The Nutcracker (DVD)

Advantages: Beautiful, carefree winding melodies, memorable sequences, wonderful for the christmas season.
Disadvantages: Absolutely none.

...Introduction The Nutcracker Ballet remains the most popular of Tchaikovsky's later works, despite being released to low acclaim during the 1890's it grew into one of the most renowned and loved classical compositions to date. Indeed, even Disney created a feature film : Fantasia, which featured Mickey Mouse as a wizards apprentice, his actions backed by the various themes from the Nutcracker ballad. Throughout last century and through into this one, the Nutcracker has proven popular in concerts all over the world, the ballad soon gained a reputation as a festive ballad, in part due to the light and airy melodies heard throughout the entire piece that excellently compliment the festive tale. Thus, most concerts run from late November through until early January. Ticket prices vary, ranging from around a tenner to fifty... Read review

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Advantages: Enchanting classical music and overwhelming themes
Disadvantages: none.

...The beginnings: = Many years ago I have watched a small animated clip for the Nutcracker. In brief it is about a girl who kills a mouse who have made a spell on a boy and turned him into a nutcracker. What was fascinating to me at that time was the beautiful Tchaikovsky musical on which the two heroes dance and dance gracefully and elegantly in a world full of magic and imagination. This was just the beginning.... The discovery: As the reckless child I was at that time, I have lost the film among many of my favorite toys and games. Yet, the music and story have captured my heart and kept a need inside me to find it and get the hold of it again. One day, when browsing through the animated movies pictures at the movie rental next to my house I saw it. I saw what I thought to be the picture... Read review

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Advantages: The music's fantastic, pretty good animation
Disadvantages: It's Barbie, so only really for girls

...My nine year old daughter Louise asked me to write this review, so that I could tell everyone about one of her favourite DVDs, that she got for Christmas way back in 2002. The DVD in question has been played many times, Louise and her six year old sister will still often watch and dance along. So here goes..... ~~~The Storyline~~~ The film begins with Barbie and Shelly practising the Nutcracker Suite, when Shelly gets frustrated Barbie starts to tell her the story of Clara and the Nutcracker. Cue the action moving to a Victorian Christmas, and orphaned Clara is helping to decorate the Christmas tree at her Uncle's. Clara dreams of a more exciting life, but during that era, anything more than getting married was frowned upon, so dreaming is all she does. Then the more daring, globetrotting Elizabeth gives her a gift, an ugly... Read review

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