Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms had lots of gorgeous Christmas settings to really get you in that holiday spirit! The cinematography was really a feast for the eyes. When a movie is this beautiful, it offers something for every family member to enjoy.
Photo from Walt Disney Studios
Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms Synopsis
From Disney, here’s the official description of the Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.
Ballet in the Disney Nutcracker Movie
This is a new twist on the traditional Nutcracker ballet and the Nutcracker story. It’s fun to see The Nutcracker re-imagined; there’s something new at every turn. There is some gorgeous dancing, but it’s not the main feature of the film
The main ballet in the Nutcracker movie is a mini-sequence of the traditional Nutcracker ballet. Of course it has some of the most gorgeous sets you will ever see! However, compared to the length of the movie, it’s a minor part.
But it’s a minor part with some major significance!
The featured ballerina is Misty Copeland. I knew about Misty Copeland from seeing the PBS documentary, A Ballerina’s Tale. Misty was the first female African-American principal in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history.
I didn’t know Misty was going to be in Disney’s Nutcracker. I was so excited when I recognized her! What a wonderful feature. She dances beautifully in this Disney movie.
If you love ballet, don’t walk out of the theater as soon as the movie ends! There’s a fantastic ballet feature with Misty with a modern influence during the end credits.
Disney Nutcracker Movie is a Twist on the Nutcracker Story
My favorite twist? Clara isn’t just interested in ballet. What she’s really into, is gears and other mechanical puzzles. I love that they showed a girl interested in engineering. Clara loves to study how things work. The movie even opens with her starting a Rube Goldberg machine – a fancy silly machine where lots of things happen in succession to complete a task. Clara’s machine is a mouse trap that reminded me immediately of the Mouse Trap game we had when I was a kid. You can still get one!
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Disney Nutcracker Unique Gift ideas for girls
Engineering Toys & Kits – Gifts for Tween Girls inspired by Disney’s Nutcracker
There’s plenty of girly glitter and holiday magic to interest any girl. And who knows? It might just spark some engineering interest!
Disney Nutcracker does have suspense
If you have sensitive movie goers in your family, note that there are some scary parts in this movie. These are clearly shown in the main trailer.
There’s no blood and gore, but there are battles with toy soldiers and some scary, bouncing clown type jester guards. (Ha! Does that make any sense? You’ll have to see the movie. Then it will!)
Common Sense Media is a great place to get a thorough run-down of the movie with kids in mind. They recommend Disney’s Nutcracker for ages 8+.
My girls loved the Barbie movies when they were little, so the Barbie Nutcracker is a great option if your girl is easily scared.
With all the different movie versions of the Nutcracker, you can have your own Nutcracker tradition ever Christmas, even if you can’t go to a live ballet!
After you see Disney’s Nutcracker
Once you fall in love with the movie, check out my list of gift ideas that are great Christmas present ideas for girls, to remind her of your special outing to see Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
Resources to learn more about Disney’s Nutcracker and principal ballerina Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland taught Disney a thing or two about ballet for ‘The Nutcracker’ movie
Ballerina Misty Copeland makes ballet history
A Ballerina’s Tale – Documentary about Misty Copeland – An inspiring story of Misty Copeland over-coming all kinds of obstacles to become the first female African-American principal in the American Ballet Theatre.
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