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A must see!

The music was great.. Tchaikovsky!!! Excellent composer.
I loved the movie.
And I think the prince was hot.

Lovely music, lovely dancing, and an approachable classic for girls

Next to the Princess and the Pauper this is the favourite movie in our house for my under 5 yr old girls. It is beautifully animated, generally quite gentle and pastle in colours (so different from Fairytopia and even RApunzel), it has lovely clear messages and great music.

This is the story of Swan Lake retold for Barbie. Here she plays the role of Odette who is the daughter of a baker in a small town. Her sister is a tom-boy who loves riding horses - this sister seems quite superflouous to the story, I have never figured out why she was put in here at all.

Anyway, Odette follows a Unicorn back through a secret entrance to a magic forest. There she saves her but cutting a rope with a jewel which she has found. This turns out to be a magic jewel which only a special chosen one can pick up. It seems it is Odette who is chosen, but before she can do anything she is turned into a Swan by Rothgar who has been terrorising the forest. The Fairy Queen makes a crown out of the jewel to protect her - and changes the spell as best she can so Odette is a swan during the day and girl by night.

Odette is saved by love when a Prince, drawn into the forest by Rothgar to kill the swan, falls in love with her beauty - first as a bird, and then as a girl.

The film departs from the standard Swan lake at this point - there are lots of animals enchanted by Rothgar - but in the end it is love, and friendship which overcome all. A really nice message.

The dance scene where Rothgar puts an enchantment over his daughter Odile so that everyone thinks she is Odette is quite confusing for my littlies but does not distract from their enjoyment. The dancing is very beautifully done, lovely animation here.


I also loved the colours in this, they tended towards rich pastels rather than the glaring brightness of Rapunzel and Fairytopia

Finally, the music. I loved it - it is of course from the Ballet itself, and it is lovely. I think this is such a nice way for children to be introduced to ballet and to classical music.


A great movie, good messages and fun to watch as a family.

Lovely adaptation of the Tchaikovsky classic ballet...

This film is not just for young Barbie fans. It is also for their moms - particularly moms like me who grew up admiring Tchaikovsky's beautiful "Swan Lake" ballet. I saw it performed by the Royal Ballet in London as a teenager and have been enraptured with the story eversince.

I purchased this DVD for my 3 year old daughter for us to watch and enjoy together. My daughter loves it because of the sweet story, playful characters, the dances and, of course, for Barbie! What I enjoyed about this movie is how it captures the spirit of the ballet. Any decent adaptation of "Swan Lake" needs to incorporate Tchaikovsky's music into the story and this movie does just that. Add to this the lovely ballet that the characters perform and a plot that stays fairly true to the original (albeit minor changes to make it more G or PG-ish). In this case, Odette becomes lost in the Enchanted Forest and is captured and transformed into a swan by the evil Rothbart. The fairy queen helps her by changing the spell so that she becomes a swan by day but transforms back to her old self at night. While wandering the forest the Prince Daniel meets and falls in love with Odette but only through courage and strength can Odette find a way to defeat Rothbart and break the spell.

This is a lovely story that any young girl (and her mother) would enjoy. The CGI is splendid and the movie is filled with beautiful scenes and landscapes. The dance sequences are lovely and are lifted almost directly from Tchaikovsky's ballet and the music, of course, is wonderfully incorporated into the film. Highly recommended for Barbie, Swan Lake or young ballet fans, their sisters and their moms!

Worth the Price of the DVD Just for the "More Fun" Section

As for the movie, it is a great adventure with not one but two strong "human-looking" positive female role models - Odette and the Fairy Queen. Clean language. Much less violence than many classic cartoons 40 to 50 years older.Unlike many mainstream and Disney Products, the commercials are at the end of the disc where your child has to go and select them on purpose - not up front and auto-loading, where you have to be quick with your remote to avoid them.Three segments in the more fun section have proved to be a delightful surprise -1) a segment some of the specific ballet dances, 2)"The Music in You" a short documentary featuring real girls, who are serious young musicians playing real musical instruments, and 3)a segment on constellations. I have spent years trying to get my daughter interested in astronomy. This disc did it in a few brief minutes.Possible Spoiler: Also, the Prince is a dynamic swashbuckler who only falls for one of the villain's deceptions.

