Barbie as the Island Princess

This movie has marginally above average animation but really excels in the music and positive messages for young girls. My dad didn't want my daughters to watch Barbie movies because of the bimbo image of Barbie but the Barbie movies contain positive role models. The scenery and voices are a nice addition to the overall movie and my daughters really enjoy the characters. Songs are well sung and catchy for the kids and generously added through the movie. The plots in all these movies are basically the same which actually seems to help my girls follow what's going on. The girl seems to always become a princess and marry a prince but very positive messages about fairness and kindness are ingrained with being royalty so I'm happy to let me daughters watch these movie.

I do think the Barbie movies deserve more respect than they do. None are among my favourite movies of all time and none are the best movies I've seen, but I find them cute, entertaining and charming with good morals, nice characters and the animation and music are also not bad at all and generally get better. The Island Princess is in my top 5 favourites of the movies, alongside Nutcracker, Diamond Castle, Prince and the Pauper and 12 Dancing Princesses(I also have a soft spot for Rapunzel and Swan Lake as well as they were along with Nutcracker the first ones I watched). In fact all of them are worth watching, even my least favourite Mariposa(and that is still quite good). Here the dialogue is occasionally corny, but on the most part sweet and heart-warming. The vocal performances are spirited, and the story is simple but cute and charming with lots of heart and positive messaging. The characters are not complex, and they don't need to be, instead they get through by their likability, Rosella is an identifiable lead and her animal friends are adorable. The music is catchy and well-sung, and the animation makes Island Princess one of the best-looking Barbie movies to date(the best looking ones are Nutcracker and Diamond Castle in my opinion) with its bright colours and beautiful backgrounds. Overall, a very nice movie that should be given a chance without any prejudice. I do got toddler friends who adore these films, but I have seen numerous examples of adults who have been satisfied with their child's enjoyment and have liked some of them too. Just for the record I happen to be somebody from outside the target audience(20 as of now) and while I can think of better movies I enjoy them too and I am not afraid to admit it. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Despite the title and the horrid animal animation, it was quite a charming movie!

Of course, my only complaint is the animation but it was 2007 so I cant try to look past that to enjoy this sweet and heart-warming movie.

I find it hard to believe that these Barbie movies don't get more exposure or recognition, because I think the are all so amazing. I didn't even know that these movies existed until I let my 2 year old daughter pick out a movie at the video store. She picked Barbie & The 12 Dancing Princesses (which is also a favorite). I expected them to be silly and not to have much depth (like my son's Land Before Time movies). Boy, was I wrong! They are so good, we've bought almost all of them now.

The reason I love this movie so much is that it's the ultimate love story (and not just love of a "boy & girl", but the love of family, too). It reminds me a little of the movie "Ever After" with Drew Barrymore. Sure, it's the standard 'formula' movie, but it's very satisfying and quite touching in the end (I even cried! A 40 year old woman crying watching a BARBIE movie! I can't believe I am even admitting that!). Not to mention, the songs are excellent. I am not much for musicals, but the songs in this movie really fit in. They don't just break out in song for no reason - it really meshes into the storyline (like most Disney movies I love like Beauty & The Beast and The Little Mermaid, but perhaps even more effectively than those). The woman that sings the songs also sang in the other Barbie musical movies and her voice is phenomenal.

The best part about this movie is that it's not scary in any way for the small kids. My son likes Barbie in the Magic of Pegasus better (because of the scary Wenlock), but watches this one along with his sister just as intently.

Keep the WONDERFUL Barbie movies coming. We are HUGE fans!

I loved this movie in so many ways. It is very nostalgic for me & the songs are soo good. Rosella has a great story, and one that teaches the audience something!