Movie: Next: "Nutcracker and the Four Kingdoms"

With his story "Nutcracker and Mouse King" to the German romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann has created a piece of world literature. The fairy tale was filmed several times and Peter Iljitsch Tchaikovsky composed a famous ballet.

Now, Disney takes over the story and brings a sequel to the fairy tale at the movies. In "Nutcracker and the Four Empires", Clara, 14, lands in a magical world. Everything could be so beautiful, but there is resentment and discord there. With the help of Nutcracker soldier Phillip, Clara wants to restore peace.

In E.T.A. On Christmas Eve, Marie of Hoffmann's origin attends a fight between a nutcracker and the king of mice. Fascinated, the girl follows the nutcracker in the world of dolls, where she becomes queen. The Disney movie begins years later. Marie pbaded away and left her daughter Clara (Mackenzie Foy) with a silver egg hiding something inside. But the key is missing and Clara is disappointed.

In the house of her godfather Drosselmeyer (Morgan Freeman), she finds a path leading to the key. Clara leaves and lands in a fantastic world. He is happy, brightly colored and sweet, if not the mysterious mother Ginger (Helen Mirren) with his army of mice, which everyone is afraid of. Clara and the sugar fairy (Keira Knightley) prepare a plan to defeat Mother Ginger. The girl enters a network of intrigues, hatred and envy.

The directors Lbade Hallström ("Chocolate") and Joe Johnston ("Captain America: the first avenger") have opulently staged the story. The castle is beautiful with its colorful Russian onion domes. The nutcrackers wear rich red uniforms with shiny gold. And Clara and the sugar fairy are dressed in gorgeous scented ball gowns. Glittering dreams of little girls, which, of course, can also be purchased in the form of tailored suits.

Even with the music has not been recorded. Composer James Howard based on Tchaikovsky's ballet work. Many pieces can be heard, including the famous "Blumenwalzer", recorded by the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo play the song "Fall on me" in the credits. And also the pianist Lang Lang can be heard. Hallström and Johnston still make a clear reference to ballet, with many choreographed and charming dance scenes. Misty Copeland, Prima Ballerina of the American Ballet Theater, performs as well as Ukrainian dancer Sergei Polunin.

A dreamlike cinema, a pure romance? Not quite. Because much of the story is predictable. Despite the lush elements, beautiful music and excellent ballet scenes, the film does not develop the expected magic. It is perhaps also because Clara's figure remains pale. He is presented as a very intelligent and stubborn girl, but their angles and their edges are hardly revealed. Modest and with naive astonishment, she discovers the magical world and must then force herself to make her own decisions. A soft and soft surface that leaves no lasting impression.

More finesse and insolence would have been desired for Clara, especially in view of the difficulties she encountered. Because they are not without. When Clara and Nutcracker Phillip dare to ginger, filmmakers work with elements of a horror film. Wild and laughing horror clowns dance, hop and jump. The soldiers are engulfed from the ground. And a carousel of chains hangs. Images that may scare younger and more sensitive children. Clara defends herself bravely against these adversaries. But his thing is not that. In the end, she loves to return to her cute and innocent world. Stubbornness and rebellion? No.

– Nutcracker and the Four Kingdoms, United States of America 2018, 100 minutes, FSK 0, by Lbade Hallström and Joe Johnston, with Mackenzie Foy, Mirren Helen, Morgan Freeman and Keira Knightley.