The Princess movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Princess

This violent action movie is available exclusively on Hulu on July 1, 2022

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 34 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: C-

IN A NUTSHELL:

This ain’t no Disney princess! The story is about a strong-willed princess who refuses to wed the cruel sociopath trying to usurp the throne. She is kidnapped and locked in a remote tower of her father’s castle. With her vindictive suitor intent on taking her father’s throne, the princess must save her family and the kingdom.

The bloody film was directed by Le-Van Kiet and written by Ben Lustig and Jake Thorton.

THINGS I LIKED:

Joey King works extremely hard in this movie. While many of the fighting scenes are ridiculously outrageous and often entertaining, she’s fun to watch and fairly believable with her British accent and fierce stunts.
Dominic Cooper does a good job as the abusive, power-hunger villain who overtakes the kingdom with his loyal warriors.
It’s refreshing to see a princess who doesn’t need a prince to save her.
Welcome humor, although not nearly enough.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

There’s very little dialogue. The majority of the movie is non-stop fight scenes.
The plot is paper-thin.
We don’t get to really know much about the princess, other than she is one, and can kick butt. It’s hard to feel invested in her, other than we don’t want bad usurpers to win.
The movie is described as a fantasy, but there isn’t any magic or cool creatures, just a castle with a Medieval-looking royal family and time period.
It definitely could have benefited from more humor.
Some people die way too easily while others who should be dead somehow live.
All of the men in the movie are either weak, incompetent, or bad (except for one: Khai).

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Extremely bloody and violent with decapitations and other gruesome deaths
Profanity
A variety of weapons are used.
Daughters of the king are considered to be mostly useless.

THEMES:

Patience
Focus
Self-defense
Family
Duty
Daughters vs. sons
Trust
Heirs to the throne
Female empowerment

INTERESTING LINES:

* “I see that I credited you with more maturity than I should have.” – The King (Ed Stoppard)

“You will find it in yourself to do your duty.” – The King (Ed Stoppard)
“That kind of thinking right now won’t help.” – Linh (Veronica Ngo)
“Your real power is not from the blade but from your heart.” – Linh (Veronica Ngo)
“A true warrior is not defined by what she fights but by what she is fighting for.” – Linh (Veronica Ngo)