The 10th Kingdom

Virginia and Tony Lewis (Kimberly Williams and John Larroquette) live in a New York apartment. One day a dog enters Virginia's life. However, the dog is not just any ordinary dog, but Prince Wendell (Daniel Lapaine) changed into a dog by an evil Queen (Dianne Wiest). Soon trolls enter the story along with magic, and the story begins.

Virginia and Tony travel through a magic mirror into the land of the nine kingdoms (with New York being the 10th kingdom. It takes Virginia and Tony little time to realize that the world they have entered has very different rules from their own. Their goal is to find a mirror that will allow them to travel back to their own world, and the quest for the mirror forms the heart of the story.

Along the way both Virginia and Tony, but most especially Virginia, are on a voyage of discovery about themselves. Through a series of vignettes they learn the history of the nine kingdoms, and learn there are mysteries related to that history. One of the most startling revelations is that Virginia and Tony are somehow involved in the nine kingdoms, but it's not until we get well into the movie that we understand the nature of their involvement.

The plot is generally coherent and I had little trouble keeping track of the parallel stories. I admit that there were a few things that confused me when I watched the story in its original television debut, but my confusion was cleared up by watching the DVD version without the commercials and all in one 7+ hour sitting.

The acting talent in this movie is phenomenal. Rutger Hauer plays the Queen's woodsman, with his own poignant story. Warwick Davis is Acorn, a criminal with a tongue-in-cheek character. Ed O'Neil is perfect as Relish the Troll King. Scott Cohen as Wolf took a little getting used to, but once I realized how he fit into the story I enjoyed his antics and characterization. Camryn Manheim makes an interesting Snow White. Ann-Margret brings class to Queen Cinderella. This list is but a fraction of the cast possible by the epic nature of this movie.

The story is an adult fairy tale. There is violence in the movie as well as a number of intense scenes that are likely inappropriate for children below the age of 7 or 8. However, for everyone else this movie is fun and complicated. If you enjoy fantasy, and you can be open-minded about how fantasy is approached, this movie could be perfect for you.


Perfect! The Best TV Miniseries Yet   March 17, 2000
Jessica (USA)
67 out of 70 found this review helpful

This movie was so incredibly well done. The cast was superb , the special effects were so unbelievable , the settings were magical and gorgeous. I'm a 13-yr-old girl, and this movie captured my soul and left me craving for more. Wolf , played by Scott Cohen , was the best part of the entire movie. He had class, was able to pull of a truly magnificent part of a half man half wolf. Not to mention that he was so handsome. The story takes place in the 9 kingdoms, you'll have to watch it to understand that better, formed by Cinderella, Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood. Virginia, a girl from Manhatten, is pulled into the kingdoms by traveling mirrors and is sent on a journey with her father, Wolf, and a dog that can talk ( I know it sounds cheesy but you have to watch it, really ). Throughout the journey their goal is to retrieve the mirror so they can return to New York, but as they come closer to the mirror it becomes harder to get. They have to enter contests and raise money to get a grasp on the mirror, but all the while a magical love story unfolds between Wolf and Virginia, making it more complicated. The movie progresses and mystery, magic, fantasy, love, humor and more are woven together to make one of the best movies I myself have ever seen. If you buy one movie at this site, make it this one, you'll never regret it.


The 10th Kingdom- A Review   April 28, 2000
Joanne (United States)
65 out of 69 found this review helpful

This movie is absolutely fantastic! It is the perfect mixture of comedy, action and fantasy. Wolf, half- man and half- wolf, definitely steals the show, but the rest of the cast is great, as well. The story revolves around Virginia (Kimberely Williams), her father, Tony (John Larroquette), and Wolf (Scott Cohen) trying to save the Nine Kingdoms and restore Prince Wendell, who is now a dog thanks to the evil Queen (Diane Weist), to his throne. What results is a breathtaking adventure which makes you hold your breath and laugh out loud at the same time. Scott Cohen plays Wolf to perfection and John Larroquette is brillantly funny as usual, constantly lamenting about the weird ways of the Nine Kingdoms. "What is it with you people?" He finally cries out. This movie is definitely worth its incredible length- 10 hours. If you don't buy it, borrow it from a friend!


The best TV miniseries in recent memory.   January 31, 2002
Thanos6 (Chapin, SC USA)
26 out of 26 found this review helpful

"Merlin" with Sam Neill comes close, but in the end it's "The 10th Kingdom" that takes the prize.

This is due in part to Simon Moore's excellent script. Although it's more than 400 minutes long, never once does "The 10th Kingdom" get boring or lag in anyway. The bit near the end with the singing magic mushrooms is funny beyond all reason.

And this is also due in part to the superb acting. Rutger Hauer is chilling as the predatory Huntsman, while Dianne West is ice cold as The Queen. Ed O'Neill brings just the right mix of evil and idiocy to his role of Relish the Troll King, while Hugh O'Gorman, Dawnn Lewis, and Jeremiah Birkett are hilarious as his children Burly, Blabberwort, and Bluebell. Daniel Lapaine is very good as both Prince Wendell and the canine impostor, Kimberly Williams gives a great performance as Virginia Lewis, and Scott Cohen almost steals the show as Wolf.

The one who DOES steal the show--at least, to me anyway--was John Larroquette as Tony Lewis. His sarcastic asides and continual flipping between optimism and pessimism make him possibly the best realized character, and John Larroquette does a magnificent job portraying him.

All in all, I HIGHLY recommend "The 10th Kingdom." Just be sure to make plenty of time, because once you start, you won't want to stop.


Absolutely Excellent!   March 21, 2002
Rachel Oliveira (Rhode Island, USA)
25 out of 25 found this review helpful

This movie has got to be one of the best I have ever seen, on TV, or in theaters.
The story is AMAZING and the cast pulls it all together beautifully. The adventures as Virginia, Her father Tony, Wolf, and Prince have as they travel the 9 kingdoms looking for a magic mirror to get back home always keeps you on your toes. There is never a dull moment. If the magical qualities of this movie do not entertain you, then the romance that blossoms between Virgina and Wolf surely will.
Speaking of Wolf, Scott Cohen did such a fantastic job of pulling this character off! I could definitely see how the wrong person cast in this role could've turned the whole movie into a bad experience. However, Scott Cohen is so vibrant and full of life that he illuminates every scene he is in.
The entire cast was phenomenal and perfectly portrayed their characters various nuances.

This movie is great for the entire family as it is full of action, romance, magic, and will surely keep you captivated through its entirety.
I, for one, am glad it was not a 2 hour film, as I really wanted it to keep going!