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Techtite's DVD Reviews! |
----------------- Feel free to contribute. As always, review submissions are accepted! ------------------
------------- Sidebar :: ------------- Does the CGI look familiar...? People who think this film was made by the folks behind an earlier computer-art cartoon are correct. However, the answer isn't "Pixar," the folks behind Toy Story and Monsters, Inc.; this was a feature made by the Canadian computer graphics company, Mainframe, who also made Reboot, Beast Machines, and many more staples of modern children's TV shows.
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Barbie in:The Nutcracker (2001) Coming to DVD October 23rd; click picture to order!
A Techtite ReviewThe Film: To be honest, I'm quite surprised at the excellent production values --as well as pure, childish enjoyment-- of Barbie's first big "movie": Barbie in The Nutcracker. With Barbie looking more life-like than ever, this will be a must-have for all families with young girls. What's even better, the storyline is enjoyable enough to keep their brothers from squirming in their seats; they may like it just as much! This will inevitably become a holiday-season favorite, for many families through the years. The story is based on the classic ballet, The Nutcracker. However, people who want to educate their younger kids on the original classic stage show, might be best to buy a DVD version of the real deal; this is a slightly modernized version of the tale, made especially compatible with the world of Barbie. This may sound like a mistake at first, though the modernized story is actually quite inspired. Meanwhile, the graphics are made to resemble toys more than actual human beings, which, in the world of Barbie (and The Nutcracker, for that matter), is right on target. The modernized tale begins with Barbie trying to teach a little girl the ballet steps of The Nutcracker. The young girl gets frustrated, and needs some encouragement. Barbie decides to tell her the tale of "Clara" and her quest to help a cursed Prince --now a Nutcracker-- in his search for the Sugarplum Princess. Along the way, Clara (who is actually Barbie; after all, it's her story!), helps the prince defeat the evil Mouse King (voiced by Tim Curry) and save the whole kingdom. There is magic galore in this tale, of course. Computer Graphics may not be as high-tech as theatrical fare like Toy Story 1 and 2, though for a direct to video production, it is still surprisingly well done. There are several scenes with computer FX galore, particularly when Barbie/Clara meets the ice fairies and forest fairies. Such moments are enhanced by the ballet's original music by Tchaikovsky, as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. As for dance numbers, the character's movements are excellently mapped from actual New York City Ballet performers, as choreographed by Peter Martins. Admittedly, this film gets a few gripes, though just a few. For one, there are occasional scenes where the background is quite obviously a 2D drawing; quite a let-down, given the high tech CGI in the foreground. Extremely young kids may also not appreciate the macabre Mouse King, nor his bat henchmen or his "rock giant" that tries to attack poor Barbie/Clara and her valiant Nutcracker. However, even my 3-year-old niece loves the video, and has already watched it half a dozen times in a mere week and a half, with no complaints at all. I would say your own young kids will give similar, favorable reactions to the show. The DVD: Sadly, there are no extras for buying the feature on DVD. The only "extra" I can think of, so to speak, is the digital picture which of course will never fade. If your kids truly enjoy this Barbie feature, I would suggest buying the DVD version while it's still available. Excessive replays of the VHS will undoubtedly make the picture lose its quality more and more over time. However, that is the only "bonus" to buying this DVD, which is totally without any major bonus material.
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