The Nutcracker in 3D (2010)

In 1920s Vienna, a young girl receives a magical doll on Christmas Eve.

Director:

Andrey Konchalovskiy (as Andrei Konchalovsky)

Writers:

Andrey Konchalovskiy (screenplay) (as Andrei Konchalovsky), Chris Solimine (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Philipps, Fernanda Dorogi, Kriszta Dorogi

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Philipps	...	Dr. Freud
Fernanda Dorogi	...	Dr. Freud's Niece
Kriszta Dorogi	...	Dr. Freud's Niece
Dániel Mogács	...	Trolley Bus Orchestra Conductor
Elle Fanning	...	Mary
Stuart Hopps	...	Butler / The Rat Queen's Servant
Aaron Michael Drozin	...	Max
Nathan Lane	...	Uncle Albert
Richard E. Grant	...	Father
Yuliya Vysotskaya	...	Mother / The Snow Fairy (as Yulia Visotskaya)
Frances de la Tour	...	Frau Eva / The Rat Queen
Jonny Coyne	...	Gnomad (as Jonathan Coyne)
Shirley Henderson	...	The Nutcracker (voice)
Peter Elliott	...	Gielgud
Daniel Peacock	...	Gielgud

Storyline

1920s Vienna. Nine-year-old Mary lives in a home filled with lovely things and loneliness. Bothered by bratty brother Max and neglected by well intentioned, but distracted, parents, she yearns for companionship and adventure. On Christmas Eve, Mary's beloved Uncle Albert arrives with the gift of a wooden nutcracker doll. Later that night, Mary's imagination brings the doll to life. Introducing himself as "NC," he takes her on a wondrous journey through a stunning dimension where toys assume human form and everything appears ten times larger. But danger lurks. An army of toothy rat creatures, led by the flamboyant Rat King and his devious mother, has unleashed a plot to overthrow humanity. When NC is captured and placed under a paralytic spell, Mary, Max and a spirited band of toy sidekicks must rescue him from the Rat King's clutches and thwart his wicked plans to 'ratify' the world.

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Plot Keywords:

walking through a mirror | christmas | christmas eve | toy comes to life | 3 dimensional | 

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Genres:

Action | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material, scary images, action and brief smoking

Details

Country:

UK Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 2011 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

The Nutcracker: The Untold Story

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$65,894, 28 November 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$190,562, 12 December 2010

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,178,959, 16 December 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vnesheconombank, Nutcracker Holdings, HCC Media Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Uncle Albert was hinted throughout the movie to be famous scientist Albert Einstein through references to relativity and even E=mc^2 appearing at one point. This would match up because Albert Einstein was alive at the time of the movie and lived in Germany, very close to Austria.

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Goofs

When Gielgud shows Mary the secret passage through the mirror, he repeatedly touches the glass without leaving any fingerprints although the glass is covered in dust and Mary did leave fingerprints when touching it in an earlier scene.

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Quotes

The Snow Fairy: [as Mary watches the ballerina snowflakes dancing in the air] Aren't they beautiful?
Mary: Oh, yes.
The Snow Fairy: You can join the dance if you like.
Mary: But I can't fly.
The Snow Fairy: How do you know if you've never tried?

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Connections

Version of Nutcracker! (2003)

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Soundtracks

The Rat King's Song
Written by Tim Rice
Music adapted from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Sugar Plum Fairy" from "The Nutcracker"
Performed by John Turturro

User Reviews

Not perfect but enjoyable

I watched this movie several times in spite of some very negative reviews. I must say some, not all of the criticism is valid.

I think Charlie Rowe is superb. His facial expressions and body language are right on and not over acted. They range from amazed joy to quiet reminiscence as well as outright dejected disbelief. I felt every one of his emotions with one look at his face. Now try and tell me that isn't acting. On the other hand the Snow Fairy, all be she very beautiful, was rather flippant and maybe even glib. Probably because her lines could have been phrased better. All the other characters were believable and enjoyable in their own ways. Except for my personal dislike for Uncle Albert's fronts to the audience. Just my personal preference, you are welcome to enjoy them.

Apparently the movie was not shot in 3D but enhanced in post production. As far as I am concerned that was a waste of good money. Even if some of it may have been spent in Vancouver Canada. (I know some VFX was done here. Whether for the 3D or not I don't know.) Perhaps movies originally shot in 3D would come across more natural.

It is obvious a lot of the movie is on the cutting room floor. If this ever comes out in DVD I hope they publish the full director's version. If they do I will definitely pay premium price to add this to my collection.

Will I see it again? Yes, if it ever comes here again. Love the kids, the Rat King's antics, his Mother's expressions and the ending.