Mythology

At the edge of the mortal world lies a mystical vortex which leads to the Nine Kingdoms a fantastic land where fairy tales are reinvented... and not with happily-ever-after results! An evil queen (Dianne Wiest) has just doomed Prince Wendell (Daniel Lapaine) to life as a dog. His quest to recapture the throne leads him through a portal to the mythical Tenth Kingdom... Central Park! With the help of ordinary mortals Virginia (Kimberly Williams) and Tony (John Larroquette) they battle evil in a parallel universe of vile trolls goblins and every fairy tale character imaginable. Stunning visual effects and a stellar cast include Scott Cohen Rutger Hauer Camryn Manheim and Ed O'Neill dominates this epic adventure that will enchant audiences of all ages.System Requirements:Starring: Ann-Margret Scott Cohen Rutger Hauer John Larroquette Camryn Manheim and Ed O'Neill Directed By: David Carson and Herbert Wise Running Time: 417 minutes Color Presented in "Standard" formatFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 707729127185 Manufacturer No: 12718

This epic 10-hour miniseries from the Emmy-winning writer of Gulliver's Travels was a ratings bust on television, but on video and DVD, where it can be enjoyed at one's leisure, it has a better chance to cast its magical spell. Kimberly Williams has never been more enchanting than as Virginia, a waitress who still lives with her janitor father (John Larroquette) and yearns for something exciting to happen to her. Her wish comes true when she and her father are transported from New York City into a dimension that, with apologies to Rod Serling, can only be called the Fairy Tale Zone; nine kingdoms populated by characters from fairy tales of yore. They team up with a dog who's really a prince--Wendell, grandson of Snow White--changed into canine form by the evil Queen (Dianne Wiest), who plots to usurp Wendell's throne. Father, daughter, and his royal dogness are relentlessly pursued through the nine kingdoms by the Troll King (Ed O'Neill) and his three bumbling and horrible children, and the conflicted Wolf (Scott Cohen), who is allied with the Queen but, with the aid of some Oprah-esque self-help books, tames his inner beast and falls in love with Virginia. The 10th Kingdom is a special effects extravaganza. There is indeed, as one character marvels, magic to behold here. But despite the Hallmark brand name and the presence of a grown-up Snow White (Camryn Manheim) and Cinderella (Ann-Margret), bewitched animals, magic mirrors, and trolls, this is not kid's stuff. It can get scary, surprisingly violent, and quite intense; you know, just like real fairy tales. --Donald Liebenson

The true love of a beautiful woman restores a beast to the handsome young prince he was, before a spell was cast on him.
Genre: Foreign Film - French
Rating: UN
Release Date: 11-FEB-2003
Media Type: DVD

Beauty and the Beast is one of the all-time great movie fantasies, and one of the most gorgeous pictures ever made. It was the first feature film by French director Jean Cocteau, a writer, poet, and painter with ties to the surrealists. (In fact, his first film, The Blood of a Poet, was delayed after the scandal caused by L'Age D'Or, made by his fellow surrealists Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali.) The haunting, surreal visuals (candelabra made of human hands, for example) and a sensitive performance by Jean Marais as the Beast imbue the film with an indelible, mythical power. --Jim Emerson

• From the imagination of Jim Henson and Director Nicolas Roeg

From the great Muppet creator Jim Henson comes this classic bursting with enchantment and adventure. Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston stars as the Grand High Witch in this exhilarating tale.Year: 1990

This splendid adventure-fantasy from 1990 was adapted from Roald Dahl's book and directed by maverick British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, who turned out to be a perfect (if seemingly unlikely) interpreter of Dahl's fiendishly clever tale of witchcraft in contemporary England. Scary, funny, and wildly entertaining, it's all about a young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) whose parents have died in a tragic accident, and whose grandmother (Mai Zetterling) takes him to a posh hotel in England, where a secret coven of witches is holding its annual convention. The Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston, in a scene-stealing performance) has decreed that all children in England be turned into mice, and Luke and his pal Bruno (Charles Potter) are the first victims on the list. That's when the movie magicians from Jim Henson's creature shop have their work cut out for them, turning Luke and Bruno into clever little rodents and The Witches into a dazzling display of imaginative special effects, using a seamless combination of real mice and superb animatronic puppets. Director Roeg doesn't compromise the sinister edge of Dahl's story, but comedy gets equal time from the brilliant cast including Brenda Blethyn (from Secrets and Lies and Little Voice), Rowan Atkinson (of Black Adder and Mr. Bean fame), and Jane Horrocks (Little Voice) as the Grand High Witch's beleaguered assistant. Although it was largely neglected during its brief theatrical release, this wonderful movie has since enjoyed a thriving appreciation on video--see it and you'll understand why. --Jeff Shannon

Dive beneath the wavesand beyond your wildest dreamsto an underwater playground overflowing with adventure! Featuring a magical mix of live action and animation, The Water Babies is the most fun you'll have aboveand belowsea level! When 12-year-old Tom jumps into a swirling stream, he is suddenly swept away to a fantastical place filled with music, excitement and colorful characters. Frolicking with the fish, singing with the squid and cavorting with the crabs, Tom's as happy as a clam until he grows lonesome for his friends back home. To get to solid ground, Tom must findthe Water Babiesa group of fun-loving children who live far across the ocean. For only the WaterBabies can take Tom to the great Lord of the Seathe one creature powerful enough to make his every wish come true!

