Mum's Monday: Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001)

Being and adult, when I show others that I have this DVD, their initial reaction is "Barbie!" Yes, OK, but I look at it like this, it is the story of the Nutcracker (Voiced by Kirby Morrow) and Barbie is playing the part of Clara. (voiced by Kelly Sheridan)

Considering what I paid for this version, compared to if I had waited until the new one in 2018 came out on DVD or bought a real life ballet version, I think I got a good deal.

This version does follow the Nutcracker story (Original by E.T.A. Hoffmann) really well with only a few slight changes, one example being the characters are looking for the Sugar Plum Princess, not the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Changes to the original story are expected, as different versions of any film gets made, however, the Nutcracker is red, which I like because that is the colour I would associate with the Nutcracker. In another version I have seen the Nutcracker has been blue.

Yes, I have bought a Barbie film but she is playing the part of Clara in the Nutcracker, so ultimately I have bought a story of the Nutcracker film on DVD.

Also the theme music is included as well, so makes for a good close to the original more than some versions that get made. That can be said for any film where multiple versions are made, some are true to the story line and some go off in another direction only to be, in the extreme to be only slightly based on the original.

Clara receives a Nutcracker for Christmas from her Aunt Drosselmayer (Voiced by Kathleen Barr), who has travelled extensively. It is good to see she wants Clara to do the same.

Once the Nutcracker has come to life and has defeated the mice and the mouse king (Voiced by Tim Curry) for now, the adventure to return Clara home at her normal size begins.

It is good to see the ballet sequences being included in the film as having been a ballet it is a reminder of that.

Clara starts off with bare feet but suddenly she is shown to have shoes on, I do prefer her to have shoes so I am happy with this continuity error.

It seems Prince Eric has gone missing as well, what happened to him can be worked out and Clara does, I had a hunch and was proved correct.

It is good to see the Snow Fairies being resourceful when the boat gets destroyed, also the Nutcracker’s idea works well as well, the result being the Nutcracker now lead the assembled group.

When Clara ducks and hides behind the wall in the castle, I like how this is done, it is like the film crossed over from computer animated to real to include such detail in the making of it.

It is good to see practice makes perfect and I did think someone else would have walked in to the dance studio but sadly not.

I am glad they found the Sugar Plum Princess and the story of the Nutcracker shows that a Christmas present could have an effect on the rest of your life. I hope you all got what you wanted for Christmas.