The 10th Kingdom

[littlefuzzy]

I like this one, I think I watched it when it aired, and I have the DVD, although I haven't watched that in a while.

Someone mentioned they watched The 10th Kingdom fairly recently, and I've been thinking about puling it out again even before this thread.

Hoodwinked and Happily N'Ever After kind of reminded me of The 10th Kingdom, in some ways.

Ya know, I don't necessarily mind when they cut credits for a mini-series, particularly if they are the same for each episode. Although, it is nice to see who a cast member is that was in say part 1, but not 2-5.

Actually, I probably would prefer that even if they cut the main credits, they keep the episode credits with guest stars, written by, and directed by for that episode.

However if there is extra footage in the credits (bloopers, or stuff like that), I don't want them to cut it.

I do like having credits on each episode of a TV series, although I usually start skipping them after a while. BTW, DVD chapters should be set up so that you can skip directly to the start of an episode, bypassing the opening credits (that are the same every episode) but not cutting into the actual story! That's just a little pet peeve of mine...

[Escapay]

So the past two nights, Kram and I have been watching "10th Kingdom". Watched part one last night and part two tonight. Forgot how enjoyable, if slow-paced, it was. But it's building up pretty good, and while I still remember much of what we're watching, it still feels like a new viewing.

albert

[littlefuzzy]

I managed to dig out my copy (literally!) and I think I'm going to give it a spin.

[littlefuzzy]

I finished the first disc, and I am really enjoying it. Regarding the credits discussion earlier, I actually prefer this without the credits, that way it doesn't seem like a 10 episode TV series, just 1 really long movie. I didn'tnotice any moments in the first disc that jumped out and said "This is where episode 1 ends and episode 2 begins."

I forgot just how cute Virginia was in this... I liked both versions of her hair, her normal haircut, and the short hair she had after it got cut.

I also forgot how dark and adult it was. Lines referring to Virginia's "succulent breasts", the scenes of animal death in the Huntsman's forest, the slaughter of the entire gypsy camp by the Huntsman and many more elements like that.

[Escapay]

I finished the first disc, and I am really enjoying it. Regarding the credits discussion earlier, I actually prefer this without the credits, that way it doesn't seem like a 10 episode TV series, just 1 really long movie. I didn'tnotice any moments in the first disc that jumped out and said "This is where episode 1 ends and episode 2 begins."

Yeah, I failed to mention that in my last post. The absence of credits really doesn't detract from enjoying the miniseries, it's just a pet-peeve of mine.

The miniseries is broken into 20 chapters per part (40 in Disc 1, 40 in Disc 2, 20 in Disc 3), and they did a good job of ensuring that each "part" ended at the end of the 20th chapter (Part 1 ends at Chapter 20, Part 2 at Chapter 40, etc.). Thus, if anyone just wants to watch the parts individually, they know to just watch 20 chapters.

I also forgot how dark and adult it was. Lines referring to Virginia's "succulent breasts", the scenes of animal death in the Huntsman's forest, the slaughter of the entire gypsy camp by the Huntsman and many more elements like that.

Me too. When it was first on, I likely didn't notice such violence/language. But rewatching it again, it's definitely darker/adult than what I remembered.

Another example I can think of is in part 4 during the Peep trial, when Virginia basically insinuates that the shepherdess girls are dirty little sluts!

Anyways, my brother and I watched parts 3 and 4 (Disc 2) last night, and are now about to start the final part. We were waiting for the Phillies game to end. They lost to the Astros in the 16th inning.

albert

[AwallaceUNC]

I actually prefer the credits-less version in this particular instance as well because the mini-series does work quite nicely as one long movie. But I'm definitely sympathetic to Escapay's wanting original presentations preserved as much as possible on home video.

-Aaron

[littlefuzzy]

Was it just me, or did it feel kind of rushed towards the end?

I wouldn't say the first disc (and maybe the second) were slow, but it seemed like they were moving a plot along that would resolve in 10 hours or so (NOT including commercials), then all of a sudden they were "whoops, we've only got 2 hours left to wrap up everything!"

Definitely not aimed at kiddies, Virginia and Wolf actually had sex, not just something that could be interpreted as making out. Wolf told her she had a little "cub" in the oven, at the very end...

Over all, I liked it, I kind of wish the troll kids would have found out the queen killed their dad, and then they cause her some trouble before the end, or at least they would have let Virginia and company go free because the trolls had a score to settle with the queen.

I'd like to see "part 2" someday.

Was anyone disappointed they didn't actually merge the 10th kingdom with the magical lands, the way they showed in the opening credits, etc.?

Also, I kind of wanted to see a resolution to the New York mess, from Tony's wishes.


Finally, now I'm the mood for another mini-series, I wish I had Gulliver's Travels, or maybe Arabian Nights.

[Escapay]

Was it just me, or did it feel kind of rushed towards the end?

I wouldn't say the first disc (and maybe the second) were slow, but it seemed like they were moving a plot along that would resolve in 10 hours or so (NOT including commercials), then all of a sudden they were "whoops, we've only got 2 hours left to wrap up everything!"

Strangely, I felt the first disc *was* slow, because of that very reason. They could have easily cut out a half-hour each the first two parts, and used that time in the last part, which went by at a breakneck speed.

I'd like to see "part 2" someday.

Me too. There were still a few plot holes to consider (the aforementioned New York mess and Troll kids for example).

