4K Ultra HD Review: “The Nutcracker And The Four Realms” Is Pure Magic

Young Clara needs a magical, one-of-a-kind key to unlock a box that contains a priceless gift. A golden thread leads her to the coveted key, but it soon disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. In that world, she meets a soldier named Phillip, a group of mice and the regents who preside over three realms. Clara and Phillip must now enter a fourth realm to retrieve the key and restore harmony to the unstable land.

As the traditional “Wish Upon A Star” Disney opening was complete, the fairy dust took the audience back in time to the traditional setting of London in 1912, almost the exact replica of the opening to the Nutcracker performance you can see at any ballet company during this time of year. Clara’s (Mackenzie Foy) eyes say it all, once she steps through the entrance of the party. There are people dancing and cheering to Tchaikovsky’s classic scores, it almost feels like you are a party guest, and more importantly, part of the play.

The viewer is immersed in a Christmas wonderland with the largest pine tree filling in the center of the room with decorative ornaments, candles, and holiday cheer. This coming of age film takes the audience into an adventure to unveil the legacy of Clara’s mother who ruled the Four Realms in terms that they all live in harmony, only to find out the Sugar Plum Fairy (Keira Knightley) was out to rule the Four Realms herself. With the help of Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), The Nutcracker Soldier, and Clara herself, she defeats the Sugar Plum Fairy with the strength of her mother’s spirit.

My only negative connotation for this film was the main end credit feature. Being an appreciator for the arts, the hip-hop dancer felt a little out of place concerning the decade this play was meant to take place in. Even though it was to appeal to millennial viewers, the film could have stayed true to the decade and honor the beauty of dance during that time era. Overall, I know families will enjoy this holiday film for decades to come.

Available on Digital, Movies Anywhere, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD January 29th