TRAVEL CHANNEL Brings New Series SHOCK DOCS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Now on the Travel Channel with executive producer Tom Jennings for all your spooky needs comes a new series that looks at true horror stories in America with SHOCK DOCS.

The series begins with names that are familiar to most who love the paranormal with DEVIL’S ROAD: The True Story of Ed and Lorraine Warren. If those names seem familiar, then let me refresh why! A story came to theatres in 2013 with THE CONJURING telling the story of a family dealing with a dark presence in their home calling in Ed and Lorraine Warren and bringing movie goers into the chaos. Also, the film ANNABELLE in 2014, THE CONJURING 2 in 2016, ANABELLE Creations in 2017 and THE NUN in 2018.

That is not where their story began however but instead in becoming paranormal investigators in 1952 when doing such things was not even heard of.  In their 50-years doing investigations, they claim to have dealt with thousands of cases. Ed was the demonologist while Lorraine was the extremely sensitive clairvoyant while also trying to have a normal life with daughter Judy.

The word began to spread of what this couple could do speaking on the paranormal and preternatural worlds but also created techniques still used in investigations today. I think many of the paranormal investigators know who to thank for such things as advanced electromagnetic devices!

This two-hour special delves into the 1970s and 1980s and the television show led by their son-in-law Tony Spera and never-before-heard audio of Ed Warren interviewing with a poltergeist case. Spera also provided access to footage of the series "Seekers of the Supernatural" as the couple explain their workn more detail.

The episode shows the many famous cases that the Warren's attended to such as Amityville in 1975 working with George and Kathy Lutz and the demons that overtook their home. Travelling to Enfield in London where a family was being terrorized in their home. The case of 'Not Guilty by Reason of Demonic Possession' in 1981 of Arne Johnson.

When a funeral home is claimed to be filled with demons, Ed and Lorraine Warren are there in Southington, Connecticut and author Ray Garton writes a book that later finds itself in the film THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT.

This is only a small portion of the years that Ed and Lorraine Warren spent in their career with books, speaking engagements, cases and training others to continue the work they found so important.

Travel Channel knows how to start off their series and the Warren's story is the best place to start. Each installment is going to take viewers into true American horror stories and the history of these best-documented paranormal encounters. There are audio and video stories that share the terrifying tales of evil. Two of the episodes are AMITYVILLE HORROR HOUSE and THE EXORCISM OF ROLAND DOE.

"Travel Channel fans have an insatiable appetite for the classic cases that even the paranormal investigators revere," said Matthew Butler, general manager of the Travel Channel. "In these 'shockumentaries' we start at the beginning and explore why these places and cases remain the most famous - and the most haunted in the country."

The Travel Channel is for the bold, daring and spontaneous; those adventurers who embrace the thrill of the unexpected; those risk-takers who aren't afraid of a little mystery; if you're up for anything, down for whatever, and above all, love great stories, journey on to Travel Channel. We are more than you expected and everything you did not know you were looking for. Reaching more than 79 million homes, Travel Channel is the world's leading travel media brand. To find out more please visit www.travelchannel.com.

The two-hour SHOCK DOCS about Ed and Lorraine Warren is filled with information that I did not even know. I knew of their connection with The Conjuring Universe but no idea about Amityville or the other cases they investigated. That is what makes this installment so interesting, it gives the viewer a deeper look inside the story of these two remarkable paranormal investigators.

I am a huge fan of the Travel Channel and it started when I discovered the series GHOST ADVENTURES many, many years ago. I was intrigued by the GAC and the places they visited and the things that made the hairs on my arms stand up. I continue to check in on the boys (gotta love a DVR) so when I learned there was a new series from the Travel Channel, well, I had to see for myself.

It is true, this series is for those who are 'up for anything and down for whatever and love a great story' because that is what they do - bring it! I cannot wait for the next episode, especially the story in Amityville because, come on, who does not know a little about that and who doesn't want to know a whole lot more?

Tune in to the Travel Channel for SHOCK DOCS and the first special DEVIL'S ROAD: The True Story of Ed and Lorraine Warren showing now. Oh, and dim the lights because that makes everything spooky so much sweeter to enjoy.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

EMPEROR

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital and DVD from writer/director Mark Amin, Pat Charles and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of an EMPEROR.

