I recently checked out another Barbie movie, Swan Lake. I was curious to see how it would compare to other Barbie movies I've seen. The title suggested it would be something related to ballet, aesthetics, or maybe even a magical swan. Sometimes movie titles are pretty literal.
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🦢🪄🤴🏻🩰 ABOUT THE MOVIE 🦢🪄🤴🏻🩰
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Princess Odette works in her father's bakery. She's a humble girl from a simple family. Her life takes a dramatic turn when Odette spots a unicorn. She follows it and ends up in a mystical forest. Odette accidentally gets caught up in the situation, and now her fate – and the forest's – depend on her
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🦢🪄🤴🏻🩰 WHAT I LIKED 🦢🪄🤴🏻🩰
1) Animation
The movie is incredibly beautiful and vibrant. I was impressed by all the details. It's not just the characters that look great and realistic – the background, buildings, nature, furniture, even food – everything grabs your attention.
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I have to say, some scenes looked a bit fuzzy to me. Maybe I just wasn't watching on the right site. For instance, the castle looks super magical. I wouldn't have believed it was a real building if I hadn't known better.
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The characters, their clothes, and way of life are really realistic – and this is a 2003 cartoon. People look more lifelike in the graphics, but that's just my opinion.
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There might be some minor flaws in the visualization, but overall, I really liked it. This cartoon is definitely going to capture kids' attention. The Barbie doll comes to life here. I'd say it looks more realistic than in Barbie: The Princess & the Pauper.
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2) Locations
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I always pay attention to this. Sometimes in movies, they show a couple of streets and think that's enough, but not in this cartoon. You'd think, why bother? Kids won't remember it anyway and will just focus on Barbie. But no! There are lots of beautiful locations in this movie.
Take the bakery where Odette works with her dad. The bread looks appetizing, and I found myself wanting to take a bite of that crunchy loaf through the screen.
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I love the quaint little village or settlement where the game takes place. The houses are styled in a European flair, complete with horse-drawn carriages and old English attire.
The beautiful, whimsical forest is a highlight of the game, complete with a willow tree and a serene lake.
You can access the forest by fording a makeshift wooden bridge or by going around the waterfall.
Getting to know the forest's inhabitants is as simple as walking through a small cave.
This is also where you'll find the creepy, abandoned house that Odette was too afraid to enter.
And finally, there's the icing on the cake - the royal ball, which is definitely a highlight of the game.
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3) Characters
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I was blown away by the gorgeous characters, and it's not just the main heroes. Prince Daniel looks absolutely dashing, kind of like a prince from a fairy tale.
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He reminded me of another prince from a Barbie movie - Prince from The Princess & the Pauper, but we'll get to that later. In Barbie movies, the princes all kind of blend together for me - it's like they're just wearing different outfits.
Queen Catherine, on the other hand, is a refreshing change of pace. She's got a unique look that makes her stand out, and I love that she's not just a carbon copy of Barbie. It would have been out of place in this story if she was.
Olivia's older sister, Maria, is a sweet and skilled horseback rider. I'm curious, though - where did she learn how to ride? Their family's not exactly wealthy, so it's surprising they could afford such an expensive hobby.
I was a bit spooked by Theresa's first appearance - she's not exactly the fairy type, and I thought she was a ghost at first! She's definitely older than Odette, but she's got this sweet, gentle vibe going on. I'd say she's around 30, but she's got a youthful energy about her.
Rotbart and Odylia are the bad guys - they're father and daughter, and they're always trying to one-up Theresa.
I love how the bad guys always look a bit...off in cartoons. Rotbart's got these claw-like fingers, and he's always dressed in this dark, brooding outfit. His daughter's not exactly a beauty queen either, and she's got this annoying, high-pitched voice.
4) Storyline
The storyline's pretty engaging - it's a bit naive at times, but I found myself wanting to keep watching to see how it all plays out. I also appreciated how Barbie's not portrayed as some kind of fearless hero. She's willing to show her vulnerable side, and that's really refreshing.
I have to admit, Odette's refusal to help Theresa was a bit of a letdown. She's always been a kind and gentle soul, but she's not exactly the leader type, and it didn't seem like she was going to go out of her way to help someone she didn't know. She just kind of...bowed out, I guess.
But then things started to get really interesting. The movie really dives into the world of magic and fantasy.
It's not until Odette gets herself into a bit of a pickle that we really start to see her character develop and her willpower kick in.
I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about the ending at first. I mean, it's a kids' movie, so it's got to have a happy ending, right? But I have to say, Odette's transformation at the end was pretty impressive.
I'm not a huge fan of her dress with the wings, though. It's a bit too much for my taste. She looks more like a fairy than a swan princess to me.
🦢🪄🤴🏻🩰 WHAT DIDN'T I LIKE? 🦢🪄🤴🏻🩰
1) Names
Now, I know this might sound petty, but some of the character names really stood out to me. I mean, what's up with calling a girl Odette? It sounds more like a verb - as in, the past tense of 'to dress'.
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I also found it weird that the villain's daughter is named Odile. It's almost like it's a nod to the word 'idyll' - which, given her character, is pretty ironic.
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2) Characters
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Some of the supporting characters are just unnecessary and confusing. There are so many secondary characters that it's hard to keep track of who's who. Take the servants of Theresa, for example - they were turned into animals. It's just a bit too much.
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I also think the unicorn was unnecessary. Why not create a separate series, like 'Barbie and the Unicorn'? It would've been a great opportunity to focus on the swan and the lake.
Personally, I didn't think the mermaid character added much to the story.
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Let's be real, this unicorn is a total goofball. It reminded me of those modern guys you see online - all about boasting and making up their own strengths, and getting themselves into all sorts of trouble.
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3) The mother-son relationship
This part's a mixed bag, though. The queen is a kind-hearted woman who genuinely loves her son, but she's also got this outdated worldview where she's desperate for him to get married and have kids. Daniel's a curious and adventurous young guy who wants to make a name for himself and do some good in the world.
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The queen's always on his case about settling down and having kids, rather than supporting him in his endeavors. I mean, come on, the woman's got a throne to hold - you'd think she'd be more interested in his achievements than his marital status!
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🦢🪄🤴🏻🩰 The animation's beautiful, magical, and full of wonder. I'd definitely recommend checking it out!