The Secret Kingdom Review – Entertaining, Imaginative, Family Friendly

The Secret Kingdom, from Paramount and Saban Films, brings to the screen an engaging, captivating, and entertaining story told through a child's imagination, of coping with the loss of a loved one and the stress of moving.

The film begins with a voice over as a parchment hieroglyphic map appears on screen, through the images and animation we are told of a boy king, who in his 12th year suffers great loss, and his quest to overcome the swelling darkness that envelops him.


Mending the Line Review – Inspiring and Heartwarming Veteran Drama


On the ride to the new house, we see siblings Peter, played by Sam Everingham, and Verity, played by Alyla Browne, each sitting in the back seat. Verity, dressed in white appears ashen, pasty. Peter is afraid of new places and needs to refocus his mind before he can accomplish tasks.

We overhear Peter's parents, David, played by Christopher Gabardi, and Viviane, played by Alice Parkinson, talking about the house being foreclosed and "it's only been a year." We understand clearly that Peter is processing something, the stress his parents are undergoing, the move away from his friends and a tragedy that he hasn't yet processed.

On the first night in the new house, in what appears to be a real event, but is actually a dream, the two, Verity and Peter, fall though the floor down to the underworld. Suddenly, a garrison of pangolin, a scaly skinned mammal, with a very long nose, covered in armor, appear and after Peter shows them a trinket, an ancient piece of puzzle he bought early in an old antique shop, murmurs erupt as they recognize the trinket from the prophecy which declares him king.


The Lazarus Project Review – An Intriguing Modern Espionage Thriller


As with any magical journey, the quest is discovered through a series of tests against unknown enemies. For Peter and Verity, it is no different. To find their way home, and reset the clock, they must travel through the land of enchantment, which must be protected from an ancient enemy - the evil Shroud. They are given a traveling companion, Pling, the nephew and awestruck pangolin, who explains that the directions are versed in song, and it is his obligation to sing, a task that thrills only him.

As they embark on their quest to unite five mystical treasures and save the Kingdom, Peter and Verity must face epic challenges that will test their bravery to the limit. Throughout the journey, Peter encouraged by Verity discovers courage, and as they walk through the gauntlets he finds, to save her and himself, he will need to put his anxieties, fear, and worries aside.

As they get closer to the final challenge, where Peter must confront the formidable Shroud of fear, played by Gabrielle Chan, and we see that Verity is slowly becoming a stone statute, and to reset the clock, not only must he defeat this final foe, but he must, once and for all confront his fears.


Celebrity Interview: Director Ric Roman Waugh Talks on the Making of Kandahar


The Secret Kingdom, a thrilling and unforgettable fantasy adventure fit for the whole family! The underworld is a fascinating journey and the world, with stalagmites, and sky mountains, flying dragons, and odd creatures at every encounter, will inspire and charm.

The Secret Kingdom, a family friendly film, enchanting, and hopeful, opens in theaters, on VOD, On Demand on June 9, 2023. A must see!


White House Plumbers Review – Riveting Series Unpacks Watergate


 

Country: UK.

Language: English.

Runtime: 98minutes.

Director: Matt Drummond.

Producer: Matt Drummond, Megan Drummond.

Writer: Matt Drummond.

Cast: Sam Everingham, Alyla Browne, Alice Parkinson, Chris Gabardi, Darius Williams, Beth Champion, Gabrielle Chan.

Haute Tease

  • Celebrity News: First Black Female DWTS Pro on Changing the Industry

    Professional dancer Britt Stewart is the newly minted and first Black female Pro on this season of "Dancing with the Stars" recently competing with partner and Olympic Ice Skater Johnny Weir into the semi-finals.  

  • The Annette Bening Retrospective: Four of the Finest

    The Annette Bening Retrospective, held at Laemmle’s Music Hall in Beverly Hills, showcased four of Annette Bening’s finest film performances over the past two decades beginning with her most recent Academy Award nominated role as Nicole Allgood in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT.

     
  • The Academy Announces Major Gift from the Dalian Wanda Group

    BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that it has received a $20 million gift from the Dalian Wanda Group for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

     
  • Le Temps des Gourous

    La popularité du chercheur Didier Raoult se mue en phénomène de société où se mêlent méfiance et admiration. Praticien pressé en mal de reconnaissance ou médecin aguerri, l'homme ne laisse pas indifférent au point de fasciner...ou d'agacer.

     
  • Boston Bomber Found Guilty; Sentencing to Follow

    Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon Bomber, was found guilty of homegrown terrorism and other crimes after a month long trial where the theory of mental coercion by the defendant’s brother was introduced. His guilty verdict deems him death penalty eligible.

     
  • Celebrity Interview: The Real Dish on Bravo’s First Real Housewife Alex McCord

    For Alex McCord and her hotelier husband Simon van Kempen, the roles of reality TV stars on Bravo's hit series, "The Real Housewives of New York" is not something they ever expected and initially turned down.