliches but actually have more to them than that. One of the more interesting characters being the Evil Queen but my favourite is the wolf. The acting to me was actually fine, with only the underuse of Ann Margret underwhelming somewhat. Kimberly Williams-Paisley and John Larroquette (in an unusual role for him) are endearing, but the more colourful supporting cast are even more memorable. Was amazed at how much depth Wiest gave the Evil Queen while Hauer is formidable as the Huntsman. Standing out most though was creepy and funny Scott Cohen, he was clearly having the time of his life doing this and it was a joy to watch.

Overall, absolutely enchanting. 10/10.

This show is such a wonderful and immersive experience I will never forget. First time I saw it when I was a kid and it felt so real like listening to Mozart, suddenly I was there exploring the wonderland of the 9 kingdoms.

Thank you very much for this show! The 10 year old me will never forget it.

I think I'm going to have to disagree with the critics on this one- I thought it was pretty good. When 'The 10th Kingdom' opened to universally negative reviews and plummeting ratings back in February, I wasn't even sure I was going to take the time to watch it. I remember, about two months before it opened, reading a newspaper article on the miniseries, and laughing at it. The article wasn't very flattering, and I was looking forward to seeing it fail. As the next two months passed I saw it advertised heavily on NBC, and I thought it looked pretty good. I did some looking around on the internet, and I became intrigued by it. I was still convinced it would fail, but I found myself counting down the days until it began.

After the first installment, I was hooked. Despite being downright silly much of the time, the scenery was absolutely extraordinary, ditto for the special effects. I ended up watching all five two hour installments, and I can't think of anything better that I could have spent it on.

Granted, the series still has several problems. The one thing I was disappointed most by was the lack of screen time of many of the *name* actors. Ann-Margret had only a few minutes, and Camryn Manheim appeared in only one installment. Also, Rutger Hauer had only about twenty minutes on screen spread over several installments. While still good, John Larroquette and Kimberley Williams didn't quite have either the talent or drawing power to hold the series.

Still, it was surprisingly engaging, and very well photographed. If you have the time, watch the series, I doubt you'll be disappointed

7/10

A year before "Lord of the Rings" came along and made all previous attempts at epic fantasy sagas look like child's play, there was this great little mini-series that resulted from a USA-UK-Germany co-production.

It's about a teenage girl and her father, living in New York on the edge of central park, who through a series of unusual events end up taking refuge in a fantasy world consisting of nine kingdoms. I know what you're thinking -- this has Cheap TV Teen Fodder written all over it, and there are moments throughout where it does border on that. But as it progresses, there are enough great ideas and excellent performances to keep it well above that level, and it certainly does not look cheap.

At first the only object is to return home to their own dimension, which they almost achieve with the help of their companions -- a half-wolf, played brilliantly by Scott Cohen, and a prince who has traded bodies with a dog due to an evil witch's black magic. But as it goes on, they become involved in an epic struggle for power caused by the descendant of Snow White's evil step-mother ... and there are plenty of clever twists, turns and not-so-subtle fairy tale references to keep you hooked on this for hour upon hour. Chances are you'll probably end up like me, watching the first four or five hours in one go, then having to stop for fear of becoming one with the television.

There are appearances from cult icons such as Warwick Davis (who probably played about 90% of all memorable fantasy dwarf characters you can think of) as a tough dwarf convict, and the great Rutger Hauer (Ladyhawke, Blade Runner) who plays a very cool 'huntsman' character with a magic crossbow. The most memorable performance in the series would definitely come down to a toss-up between Hauer and Cohen, but the entire cast do a good job, and Dianne Weist in particular is perfectly cast as the deviously evil queen.

In short, 10th Kingdom is as clever, funny and dark as the fairy tales it's based on. It's an epic story about dwarfs, trolls, magical mirrors and mushrooms singing "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". Who could ask for more?

In this movie there were so many great things that not only brought up childhood memories but it also brought back an imagination to people all over the world. When I first watched the series on TV, it was like watching something that you could read in a book. Everything looked and sounded real. While watching this movie when Virginia losses her mother for the second time its just so hard to understand why this is happening to this young girl even though it is just a movie. This movie can actually take you to any of the nine kingdoms to explore with them. I really love this movie because its just so magical and so beautiful that really no words could describe how good this movie is. There are not enough hours in the day to be able to watch this movie. If I had the opportunity to watch this movie all of the time then I would.

I must admit that I could not wait to see the next part. It is definitely a worthy piece of TV entertainment. I think that an Evil Queen character was not so much evil after all. For most of screen time she argues with the Troll King without doing much else. The person called Evil is supposed to do a bit more evil. I would say that her character was underdeveloped. And there is one thing which I disliked very much. Should even a fairy tale include a piece of court room drama these days? I think that is was totally unjustifiable waste of time aside from the problem of American obsession with courts and lawyers. This made me give this feature only 7 out of 10.

I started to watch The 10th Kingdom on DVD at a friends suggestion. I suffered through the first disc in agony. This movie is chock full of way-over-the-top "acting" from maddeningly obnoxious, screeching trolls to a hyperactive hyper-loud wolf. The one actor who did not play her role in this over-the-top fashion was Dianne Weist as The Evil Queen. Instead she phoned in her dull, lifeless performance and was utterly boring. I cannot stress enough what a piece of crap this mini-series is and, unless you like unpleasant frantic fairy tales that go on for hours and hours, I would avoid this made for television mess of a movie at all costs.