It is the pre-civil war South and Shields Green (Dayo Okeniyi) has an important job on the plantation where he is a slave. He makes sure that things run smoothly as the plantation owner would rather spend his days gambling his life away. In a final bet, the plantation is lost, and the new owner isn't as happy to have Shields continue.

Putting a new man in charge, he is vicious and cruel finding ways to hurt Shields. He is willing to take it for his family but when returning home one day he finds his son has been severely whipped. Wife Sarah (Naturi Naughton) knows how Shields is going to react as he attacks the overseer who did it.

Once he confronts the group of men, it is chaos and all Shields can do is run with his family. Tragedy strikes and as Shields gets farther and farther away, the more people know he is a wanted man. Finding Levi Coffin (Bruce Dern), Shields asks something from the man before being chased once again by bounty hunter Luke McCabe (Ben Robson).

Shields then meets John Brown (James Cromwell) who brings his sons along to fight slavery and all those who participate in it. Brown takes Shields to meet Frederick Douglass (Harry Lennix) who offers to help him escape to Canada to start a new life. Shields makes it clear that he is going nowhere until he retrieves his son Tommy (Trayce Malachi).

Okeniyi as Shields gives a passionate performance of a man who wanted the best for his family and was willing to whatever it took to make that happen. When he is pushed because of injustice, Okeniyi gives his character the justification for what would become a symbol for many. It is a difficult role to play but he gives it what it deserves.

Cromwell as John Brown does what he always does, put in a performance of a character that is strong in belief and sees Shields as a man to know. His ideals make him stand up and challenge anyone who gets in his way, no matter the cost. Lennix as Frederick Douglass sees Shields as a powerful image and wants to save him, but Shields has other plans. Lennix always plays interesting characters and as a fan of Frederick Douglass, he did the man justice. Dern as Coffin is a man who wants to help Sheilds and his character portrayal is unexpected.

Robson as McCabe is hired to find Shields and keeps him running. This character has a proper evil streak and it shows. Naughton as Sarah wants to protect her son and her husband but knows that there is only so much a person can take when it comes to his family. Malachi as Tommy is a young man who experiences a horrific event, but his father isn't going to let him experience it ever again.

Other cast include Kat Graham as Delores, M.C. Gainey as Randolph Stevens, Mykelti Williamson as Truesdale, Paul Scheer as Duvane Henderson, Mark Ashworth as Reverand, Brad Carter as Grady, Nicholas Logan as Gunther Bowman, Chip Carriere as Tom Affleck, Sharon Blackwood as Adel Acklen, Brian F. Durkin as Erbert Jenkins, OlConnor Hammond as Oliver Brown, David Kallaway as Sam Bowmine, Erin Boswell as Abigail Henderson, and Lil Buck as Meshach and Ben Aycrigg as Watson Brown.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

EMPEROR is a film inspired by a true legend and the journey of Shields Green. As part of joining John Brown at Harper's Ferry and a part of the abolitionist movement, the film gives a history of what forced Shields' hand to fight for his son and others.

There were so many historical figures that came into his life and in the short time of one hour and forty minutes, the film does squeeze a lot of history into a short period of time. Of course, there is so much more to the story as well. Fleeing South Carolina wasn't the beginning of his story, but it is where the film picks up.

His life was a short one, but the events had an impact on other still in slavery and the abolitionists who wanted to make a difference in the fight for freedom.

In the end - son of Kings and a father of revolution!

Their Lives Feel ENDLESS

 

Jeri Jacquin

On Digital and OnDemand from director Scott Speer and Quiver Distribution comes the story of love that knows no bounds because they are ENDLESS.

Riley (Alexandra Shipp) and Chris (Nicholas Hamilton) are very much in love. High schoolers finding their way through life together feeling happy. That is all about to change when Riley wakes up in the hospital after an accident to find Chris did not survive.

Dealing with survivors’ remorse and feeling hostility from Chris’s Mom, she tries to find her way back to school and friends. The problem is there is something that keeps her from it…Chris. At first, she finds herself in solitude and thinking she is convincing herself he is near, but when she realizes he is near is changes everything.

That is until her Mom and Dad see that she is suffering more each day. Chris, on the other hand, is being helped by Jordan (DeRon Horton), a very smiley and informative spirit that lets him know how things work. When Jordan discovers Chris has made contact with Riley, it shakes them both to their spiritual core.

