I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Great Film overall

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This film has received some negative reviews but in comparison with many of the Christmas offerings which offer schmaltzy sentimental rubbish this has some drama and tight spots and you are drawn into the action. The nut cracker when returned to life lacks charisma which the toy seems to have through only the voice. The contrast between Mary and her brother Max is nicely realised.Of course there is a sense of history and some scenes are reminiscent of the book burning under the Nazis and the dating of the plot as the 1920 can tend to emphasis this.The special effects are good and the rat faces well made

I don't usually do this. I don't really care enough to post on here, but for this travesty of a movie I had to register. This film has: horrible acting, horrible plot, horrible script, rotten to the bone. I have no idea for whom this movie was made, in appropriate for children boring and immature for adults. The only saving grace is that they spent 90 million on it and only got back a few grand. Anyone associated with this piece of crap should be ashamed of themselves. PS: I'm willing to bet money that anyone giving this a positive review is either associated with the film and has no soul, or has recently been the victim of a horrible TBI.

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.