"The Nutcracker" is a Family - Fantasy movie in which we watch a little girl who falls asleep after a party and she is dreaming herself into a fantastic world where toys are larger than life. Her favorite toy Nutcracker comes to life too and works as a guard who protects her from the Mouse King. After the Nutcracker saves her life, he is transformed into a Prince.

I liked this movie because I have combined it in my mind with Christmas, a Christmas tree and hot chocolate as I used to watch it when I was very young. It reminds me of some beautiful memories of mine. I also enjoyed this movie because it has an interesting plot and follows some parts of the original Nutcracker. About the direction, I have to say that Emile Ardolino did a great job on it. Regarding the interpretations, I have to mention the interpretation of Macaulay Culkin who played as The Nutcracker / Drosselmeier's Nephew and he was simply amazing and Jessica Lynn Cohen who played as Marie and she was equally good.

To sum up, I have to say that "The Nutcracker" is a great family movie to watch, with great interpretations and an amazing direction. I recommend everyone to watch this movie because I am sure that you are going to enjoy it. If you have young children then I believe that you should watch this movie with them because they are going to love it.

This 1993 Balanchine version is not as good as the 1985, 1989, 1994, 2001 and 2009 productions, all of which are just magical and entirely captivating. It is however superior to the self-indulgent Maurice Bejart, incoherent Mariinsky(the worst version) and dull 2012 Mariinsky productions. I found myself rather mixed on the whole on this version. There were things I didn't like, all of which have been said before. The sound effects really do distract from the music and quite frankly were not needed. The Nutcracker's make-up and costume looked ridiculous, I actually asked myself was there any particular reason for it to be this particular colour scheme? Macaulay Culkin is rather stiff as the Nutcracker(and I do agree he overdoes the smirking too much),and there is some overacting from Drosselmeyer. However, I did like the rest of the costumes,- well maybe except for Sugar Plum Fairy's tights- the production is well lit and the sets were enchanting. The photography was fine I thought, I highly doubt there'll be a Nutcracker production as poorly shot as the 2012 Mariinsky version. The effects are not the best I've seen but are serviceable. The music has a lot of tinkering but is still timeless and beautiful, typical Tchaikovsky really. It is lovingly performed by the orchestra and the tempos are well chosen. I do love the story, always have, and on the most part the production is faithful to the ballet, with some touches like Marie sneaking downstairs, falling asleep on the sofa and then dreaming of Nutcracker and Drosselmeyer. The choreography is outstanding, with Balanchine's musicality and style all over it, the standouts being the Soldier Doll, Snowflakes, Arabian and Waltz of the Flowers dances. Culkin aside, the dancing was exemplary complete with an impeccable Corps De Ballet. Overall, problematic but does have a number of things to warrant it a partial recommendation. 6/10 Bethany Cox

This is Warmer Brothers' film version of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, The Nutcracker, filmed at New York City.

It tells the story of Marie, who dreams about her Nutcracker Prince. They journey to the Enchanted Forest after defeating the Mouse King. There, the Sugar Plum Fairy honors Marie and the Prince's presence by hosting them a number of dances - Spanish Dance, Arab Dance, Chinese Dance, Russian Dance, Dance of the Clowns and Waltz of the Flowers. These sequences are probably the highlight of the entire Nutcracker Ballet.

The special and visual effects were great and the costumes were colorful. The film's coda was brilliantly done, with the neat carriage in midair and all the dancers coming out to dance in one extravaganza number.

Tchaikovsky's music is rich and beautifully performed by the New York City Ballet Orchestra. While the adapted story line was interesting, the film in general starts off really slow, with too much focus on the children and their greedy personalities. The female lead, the girl named Marie, was a little too much in the zone - trying to act too prim, proper, and theatrical. The overall acting didn't do it for me - a little too overzealous and artificial.

If I have to compare, I would choose MGM's 1986 Nutcracker: The Motion Picture over this one.

Grade C+