Riley needs to be happy and her friends see the toll all this is having on her. When she tries to explain and show them what is going on in her life, they are stunned at her strong beliefs about Chris. Before everything goes wrong, both Riley and Chris must make a decision about where to go from here.

But are their decisions the same?

Shipp as Riley is a young woman who thought she knew exactly how her life would turn out with Chris. Once that dream changed course, Shipp gives her character a deep sense of pain to the point of not realizing how it is affecting her life. This actress gives Riley passion and emotions that are complex and actually understandable.

Hamilton as Chris is a young man equally as happy with his relationship with Riley. Finding himself on the spiritual side of life is not exactly without its learning curve. Hamilton is charming, lovely and is well paired with Shipp. His character is extremely complex, more than Riley could have imagined and it is nice to see that part of the story.

Horton as Jordan is charming, quick witted and starts to believe in Chris’ ability to connect with Riley. The is a role that does not need to be big to be impactful and Horton offers us that. Janssen as Chris’ mother has anger issues of her own to deal with and she is at the opposite end of where Riley is. Understandable but there comes a time when even that anger is always pointed in the right direction.

Other cast include Famke Janssen as Chris’ Mom, Ian Tracey as Richard, Patrick Gilmore as Jenkins, Catherine Haggquist as Helen, Aaron Pearl as Chris’ Father, Zoe Belkin as Julia, BJ Harrison as Auntie, Barbara Meier as Teri and Eddie Ramos as Nate.

Quiver Distribution is a new entity launched by passionate entertainment industry entrepreneurs to partner with content creators to source commercial films and television series. Dedicated to collaborating with industry leaders and emerging talent, Quiver brings the best filmed content to screen. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.quiverdistribution.com.

ENDLESS is a sweet story of young people who have such difficult years as it is without throwing a little death into the mix. Trying to put it all into perspective is difficult from both sides but Shipp and Hamilton lay out a road map of how it can be done. It is not without pain and tears and, that being said, it is about love and what is done in the name of it.

Needing family and friends to support and finding forgiveness with Chris’ mother, Shipp’s character has so much to offer in her character’s role. Chris only has Jordan, which isn’t a bad thing because he is lively and full of information needed to understand what needs to be done for them both.

The film can be enjoyed by all ages and the component of love makes it a wonderful hug session on the sofa with the family.

In the end – true love never fades!

Beware of THE WRETCHED

 

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from writer/directors Brett and Drew T. Pierce, and IFC Midnight comes a story of mythology and horror with THE WRETCHED.

Ben (John-Paul Howard) is a teenager who is visiting his father Liam (Jamison Jones) and trying to work with the fact that they are divorcing. Making things worse is that Ben makes it clear that his father hanging out with lady friend Sara (Azie Tesfai) does not sit well with him. Working at the harbor with kids, he meets Dillon (Blane Crockarell) a kid who lives next door and his mother Abbie (Zarah Mahler) and dad Ty (Kevin Bigley).

During the night Dillion’s parents hit a deer on the way home and what they don’t know is that something is living inside the deer carcass. Ben starts hearing weird noises and follows it next door and thinks he sees something under their house but is not really sure. He also is not the only one as young Dillon is also seeing strange things.

That night, something happens to Abbie and Dillon is not sure of what he saw, only that is scares him enough to hide with Ben. That is when Ben discovers markings on the porch of Dillon’s house and reads about a witch that makes people forget about their children. Sharing what he learns with friend Mallory (Piper Curda), she tempts whatever it is and it starts a circle of horror that they might not all recover from.

Never mess with nature!

Howard as Ben is a young man dealing with the usual teenage issues of troubles, parents and girls so what’s adding a little witch problem, right? He knows fairly quickly that something is wrong, actually something is creepy, and he wants answers. As the story begins to unravel, he makes a choice to save those he loves no matter what it takes or how deep he has to go.

Curda as Mallory understands Ben and finds herself having feelings for him. When she realizes he is serious about what is happening around them, she jumps in to help him find answers but at what cost?

Crockarell as Dillon is a kid who knows that something is wrong with his mother. Let me tell you, if I was that kid, even acting, I would have been totally thrown because that witch is nothing to look at in the dark. Well done kid! Mahler as Abbie gets caught up into the chaos fairly quickly but darn it if she doesn’t freak me out in the scene with her face up against Ben’s screen door. Yeeeesh!