What happens when a young boy named Tom, apprenticed as a chimney sweep, gets framed for theft in 1850s England? Even though a young girl named Ellie knows the real thieves' identities and tries to clear Tom's name, Tom's desperate escape run lands him right in the middle of Dead Man's Pool. Assumed to have met certain death, Tom gets sucked into a magical underwater world. Tom befriends the creatures he meets beneath the sea, and they accompany him on a journey to the land of Water Babies, where he intends to ask the all-powerful Cracken to help him return to the world above the water. Tom encounters many difficulties along the way, but he eventually arrives in the world of the Water Babies, only to watch an evil shark and eel capture his new friends. Cracken forces Tom to choose between his own return to the world and the freedom of the Water Babies. Tom wisely chooses the Water Babies' freedom, winning his own return in the process. Life is far from idyllic when Tom returns to land, but eventually the quick-thinking boy clears his name, traps the real thieves, and wins a place in Ellie's affluent family. Many adults possess fond memories of seeing this 1978 movie as children. The land portions of this 85-minute musical feature live-action footage, while the water sequence is fully animated. To a fresh, modern audience, the abrupt change from one format to the other is somewhat disconcerting, as is the choppy, older animation style. The story, based on the classic children's book of the same name by Charles Kingsley, is an intriguing look at both Victorian culture and the fantasy world. (Ages 4-8) --Tami Horiuchi

The live-action story about the woodcarver gepetto who carves himself a puppet son pinocchio. Pinocchio wants to be a real boy. This version is a little different than the cartoon version in that it is a little darker. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 02/03/2004 Starring: Martin Landau Rob Schneider Run time: 94 minutes Rating: G Director: Steven Barron

Apparently aimed at very small children and the simple-minded, adults may decide that the best aspect of this kiddie flick is the clamshell box with its dual image "Magic Action Art." Though strong technically, the blend of digital effects, animation, mattes, and miniatures is eventually too much of a hodgepodge. The plot is a confusing jumble of classic fairy-tale elements and jarring contemporary accents, attitudes, and lowbrow humor. The only real performers are Martin Landau, who is very classy as Geppetto, and a sad-looking Geneviéve Bujold. Syrupy child-star Jonathan Taylor Thomas makes you long to toss another puppet on the fire. However, the story basically follows Carlo Collodi's fairy tale and the music is enjoyable, especially the songs by Stevie Wonder. This should maintain the interest of youngsters age 8 and under. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Rediscover the magic and romance of one of the best-loved fairy tales of all time! Charming, suspenseful and wonderfully moving, Red Riding Hood is filled with stirring songs, spectacular dance numbers and superb sets! In a magical forest alive with wonderment, a little girl finds that not all is as it seems. Living alone with her mother (Rossellini), Linet (Shankley) spends her days exploring the woods with nothing to fear. But when she embarks on a perilous journey to visit her grandmother and discovers both an enchanted wolf and an evil lord in her path, it'll take a magical red cloak and a friendly woodcutter to save the day!

No Description Available.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: G
Release Date: 3-OCT-2000
Media Type: DVD

When the 2-inch-tall Tom Thumb arrives at a childless couple's door, it seems like the perfect family has been created. But a chance meeting with a pair of devious robbers soon has Tom acting as an unwitting accomplice in a robbery, thereby threatening his family's happiness. Only Tom (Russ Tamblyn of West Side Story) and his friend Woody (Alan Young) can prove the innocence of Tom's parents and bring the robbers to justice. This 1958 presentation of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale won an Oscar^® for its innovative special effects. Timeless scenes include the famous dancing shoes and the painted boy who peels himself off of a pad of paper to dance around the room. Peggy Lee and Fred Spielman provide a wealth of catchy songs that have Tamblyn, Young, and Peter Sellers singing, dancing, and performing impressive gymnastic feats. This fanciful tale will appeal to the entire family. --Tami Horiuchi

Horrific revamping of the "Little Red Riding Hood" fable follows a young woman's adventures fending off man-wolves in the forest, while granny Angela Lansbury awaits her arrival. Sarah Patterson, David Warner, Stephen Rea, and Micha Bergese also star in Neil Jordan's stylish shocker. 92 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; theatrical trailer; photo gallery.

The tangled forest is misty with mystery, the thatched cottages are cute and quaint, and the dashing rogues are devious charmers, but this revision of "Little Red Riding Hood" is not your usual fairy tale. In the troubled dreams of an adolescent girl in the hormonal rush of puberty, it becomes a veritable werewolf story with lush storybook imagery, gothic horror flourishes, and decidedly sexual implications. Director Neil Jordan, who collaborated with author Angela Carter in this 1985 adaptation of her story, applies a knowing intelligence to the bittersweet tale. The often startling transformation effects may appear primitive compared to modern movies, but the delight is in the dark imagination, dense textures, and fantastical wonders of this dream world. Angela Lansbury is the story-spinning granny and David Warner the understanding woodsman father, and watch for a devilish cameo by a sinister and seductive Terence Stamp. --Sean Axmaker