Review: Disney Nutcracker and the Four Realms Official Collector’s Edition

Like Beauty and the Beast, the upcoming “Disney Nutcracker and the Four Realms” film is a tale as old as time.

Disney goes back to the original 1816 “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King“ by E.T.A. Hoffman for inspiration and sprinkles in some of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet to come up with its own twist on this classic.

The Disney Nutcracker and the Four Realms Official Collector’s Edition that goes on sale nationwide Oct. 23, 2018, is a great primer to have in hand before heading to the film. It provides not only stunning photos from the film but features interviews with the film’s stars Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Misty Copeland, and director Lasse Hallstrom.

The 100-page magazine also contains commentary from the film’s production crew on what it took to bring this version of the Nutcracker to life for a new generation.

“This is moviemaking heaven for me. This is combining all the elements that I’m attracted to – the drama, the comedy, the music, the special effects, the animation. It’s all coming together,”  director Hallstrom says.

In the film, Foy plays Clara, a young girl who finds a Nutcracker doll among the family’s gifts and is charged by her parents to take special care of it. There she goes on a fantastical adventure.

“It’s a really special thing to be able to play a young woman who is smart and brave – someone who can do anything if only she believes in herself,” Foy says.

For those not familiar with the story, the magazine provides a brief history before diving into all aspects of the film, that is scheduled for release Nov. 2, 2018.

You learn about each of the main characters from interviews with the actors themselves. You get a look at the stunning costuming, including the breakdown of Clara’s Attic dress, her party dress and pageant dress.

In addition, the magazine provides the behind-the-scenes info you usually get as extras on the DVD/Blu-Ray release.

For example, production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas said he went to great lengths to ensure the movie looked like nothing you’ve ever seen before. To help with performances the production team decided to use as many practical effects as possible instead of CGI. Many of the forests in the film were constructed on the Pinewood Stages near London, England.

The Disney Nutcracker and the Four Realms Official Collector’s Edition is $9.99 and will be available on newsstands nationwide or by clicking this link.