Bigley as Ty has no idea what is going on in his own house which was a little annoying actually at first. Then I realized that he isn’t the first guy not to notice that his wife is acting strangely. Tesfai as Sara is a friend who understands that Ben isn’t happy but then again, he might be jumping to conclusions.

Other cast include Gabriela Bloomgarden as JJ, Richard Ellis as Gage, Amy Waller as Nora, Ja’layah Washington as Lily, Judah Paul as Nathan, Pamela Gray as Counselor Rutland, Sydney Mikelle as Megan, Tug Coker as Mr. Gambel, Kenzie Jones as Ashley Gambel, Ryan Holmes as Adam and Madelynn Stuenkel as The Witch.

IFC Films is a leading distributor of quality talent-driven independent films. Some of the company’s successes include BOYHOOD, FRANCES HA, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, TOUCHING THE VOID, CHE, TINY FURNITURE and CARLOS. For more information on films from IFC please visit www.ifcfilms.com.

Special Features include Commentary with The Pierce Brothers and Commentary with Composer Devin Burrows.

THE WRETCHED is a film that twists, turns and dives into a little bit of mother nature horror that is always awesome in a dark room. I am a huge horror film fan but not of the blood and guts type, but instead stories that are dark in the telling and make me wonder from moment to moment what could possible happen next.

That’s what this film is, a cuddle up in the dark with popcorn film and a big screen television with, preferably, an excellent sound bar. A good soundtrack can make or break a film and in this case, it is done superbly. Get ready to be grabbed by your roots.

In the end – something wicked wants inside!

 

 

 

 

THE BLACKLIST Season 7 Comes to Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment comes one of the best shows on television with Raymond Reddington and THE BLACKLIST: Season 7.

The season begins with Reddington (James Spader) being kidnapped by Katarina Rostova (Laila Robins) while in Paris. Liz Keene (Megan Boone) and Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) decide it is time to tell Cooper (Harry Lennix) and Aram (Amir Arison) who he really is as Dembe (Hisham Tawfiq) goes off on his own to find him. In the meantime, the taskforce is looking into the man called “The Illusionist”.

Moving in next door to Liz, Rostova friends her and gets to know Liz’s daughter Agnes without revealing who she is. Reddington thought he had escaped but realizing that doing so put a target on Dom’s (Brian Dennehy) back. In the meantime, the taskforce has Aram go undercover looking for who is responsible for acts that seem to thrill the wealthy and finds a potential new relationship.

Cooper learns that a friend and officer in the Navy thought dead is actually alive. Redding helps to find out why this happened taking Cooper to Kuwait. Trying to find a nanny for her daughter, her nice neighbor offers to help. Next on the blacklist, Liz is investigating who wants to hurt kids at a boarding school.

Liz is looking for a new member of the team and investigating a scientist’s death linked to his A.I. work. If that is not hard enough, the group is trying to find out who is responsible for impregnating women and changing men.

Reddington is also still dealing with finding Rostova who is now trying to hurt a friend by forcing him to remember things he has been brainwashed to forget. Keeping her secret is getting harder as well when Agnus tells Liz things that send up red flags. The circle is beginning to close as Reddington and the task force get close to Rostova. Her way out is telling Liz that Reddington is lying again about who he is and confessing who she is.

Liz isn’t the only one figuring things out as Ressler comes clean about what he knows as well. It is Liz who decides to start her own files against Reddington. New to the team is Agent Alina Park (Laura Sohn) who has a past of her own that she doesn’t want to come to light.  Reddington is off to find Ilya Koslov known as Frank Bloom (Brett Cullen) and the situation is not good.

Dembe needs help when a close friend, an Imam, is in trouble and Reddington is there for him and a health issue follows him. Ressler’s brother Robby (Anthony Michael Hall) shows up to deal with something that happened to them in their younger years and is back to haunt them. A murder from 1995 is not everything Ressler remembers, and it is time to come clean on it all.

Liz comes to terms with everything that has happened in her life and makes a major decision about whether it would be Reddington or Rostova that gets her loyalty.

Spader as Reddington is nothing but spectacular. The other day I started watching episodes of BOSTON LEGAL and realize that his “Reddington” training came as early as 2004 as Alan Shore (and secretly I adore both characters equally). In THE BLACKLIST he gets a chance to be charming, a little evil, very open to retribution, loyal to his friends and has a dedication to Liz that goes beyond anything his character will let on to. As long as he keeps showing up on my screen weekly, he can be all of those things and more!

