Review: Disney’s Nutcracker and The Four Realms

Our family, like so many others, has special holiday traditions. One of them is watching our favourite Christmas movies, including The Nutcracker.

This past December, however, we were busy with holiday prep, hosting guests and spending time with family and friends, and we didn’t get a chance to watch all of the movies on our list.  So, when we were offered the chance to review Disney’s new movie The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, we were happy to fulfill our yearly tradition, even if it was a bit late! (My daughter and I watched it on a snow day; it’s the perfect way to spend a snuggly afternoon inside.)

Overview

The details of the original storyline differ quite a bit from this new version, which my daughter had a hard time reconciling at first. She has a mind like a steel trap and knew exactly which details were changed from the original. 

However, Disney’s take on an old classic made for an interesting plot line. I quite liked the fact that we didn’t know what would happen next, and this movie definitely came with some twists and turns that we weren’t expecting. 

As you may know, this story revolves around Clara, a young girl who enters a fantasy world – the Land of Sweets – while visiting her uncle one Christmas Eve. In this movie, however, there isn’t just one land… there are four realms. This is where the story veers from the original. Clara is drawn to this land in search of a key to unlock a special present left by her recently deceased mother. When Clara stumbles upon this enchanted land, she finds out that her mother was once its Queen, and it’s now up to her to keep the four realms safe. 

The underlying theme of this movie is about dealing with loss, an interesting and thoughtful addition to this holiday fantasy-adventure movie.

From the opening scene to the very last, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a visual delight. The costumes and scenery are simply breathtaking.

Despite being something of a purist when it comes to movies steeped in tradition, my daughter quickly overcame her initial skepticism and really enjoyed the movie. 

Sometimes it’s good to deconstruct things… you know, shake it up a little.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is an enchanting movie that we have added to our annual holiday ‘must-see’ list.  

Note: there are a few mildly scary parts, but I’d say it’s fine for age 5+.

 

Disney’s The Nutcracker and The Four Realms is now available on Blu-Ray^TM and Digital.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this movie from Disney for review purposes. As always, I only share things I love with my readers. No other compensation for this post was provided.