Rating: 
Summary: Definitely Not What I Thought
Review: While this was an adorable movie featuring Barbie it's definitely not The Nutcracker. There was barely no dancing, it was more of a love story between Clara/Sugarplum Fairy/Barbie and Erik/Prince Erik/Ken.If you're looking for The Nutcracker this is definitely not the way to go. If you're looking for a cute cartoon romance this is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: A Classic !
Review: Although non-Barbie fans may find the animation a little cheesy, the overall production is well worth your money, especially if your children never tire of it. My 2 and 4 year olds always play with their dolls and recreate the scenes after each 'inspired' viewing.
The story-within-a-story-within-a-story (yes, 3 meta-levels) also is a great way to introduce young viewers to this literary technique. I even use it to teach this genre in my senior high English class ... and they always want to watch the WHOLE DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: Different that the typical Nutcracker ballet
Review: I'll be honest: I don't like Barbie at all. I'm actually a 20 year old guy who got stuck watching this movie with my mother. However, I was impressed. Barbie in the Nutcracker presents the Nutcracker as a movie rather than a ballet, which is something original. The CGI animation used in this movie was done really well. However, the dancing is limited. If you're looking for ballet, try the Maculay version of Nutcracker.
I'd give the movie four stars, but for the originality and price, it deserves five.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing considering it's straight to video! And Barbie's HOT
Review: I just came from seeing a live performance of the Nutcracker. I've seen more than my share of it in my 26 years. I've always loved the music, and have noticed that no two ballet companies have performed it the same. I also just watched the Barbie Nutcracker DVD. I've also noticed that animated Nutcracker films rarely feature much dancing, so don't expect a lot, but what IS there is very nicely done! Also, if you get the DVD you get an added feature, a documentary about what it's like to be a student at the New York School of American Ballet. Surprisingly interesting, even for someone who's never danced a day in his life! I doubt this is on the VHS, so this is one of those examples of why DVD is such a better choice. Anyway, as for the film, while the dancing is limited to the opening, the closing, the fairies, and the story finale, the plot of this literal telling of the Nutcracker is really quite good. Perhaps it's a bit taken from the first season of Sailor Moon, and perhaps it runs a bit like a Playstation video game adventure, but it holds your interst throughout. Also, the animation is amazing considering it's straight to Video! Don't get me wrong, this is nothing compared to Shrek or the always superior PIXAR films, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., etc..., but it's still the best stylized computer animation I've seen outside of a movie theater. The dancing is done beautifully, and the childlike fairies were adorable. I'm usually a Skipper fan, someone who was noticeably missing from this film and seems to be disappearing in general, but I have to admit that in this one Barbie was looking pretty hot herself! And what a voice! Wow, for a while I thought it was the angelic voice of Jodi Benson, who played Barbie in Toy Story 2 and is famous as Ariel, the Little Mermaid, but I was surprised to find it was someone else. Tim Curry did his best voice work yet as the evil Mouse king! I agree with another reviewer that the rock giant didn't really seem very Nutcracker-like, but the other changes to the story were fine. This is probably the best animated version of the Nutcracker I've seen so far, maybe not on a loyalty level, but definitely on the entertainment level for those who want to lessen the dancing and increase the story. All in all, I recommend this film strongly, and can't wait to get my own copy as I was watching the "family" copy. I too hope we see more from Barbie, and hopefully some of her other sisters. How many does she have now, 4? It's too bad they didn't take the animation up a few notches and try for a theatrical release, because this probably could have worked, with only a few more improvements, changes, and additions to perfect it.
Rating:
Summary: My kids loved it!
Review: Im normally a bit cynical re barbie products. I think most are cheaply made and sell only due to the barbie name. So I was very surprised how good the movie (plot and animation) were. I read the other reviews about children being scared and dont agree. The villians were the same level of scary as any cartoon or disney movie out there. I would recommend this video to any barbie crazed kids like my 3 and 5 yr old girls are. My 8yr old nephew (definite nonbarbie fan) also sat transfixed and watched the whole movie, due to the great storyline and action. If it was a straight ballet movie I sure I would have lost all three! But with the story, dance and music combination its a great way to expose your kids to the "classics" Have a great christmas!
Rating:
Summary: I was pleasantly surprised!
Review: When my 3-year-old daughter picked this movie out to watch, I tried to convince her to look at something else. But I was surprised to find that I liked this movie. The music is wonderful and now she is excited to pick Tchaikovsky out on the classical Christmas album we have. The animation was better than I expected. It has nurtured her budding interest in ballet and music. If you're expecting a not-so-interesting Barbie and Ken adventure you might find yourself pleasantly surprised by Clara and her Nutcracker.
Rating:
Summary: It's okay...but not great
Review: My 13-year-old sister got this video for her birthday and she loves it...but my step-mother & my father, both music teachers hated it. If your child loves Barbie, they'll probably love it, even if it's not a very true rendition of "The Nutcracker". I watched part of it when they showed it on TV at Thanksgiving and my first reaction was that it looked like a video game! The dancing at the end is quite good, though, as it is based on real dancers, but there is talking throughout the movie. I would highly recommend this for young children as a very basic introduction to "The Nutcracker"...but also show them another version, such as the Macauley Culkin version to show them the real dancing.
Rating: 
Summary: It isn't the ballet
Review: Since my daughter, age 7, is taking ballet, I was excited to have two things she likes combined (Barbie & ballet). Unfortunately, the plot and characters of The Nutcracker ballet have been changed dramatically and the dancing limited to the final scene. The video's plot is the nutcracker's battle to find the sugar plum princess and regain his true identity. I particularly found the added "rock giant" character distasteful. On the plus side; the animated dancing in the final scene is quite good and the music by Tchaikovsky is used consistently throughout the movie. The movie has a positive message though it is heavy handed. If you are looking for the classic ballet dancing or story you will not find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Not Bad For Barbie, Very Enjoyable!
Review: I never liked Babie, not even as a kid but I always enjoyed The Nutcracker. Being tired of watching a total musical, I was shocked to find that this video was more of a movie with a plot rather then all the charactors hopping up and down all over the picture. I love how the viewer watches as the Nutcracker and Clara bond closer as the movie Progresses. The animation is almost as good as Toy Story (Main Frame that made Barbie Nutcracker are the guys that made that computer series Reboot) But the best animation has to be the Mouse King and Pimm. Tim Curry did an excellent role playing the regal rodent and I would say that little purple bat is the cutest charactor not to mention great comic relief to the story (it's so cute when Pimm whispers as the mouse king is holdng him upside down by his feet "Sire I can't feel my toes" and he gives them a little wiggle, Just makes you want to squeeze him! Also the highlight is when Prince Eric and Clara dance together at the end, very realistic. As a major Barbie hater to enjoy a movie with the pink wearing doll as the star must be good!
Rating:
Summary: Holy Cow!
Review: Unbelievable! That's all I can say! The animation and the ballet were incomparable and I have to sing the glowing praises of Vancouver's local company Mainframe for doing an amazing job on the animation and look forward to any future movies! My four and six year old neices loved it (they wanted to watch it again as soon as it was over!) as well as my 63 and 67 year old parents. This movie spans all age groups and we all will watch this movie over and over again over Christmas. Most definitely a recommended buy!
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