Boone as Liz is definetly a woman who is living a four-layer life. First she is an task force agent who leaves no stone unturned to get the bad guy, second she is the daughter of Russian spies and it keeps drawing her back, third she is the mother of a young daughter who is getting old enough to understand what is happening and finally – confused on all counts! As a viewer, I’m not thrilled when she turns on Reddington because, and let’s face it, no one messes with Red!

Lennix as Cooper has got to be the most patient man on the planet because if anyone else pulled the madness Keene and Reddington have – I think there would be firings and arrests everywhere! I enjoy Cooper’s stableness in the midst of his group’s ability to find themselves dealing with and there is something about his caring about everyone involved that is pretty darn cool.

Klattenhoff as Ressler seems like the straight arrow and the by-the-book guy but this season we find out a little more about his book. When his brother comes to town there is a history that has come back to call on them and gives us the first inside look to Ressler’s reason for the way he is. Arison as Aram has an interesting season and with Samara gone, the door is open for him to find a new relationship. The thing is – it isn’t the average relationship that even this character thought of. Arison’s characters brilliance comes with the tap of computer keys but when it comes to people, he needs more practice!

Tawfiq as Dembe is the other calm presence in the series. That isn’t to say there isn’t a big story behind the character of Dembe, it is just that Tawfiq has found a way to give him a quiet strength with a loyalty that is absolutely unquestionable, even if there is a moment that he does question it all. There is a connection between Dembe and Reddington that is unbreakable, and I love that about these two characters.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

The Bluray Exclusive Features include Uncharted Territory: A Season Cut Short, Deleted Scenes, Blooper Reel, Behind THE BLACKLIST: Season 7, Cast and Crew Episode Commentaries and Brian Dennehy Tribute.

There are a few things that I want to mention about Season 7 that I think are important. First, the passing of Brian Dennehy and it must be noted because this man is an actor that I have always followed. As Dom he brought life to the story of Liz, Rostova and Reddington and he will be missed. Secondly, with Covid-19 wreaking havoc in the real world, the last episode of THE BLACKLIST is amazing with its animation and comic book look which is true thinking on the show’s feet. Well done!

THE BLACKLIST is a sensational series, but it must be said that without James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, Harry Lennix, Amir Arison, Hisham Tawfiq and Brian Dennehy, it would just be a so-so series. These actors make it so much more than that, it is a mystery wrapped in an enigma that I would not miss for the world (even if Liz does make me want to scream).

On Bluray, you can revisit before the next season comes and see if there are clues we all have missed or, see the first seven seasons as a binge watch and catch up with the rest of us! You will quickly see why the series continues to be a fan favorite.

In the end – its time to make a decision!

OUT STEALING HORSES Looks Back on Life

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from Magnolia Pictures and writer/director Hans Petter Moland from the novel by Per Petterson comes the story of the memories we hold and how they catch up when you are OUT STEALING HORSES.

Trond (Stellan Skarsgard) is a man living as quiet a life as you can imagine in 1999 days before the new millennium. His days of routine are about all he does since the loss of a loved one. One evening he meets Lars (Bjorn Floberg) and memories he had put out of his mind coming flooding back.

Young Trond (Jon Ranes) is spending the summer with his father (Tobias Santelmann) in a cabin in the woods in 1948. Hanging out with his friend Jon (Sjur Vatne Brean), the boys make their way through the woods and a boat ride down the river to a band of horses. Quietly they pick their horse and off they ride.

On one particular day, Trond's father notices something different about Jon and although Trond slowly sees it, he doesn't understand why. His father explains that there was a terrible accident with his friend’s family. At the funeral Trond sees a young boy in pain.

Trying to take his mind off of it, Trond, his father and Jon's family begin logging the trees around the cabin. Trond begins to see the complexity of adult relationships and how one tragedy can lead to another and another.

Older Trond starts putting the pieces of his life together trying to give all the events meaning hope that he can find peace in his own way.

Skarsgard as Trond is a man that seems haunted by tragedy that don't just leave a mark but carves much deeper into his soul. The relationship with his father, mother and friends that should be so simple - are extremely complicated. So much so that Trond is in a small house trying to be small (which is impossible for this very tall actor). It is when he meets Lars does he examine the road it took him to get to this place. Skarsgard is such a treasure of an actor and in this film his role makes that memory process painful yet needed.