When my brother and I were reading the text screens on the DVD about the other kingdoms, it makes it sound like there really is potential for a sequel miniseries, especially regarding stuff like the Ice Queen and the kingdom with Sleeping Beauty.

Finally, now I'm the mood for another mini-series, I wish I had Gulliver's Travels, or maybe Arabian Nights.

Me too. I haven't seen Gulliver's Travels in years (not since its original broadcast), and always slacked on getting the DVD. Same for the 1998 Merlin miniseries.

albert

[Disney Duster]

I don't remember it feeling rushed last time I saw it. Maybe it's because they edited stuff out of the VHS I have in the first place, so it didn't move as slow for me, but I would think you would want and exciting climax to, well, climax, not be endlessly drawn out! I mean, you want to find out and find out what the end will be through the whole, long thing.

I didn't remember, but yea, that's sad the trolls never knew the queen killed their dad and tried to get revenge. So sad.

When you say "Part 2", do you mean one you know they were thinking of doing or something that resolves or continues things that could/should be?

[littlefuzzy]

When you say "Part 2", do you mean one you know they were thinking of doing or something that resolves or continues things that could/should be?

They ended it something like this:
"I wish I could say we lived happily ever after, but soon after we got back to New York we were drawn back into the 9 kingdoms to deal with some more problems, but that's another story."

[Calamity 23]

I don't remember this that well anymore but I enjoyed it enough when it first aired that I got it on VHS (although I've never actually watched it again so that was probably a mistake). The set I have has the five episodes on individual tapes - labeled Night One, Night Two, etc., or something like that - plus a sixth tape with a "making of" feature. It came with a paperback novelization (I did read that) and the inside of the box has a lenticular picture showing the Manhattan skyline changing into a fairytale castle with the WTC becoming the highest tower of the castle. Although I think in the original ads it was the Empire State Building in the center of the picture and the castle was an upside down reflection of the city. Oh and I have the soundtrack CD too although I only ever listened to the theme song (honestly, the opening credits may have been my favorite part of the whole show!) and a poster.

As I recall the story did get pretty convoluted and silly at times but there were some parts that really were magical. It's a shame that networks can't/won't make major miniseries anymore. Even back in 2000 they were rarities. But there's been many ambitious shows, cancelled before resolving their stories, that I think would have been more suited as miniseries or the limited run shows like they have in the U.K.. I wonder if I watched this again I'd still like it as much?

[tsom]

Ahhhhh, I watched the whole thing on YouTube this summer in one week!!! I love it!!!! It was great, just like I remember it. Only let down was the ending narration. I'm kinda bummed virginia & wolf didn't have time to enjoy happily-ever-after. There should have been a sequel explaining what the crisis was that yielded their happiness. I loved learning what happened to the fairy tale characters after their storybooks ended, especially how Queen Cinderella, Queen Snow white, the Lady Rapunzel, Queen Riding Hood, and Gretel the Great were the five women who changed history! And Brave Jack became the first mayor of Beantown.

"For seven men, she gave her life. For one good man, she was his wife. Beneath the ice by Snow White Falls, there lies the Fairest of Them All."

[JustOneBite87]

Disney Duster, the 2 disc set has the exact same content as the 3 disc set except that one disc is double sided. So yes, it has the making of and everything included. Not sure why no one was answering your question.

[Escapay]

Disney Duster, the 2 disc set has the exact same content as the 3 disc set except that one disc is double sided. So yes, it has the making of and everything included. Not sure why no one was answering your question.

I wasn't even aware there was a 2-disc set, so I think that's why I never addressed that part of his post when he first asked about the different editions.

I'd probably stray away from the 2-disc double-sided set. If the flipper disc is anything like Artisan's other DVD-18's of the time (Terminator 2, Lonesome Dove, The Stand), it may not play well in players and/or freeze up at times. Our local library still has a copy of the Lonesome Dove DVD-18, and I borrowed it once to compare its playback to the two-disc set they released later. (There were no scratches on it, as few people seemed to have borrowed it). It was horrible, occasionally freezing (probably twice within an hour), the disc was slow to load, and there was a noticeable layer change.

I'm hoping that Vivendi (which has the rights to the RHI film/miniseries catalogue) releases a remastered version on DVD & Blu-Ray. I thoroughly enjoyed their Collector's Edition of Lonesome Dove (even though it was matted), and hope they'd get around to 10th Kingdom.

albert

[JustOneBite87]

I've had my 2 Disc 10th Kingdom set for a number of years now and it has always played wonderfully. Mind you, I am well aware of Artisan's crappy DVD releases in the past since I own many of them. Their Snow Queen disc wasn't even anamorphic widescreen! 10K is one of the few releases that actually had some effort put into the DVD release. Animated menus, making of Documentary, etc. It looks pretty good up-scaled on my blu-ray player but a remastered set would be nice!

[Cheshire_Cat]

I love The 10th Kingdom! I watched it on television back in February, 2000, when it first came out. I loved it then and I still love it.

I currently own the three-disc DVD set, though I haven't watched it in a while. I would really like to watch it sometime soon, but I've never taken the initiative to do so.

[AwallaceUNC]

Maybe fans should stop petitioning for a sequel (which, though it pains me to say it, almost certainly isn't going to happen) and start petitioning for a Blu-ray release instead!

[Cheshire_Cat]

Maybe fans should stop petitioning for a sequel (which, though it pains me to say it, almost certainly isn't going to happen) and start petitioning for a Blu-ray release instead!

I don't have Blu-Ray.

But I agree that a special edition DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack would be really cool.