El cascanueces: la historia no contada

One of the worst movies I have seen in the recent times. Usually i would try to find some good point in a movie, but no matter how I crack (no wonder I just watched nutcracker!) my head . . . nothing. Well, I do not want to take the credit away from the character of Mary, which was the only respite due to which at least I am rating 2 out of 10. When you go for such movies usually plot is not up for critical review, but this movie beats the lowest of the standards. Music is terrible, actors (except Elle) are worse, the flow of the movie allows anybody to keep jumping out for some popcorn. One might expect at least some 3D effects to feel compensated for the time, but clearly the movie (except for the first few scenes) are much late adaptation for 3D and literally makes you feel cheated. Usually, such movies that are targeted towards younger audiences manage extra chuckles from the young ones in the theater, but this movie succeeded in getting yawns from them!.

I saw this movie with my wife and daughter (7) in America recently, we are from Ireland. We were excited to go and see it as it is the only story written in which my daughter name is used. Unfortunately we were very disappointed when we realized the main characters name was changed to Mary. In the original story and ballet the little girl's name is 'Clara', in future productions please pay attention to the small details. As for the movie it was entertaining the story follows the ballet version to a point but is let down by the lack of music. The main focus seemed to be placed on the special effects in which the Nut Cracker and Clara are transported to the princes world, The Rat King played by John Turturro was well done he is a very fine actor. The make-up on the rats and the rat king was more akin to 'The Grinch' movie starring Jim Carrey than something more original. What was good was the color used, the sets and the overall production it had the Christmas feel to some degree. The movie unfortunately is let down by the lack of music, the acting and particularly the connection between Clara and the Nut Cracker. Overall this movie is not great.

When I first heard of this film, I was both curious and overjoyed. The Nutcracker by ETA Hoffmann is one of my all-time favourite stories you see, and I am deeply in love with the ballet music by Tchaikovsky. However, when I heard there was 3D I wasn't as enthused. So what were my overall thoughts after seeing it? That of bitter disappointment, that's what.

The Nutcracker in 3D isn't without its virtues though. The film is visually spellbinding with wonderful sets and exquisite costumes particularly at the beginning and with the snow fairy. Also Elle Fanning is very good as Mary, instead of being obnoxious and annoying, she is heartfelt and believable.

However, I wasn't so taken with the effects, which brings me to a point I made earlier. I think the 3D was unnecessary to be honest. When I think of The Nutcracker, 3D is the last thing you expect. Sadly, it wasn't that good, it needed more clarity and sharpness and distracted rather than enhanced.

I also had mixed feelings on the songs. The music itself is outstanding, well it is Tchaikovsky what do you expect, with elegant and poignant melodies. The problem lay in the lyrics, even for Tim Rice they were really quite dull and insipid. The only songs that didn't leave me completely cold were My Secret World-while too short the melody based on the beautiful and nostalgic 2nd movement of the 5th symphony was amazing- and The Rat King's song which was quite wacky.

My main problems though with the film were with the story, writing and acting, also with the direction. Andrey Konchalovskiy said he had wanted to do this project for years, somehow that fact didn't come through loud and clear enough. The action is also very clumsy, and the pacing is much too rushed. Consequently the story instead of magical and charming like it promised with a touch of darkness and austerity to emphasize the reality is convoluted and messy particularly when the film's tone shifts, while the script especially with Uncle Albert and the "Nazi rats" is terrible with no sense of wonder or care.

The acting on the whole is pretty dire, which is very disappointing considering how good the cast looked on paper. Fanning of course gives a great performance, which is more than I can say for her co-stars who either give up half-way through or come across as wasted talent. Nathan Lane in particular tries hard but his spirited performance is hampered severely by the film's worst dialogue and the patchy accent. John Tuturo, with a David Bowie-like wig, fares a little better but does verge on overracting. It is not entirely his fault as the script lets him down terribly making him come across as cartoony. Likewise with Frances DeLa Tour. I liked the Snow Fairy though, she was beautiful and suitably mysterious. Shirley Henderson is okay as Nutcracker, but I didn't find Nutcracker heroic enough, and the message seemed to originate from Uncle Albert rather than Nutcracker here. Worst is the Prince, his wooden acting makes marionettes more animated. At the end of the day, I only cared character-wise for Mary.

Also, I think the film is 15 minutes too long. The Nutcracker works better in my view as a 75 minute film, because of the length there was a lot of filler that perhaps didn't need to be there. I wish to say before I am told I am being unfair that I am well aware this was an untold story. Also I didn't mind whether it was the story or not, so long as it stuck with its charm and magic. And that was my main problem with The Nutcracker in 3D, it didn't do that. I didn't think much of the title either, something like Nutcracker:The Untold Story would have been much more fitting.

Overall, in my personal opinion The Nutcracker in 3D is this year's biggest disappointment. It had all the ingredients for a worthwhile Christmas cracker, but it came across as rather charmless family fare with a convoluted story, poor acting on the whole and the unnecessary inclusion of 3D. 3/10 for the production values, Tchaikovsky's music and Elle Fanning, and I also think if Hoffmann or Tchaikovsky were alive to see this they would ask for a letter of apology. Bethany Cox

Even the kids hated it. At end daughter asked if we could put it in the rubbish. I wanted to stop watching by halfway.

Holocaust themes, dark and violent for younger children, and lots of rat teeth.

To be fair, make-up and costumes were alright plus Elle Fanning is gorgeous and a talented actress but even as the main redeeming feature she was unable to support this holocaust-themed bastardisation of a ballet. Tim Rice may be good at lyrics but the breaks into song were un-natural and whole thing forced, boring and dreary. Composers would be turning in their graves. I truly hope I never watch this again!

Disappointing in most respects. Inconsistent plot, poor lyrics, poor music adaptation, unconvincing acting for most of the movie. Like most reviewers will probably acknowledge, the visual effects are OK, but have no cause to serve. The film is a waste of nice animation, exactly what I wouldn't have expected from Koncealovski. And now, for a few upsetting details...

It is very difficult to become attached to any of the characters, because they are so superficially introduced. I don't get the real feeling of a backstory, which actually damages the whole universe of the film. Mary is the only character which seems alive, for better or worse. Otherwise, they are all pale and unconvincing.

The techno-fairy tale / political satire mix doesn't help either. I'm thinking of loads of splices you'd be able to make, starting from an original fairy tale, and I can't understand why you'd combine a Disney style dramatization with an oppressed-toys(and humans)-against-evil-nazi-rats uprising. It's not fun enough for adults, it's not simple and clear enough for children. And it doesn't have so much to do with the original...

And talking about the original, the use of Tchaikovsky's music is uninspired, to say the least. The adaptation sounds simplistic, and voices may not have been a good idea. First of all, because it used to be a ballet and, call me a rigid type, but I'd have loved to see it developed on this line. Second, because the lyrics are dull, and the actors' voices sound really bad at times (ok, try to make it sound natural but do follow the notes!). Third, because the modern orchestration further reduces the charm of the original, turning it into a sort of kindergarten party song. As far as the musical part goes, I'm taking Sweeney Todd as a reference. And, compared to this, Nutcracker is way below.

Bottom line? Don't see it, even if the other guy is paying. It's plain loss of time and a poor reference about the classics, if you have any children.