Ranes as 15-year-old Trond is a stunner from start to finish. Boyish, charming, painfully disarming and has a mind like a steel trap and we are the bait. His performance is nothing short of impressive and it should be noted as such. The role is a difficult one and he grabs ahold and puts everything in front of us as if you show 'see this and know why when I'm older'. That is a rare thing to experience in a film and this young actor does it raw.

Santelmann as Trond's father is a man who is single in thought to my way of thinking. He does not consider the people around him as much as he considers what he personally wants. This is not wasted on his son who slowly discovers the emotional selfishness one adult can have. Curcic as Jon's mother carries the burden of a son's pain but also is reckless with her own emotions.

Brean as Jon is absolutely frightening. I don't know how else to describe his time on screen. Riveting, sad, powerful and frightening. Hagen as Jon's father shocked me the most although his role is small. Without giving it away you will understand when I say with a grimace 'wow'.

Floberg as Lars is living the same life as Trond. As much as Trond doesn't want to see himself in his neighbor, their similarities in attitude and being alone make it clear that tragedy can follow us all until the age of these two men.

Other cast include Gard B. Eidsvold as Franz, Torjus Hopland Volln as Jon's brother, Anders Baasmo Christiansen as Olav and Maria Alm Norell as Ellen.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

Out Stealing Horses by Norwegian author Per Petterson received international acclaim and this included The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2007. The book has also been translated into more than 50 languages.

OUT STEALING HORSES is a film about the tragic events that happen in our lives and how, as we get older, as much as we would want to hide from it all, the memories are not far behind. Trond has no choice but to come face to face with what happened when he was 15 and how the relationship with his father and friend left their mark.

Hiding from what cannot be changed is something most of us can't do when it comes to trauma without help. Trond finds it in the most unexpected place. He remembers that love can be painful, friendships can be complicated, and adults can't always be the way you would like them to be.

This film is an example of the constant complexities of human beings and the crazy choices that are made - sometimes without the thought of how it has a ripple effect. The emotional selfishness of those Trond loves leads him to do the exact same thing without ever realizing the root cause of it all.

This is a 122-minute intense roller coaster that comes to the conclusion that we are all frail and faulted. It is in accepting that frailness and fault that can either make the golden years truly golden, or pewter spray painted with cheap gold coloring - our choice.

In the end - in our memories lies the truth of who we are.

Delights Comes with THE SWAN PRINCESS: A Royal Wedding on DVD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital and rental at Redbox from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and writer/director Richard Rich is the story of love, family and one person’s revenge with THE SWAN PRINCESS: A Royal Wedding.

Princess Mei Li has fallen in love with her true love Chen. When the emperor’s sorceress Fang tells all, Chen is put under a spell. But love saves them and they run to their Swan Princess friend Odette and Prince Derek for help along with brother Prince Li. Agreeing to escort them home and talk to Mei Li’s father, the emperor has a change of heart and welcomes his daughter back happily.

Fang is more than ever determined to stop the wedding of Princess Mei Li and Chen. Please with the spell she puts on Mei Li, it makes the princess’ friends more determined to discover what is happening in the palace.

The intrigue becomes even more serious when Fang makes her final move and convinces everyone that she is Mei Li. But Princess Odette, Prince Derek and Prince Li have other ideas to put a stop to Fang’s plan of ruining the kingdom and their young friend’s happiness.

Love is the most powerful thing of all!

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

THE SWAN PRINCESS: A Royal Wedding is so delightful from start to finish. I watched this with my granddaughter, and we had an amazing time together watching the story unfold. Almost immediately she had her eye on Fang and all the mischief the character caused. We laughed together and cheered for Princess Odette, Prince Derek, Princess Mei Li and Chen, as well as all the delightful animal characters.

When Prince Derek’s mother comes along for the adventure, it is her lovely voice singing a tender song that really choked us up. It was lovely and put in the film at just the right time. There is adventure, fun, danger, lessons, history and it is all wrapped up in the most amazing colorful filmmaking.

That’s what is important right now as we are all together with our families, a film that we can all enjoy together and talk about when it is over. THE SWAN PRINCESS: A Royal Wedding is the reason for family nights at the movies. I will admit the animals were my favorite as they always tend to be with their antics and abilities to see humans in a way that we don’t see ourselves.

So gather and celebrate royalty!

In the end – they celebrate love and friendship together!