Magic of the Kingdoms
Today, I think back on The 10th Kingdom. I was young when I read the novel and saw the miniseries. After all, it first aired 10 years ago. It is one of my favorite novels in the world as well as one of my favorite mini-series. Even after all of these years, the story captivates me. I've probably watched the 8+ hour long series at least 4 times (probably more) and I have read the novel at least 10 times. The story never gets old.
For those who haven't read it, it's about a daughter, Virginia, and her father, Tony, who get whisked away into a magical realm where the stories the Grimm Brother's wrote really happened. We visit the 7 dwarves cottage. Cinderella is 200 years old. And the group (Tony, Virginia, and a decedent of Red Riding-hood, Wolf) comes across a village full of Peeps - not the marshmallow type). While in this magical world, aptly named the 9 Kingdoms, they must stop the evil Queen and help Prince Wendell regain his human form (he was turned into a dog). I shan't tell you what else happens. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.
Simon Moore, who created this story, wondrously mixed the olden days with the new. There were Rolex's and fireworks in the Kingdom's with the old fashioned carriages and cooking over a fireplace, due to the fact there was no electricity. The people of the Kingdom's seemed to want new things. There was a love of boom-boxes and self-help book. No one knew what electric lights (the trolls...yes people, there were trolls thought they were candles) or cars were, but readily used elevators and stoves.
I found it entertaining to explore the world through the eyes of all the newcomers who were used to fantastical things - magic wells and mirrors, fairies, dwarves, and the like. The people from the Kingdoms were amazed by the things we take for granted, just as Tony and Virginia were amazed by the magic of the Kingdom. Often times, the awareness of cars and stoves and music makers crafted humorous scenes. But, let's think about those scenes. There's a deepness to them that are thinly veiled by the humor. Those bits touch on basic human emotions. It is thrilling and exhilarating to see or experience something new.
The troll siblings chop the cars with their axes, which they call horseless carriages, due to not understanding what they see and having a fear of it. They interpret the song, 'Night Fever' by the Bee Gees as a song about an actual illness. Wolf is thrilled by all the cooking appliances and is dazzled by the lights. Virginia is captivated by the shoes that make the wearer invisible and in love with the talking birds while Tony was thrilled by the gold fish (until it bit his finger and he had to be extra careful not to turn things into gold) and amazed by the dragon dung bean and what its magic brings him.
I think there is a lesson in all of this and that would be, enjoy life and look at things with fresh eyes. There is magic everywhere. Until next time!
For those who haven't read it, it's about a daughter, Virginia, and her father, Tony, who get whisked away into a magical realm where the stories the Grimm Brother's wrote really happened. We visit the 7 dwarves cottage. Cinderella is 200 years old. And the group (Tony, Virginia, and a decedent of Red Riding-hood, Wolf) comes across a village full of Peeps - not the marshmallow type). While in this magical world, aptly named the 9 Kingdoms, they must stop the evil Queen and help Prince Wendell regain his human form (he was turned into a dog). I shan't tell you what else happens. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.
Simon Moore, who created this story, wondrously mixed the olden days with the new. There were Rolex's and fireworks in the Kingdom's with the old fashioned carriages and cooking over a fireplace, due to the fact there was no electricity. The people of the Kingdom's seemed to want new things. There was a love of boom-boxes and self-help book. No one knew what electric lights (the trolls...yes people, there were trolls thought they were candles) or cars were, but readily used elevators and stoves.
I found it entertaining to explore the world through the eyes of all the newcomers who were used to fantastical things - magic wells and mirrors, fairies, dwarves, and the like. The people from the Kingdoms were amazed by the things we take for granted, just as Tony and Virginia were amazed by the magic of the Kingdom. Often times, the awareness of cars and stoves and music makers crafted humorous scenes. But, let's think about those scenes. There's a deepness to them that are thinly veiled by the humor. Those bits touch on basic human emotions. It is thrilling and exhilarating to see or experience something new.
The troll siblings chop the cars with their axes, which they call horseless carriages, due to not understanding what they see and having a fear of it. They interpret the song, 'Night Fever' by the Bee Gees as a song about an actual illness. Wolf is thrilled by all the cooking appliances and is dazzled by the lights. Virginia is captivated by the shoes that make the wearer invisible and in love with the talking birds while Tony was thrilled by the gold fish (until it bit his finger and he had to be extra careful not to turn things into gold) and amazed by the dragon dung bean and what its magic brings him.
I think there is a lesson in all of this and that would be, enjoy life and look at things with fresh eyes. There is magic everywhere. Until next time!
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