The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

I am Nutcracker crazy. Attending a performance every year during the holidays is a must. It all goes back to my dad taking me to my first ballet and then, that Christmas, purchasing a wooden Nutcracker soldier for me. I was so smitten with the whole thing! I find every bit of it enchanting and so exciting. When my daughter was born, my dad started her on a Nutcracker collection of her own for her first Christmas. In fact, he bought her a sweet little Clara figurine and a small Nutcracker soldier to kick things off. We now have a collection of well over 50, including a few that came directly from Germany and some of the figurines in ornament form to hang on the tree.

So when I heard that Disney was coming out with a Nutcracker movie, just in time for the holidays 2018, I was beyond thrilled! You can bet we will be there – after all, we have a new generation to share the story of the Nutcracker with. I even presented Walter with his first Nutcracker soldier for St. Nick’s Day this year. My daughter and I are headed to the see a performance of the ballet on December 23rd – this year there is one right here in London but I highly recommend the one performed by the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto. It’s the one we have been to most often and it never fails to please. 

But, to add a movie to the mix is so wonderful and the fact that it’s from Disney (we are HUGE Disney fans) just makes it all the more special. This means that we can have a fun night (or afternoon – I’m hoping it will be one of the options for Stars and Strollers next year!) out as a family kicking off the holiday festivities! Even better, once released on DVD/BluRay, we will be able to enjoy it at home over and over again. (Did I mention that starting mid-November and right through to Epiphany we generally watch at least 2 holiday movies a day? Hmm, well, that’s another story!)

About the Nutcracker and the Four Realms movie:

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift from her late mother. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy and featuring a special performance by Misty Copeland, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale. In theaters on Nov. 2, 2018. 

PS – She isn’t mentioned here but Miranda Hart is in this movie too. You might know her from Call the Midwife. We also watched her on her own show called Miranda. Let me just say that we adore her nearly as much as we love nutcrackers. And that when my daughter and I used to watch Miranda together while my son-in-law was sleeping. We woke him up EVERY time with our raucous laughter. 

Okay, back to the Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Check out the trailer below:

So, to get in the spirit (and to tide us over until the movie comes out) here are some fun Nutcracker themed recipes and craft ideas:

Nutcracker Inspired Gingerbread House

Nutcracker Cookies

Duct Tape Nutcracker Soldier Treat Tin

Nutcracker Gift Card Holder