The Nutcracker Prince
by Paul Schibli
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Kiefer Sutherland, Megan Follows, Mike MacDonald, Peter O'Toole, Phyllis DillerDirector: Paul Schibli
Brand: GT
Editor: Sue Robertson
Producer: Jake Eberts
Producer: Kevin Gillis
Producer: Sheldon S. Wiseman
Writer: E.T.A. Hoffmann
Writer: Patricia Watson
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 75 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-11-09
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Good Times Video
Movie Reviews of The Nutcracker Prince
Movie Review: "Long Live the Mouse King!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Please look past the awful cover and you will find a true gem of an animated movie, with great characters and animation. Produced by now defunct Canadian studio Lacewood Productions, this adaptation of the classic ballet takes a quite different approach to the story than the ballet. This is an exciting, involving story that can be enjoyed on many levels. It's also perfect family viewing; girls will be enthralled by the love story, boys will love the Mouse King. If I am to look past target audiences, though, this film just works amazingly.
The Nutcracker Prince tells of Claire, the young girl of an upper-class rural German speaking home (in which country the story takes place is never made clear). Family friend, "uncle" Drosselmeier, a renowned craftsman, gives Claire a nutcracker at the family's Christmas party. He tells her the story of how a young man was cursed by the evil Mouse Queen for helping a beautiful princess, and that only by defeating her son, the Mouse King, can he become human again. The following two nights, Claire learns that there's more to this story than just fairytale.
Let me make one thing plain; Phyllis Diller's role in this movie is NOT big. The Mouse Queen only appears for about five minutes of the film. It's not fair that her name is on the cover and not the one of Mike MacDonald, the voice of the Mouse King, when he is one of the movie's biggest roles. Because let's face it, the star of this film is the Mouse King. He is vile, repugnant and ugly. Yet in a true demonstration of the power of animation, he is absolutely amazing; a nonstop powerhouse of cruel laughs and evil intentions, quite content on threatening to kill Claire's kitten if she doesn't surrender the Nutcracker to him. There are a number of scary scenes with the Mouse King, and his interaction with Claire is practically the driving force of the film. It's also funny how he contrasts his bumbling, incompetent mouse troops.
It's interesting how this film has two animation styles. One of those only features for about ten minutes, telling the tale of the Nutcracker's origin, where the whole look is very stylised, but still lively and appealing (modern tv networks would find a lot of helpful tips from this section). The other, then, is my favourite; lively and flowing, and especially relishing in the case of the Mouse King. All of his present day scenes are divine in their beauty (even though he certainly isn't). Mike MacDonald's voice performance clinches the deal; he is scary and threatening, and bursting with personality.
Of course the timeless Nutcracker music is to be found here, even adorned with lyrics in the beautiful "If You Could Hear Me Now". There are some strong supporting roles, such as the aged colonel and Claire's vain doll. Mostly, though, this film belongs to Claire, the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. This is a wonderful family film that can be enjoyed on many levels, visually and in terms of story, characters and moral. So basically, this is an excellent movie.
Summary of The Nutcracker Prince
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