George Balanchine's The Nutcracker

Buy This Item George Balanchine's The Nutcracker by Warner Home Video  Available from Amazon  $9.94  on 8-10-2008     Tchaikovsky's timeless Yuletide ballet is presented in an all-new movie version with as much eloquence as one would find in a live stage production. Replete with gorgeous costumes and scenery, George Balanchine's production, adapted by Peter Martins, features the New York City Ballet with narration by Kevin Kline. From the moment the Nutcracker prince winds toymaker Drosselmeier's life-sized dolls, viewers are ushered into the captivating story of a little girl's Christmas Eve fantasy of beauty, magic, and sugarplums. While several versions of this beloved tale are available in video, this one is distinguished for the magnificent performances of a large cast of young ballet dancers from the School of American Ballet. While Culkin lends his star-studded name, that is all he lends in what is mostly a wooden performance (he often appears on the sidelines looking quite blasé and detached). More deserving accolades go to Jessica Lynn Cohen as Marie, whose genuineness never wanes and dance steps never falter. Bart Robinson Cook is wonderful as the playful Herr Drosselmeier, and Darci Kistler is the graceful Sugarplum Fairy. Mostly this film belongs to children--both on the stage and in the audience. What is lacking in spontaneous energy of live theater is made up for in a perfectly polished performance. The only thing missing is the well-earned applause. <I>--Lynn Gibson</I> Reader Reviews I bought The Nutcracker DVD and my grandchildren loved it. We only played in five times or so and yesterday when we tried watching it, half way through it gets stuck and won't go any further. It's broken! So glad you asked me for my review because I have been trying to find a way to contact you about this problem. I really feel that I should be given a new DVD, but, again, don't know how to contact you and talk about the problem. Please refer these comments to the appropriate people. We did love it when it worked!

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker Available from Amazon Price: $9.94 Updated on 8-10-2008.

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