Very good

This is a very good adaptation of the superb Tchaikovsky ballet, with an entertaining story and vivid characters. The gorgeous music and ballet theme make this movie a MUST for all aspiring ballerinas. The graphics are beautiful, though the animation in all Barbie movies is fairly primitive. Also, don't miss our favorite Barbie movies: Princess and the Pauper and Rapunzel.

5 Star Movie

My 3 yr old received this as a gift for her birthday, and it's been her favorite so far. We've seen it around 20 times in the past month and neither one of us are tired of it yet. It's a simply delightful movie.

Kelsey Grammar is the voice of Rothbar, the villian. He does a few scary things, like turn the heroine Odette into a swan, but for the most part, I wouldn't describe it as a scary movie at all. We now own the other Barbie movies as well (Rapunzel and Nutcracker) and this is the least scary of the three.

In the dvd version, you can select "More Fun" from the menu, and then select dancing scenes. Barbie narrates as it shows clips from the movie where there's featured ballet dancing. My 3 yr old loves to dance along, and even tries to incorporate the head movements. It's really cute, and has gotten her excited about dancing lessons.

Enjoy!

Inspirational

This animated film shows not only the incredible use computer graphics but the beauty of dance as well. I have one of the many little girls who have been inspired to the call of ballet after watching this creation. The overall story has it's short comings, but to take a popular toy and turn it into an inspiration of dance is truly wonderful. Anything that can motivate a child to reach high into the dream clouds of hope will get my vote. My kids would like to see them do the story of rumplestilskin and the spinning wheel that spins gold.Little girls will love the beauty, little boys with like the drama and heroics, the parents will praise the pure G rating and content. Great Work.

Good ballet stuff for kids

The story and characterizations are packed with instant-recognition cliches for the kids, but that way the kids will appreciate the dancing because it's done in character. Though the dancing takes only a small fraction of the screen time, it's well animated (computerized from the dancers of the New York City Ballet) and the medium is used well as a way of eliminating distractions and directing attention. Thanks to animation, the film shows us little children who dance like trained professionals. There seems to be a problem with the way they come down from jumps-- they seem to take as long as if they were bigger and had jumped higher-- but it's no big deal. I think the film could give a kid a helpful push toward appreciating ballet in particular and serious music in general. Sure the story is awful, but one movie can't have everything...

A surprise winner!

I bought this video for my princess and Barbie-obsessed 4.5yo daughter, but much to my surprise, everyone in the house enjoys it, including both of my sons (6.5yo and 2yo). Aside from a wonderful turn by Kelsey Grammar (aka Frasier and Stinky Pete) as the bad guy, Rothbart, the original Tchaikovsky music is used to nice effect and played well by the London Symphony Orchestra. The only real downside to the Barbie videos in general is that the computer animation is obviously cheaply done and therefore not anywhere close to being on a par with the animation we've grown accustomed to from Pixar films and the like. Overall, however, I give it a thumbs up and heartily recommend it even if you have only boys. You may find, to your surprise, that they love it.

I Hate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!This movie stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have all the barbie movies except this one.I have got this one yesterday and I was so excited to watch it.
I watched it.
And when I saw Rothbart,the villian,I couldn`t look at him because he was reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaly ugly and scary.
The fairy queen was not that beautiful.The unicorn was not so cute.
Now the little kids.There is just to kids who speaks in this movie.They are 6 kids in this movie.
Kelly just say to Odette OH YOU`RE SO BEAUTIFUL,and thats it.
The parts in the movie who most stinks that when Rothbart casts a spell on Odette and Daniel.
I thougt that this movie will be the best Barbie movie ever.
But it was realy boring and it realy stinks.
It dosent have that action as Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper.
I hated this one.
But I hope that the new movie Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus can be super cool.
Dont get this movie.It realy stinks.
Just get:
-Barbie in the Nutcracker
-Barbie as Rapunzel
-Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper
-Barbie Fairytopia
-Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus(The new one)
-Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia(It`s comming after Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus).
I see that everyone like this stupid movie Barbie of Swan Lake.I can`t understand it.
Somebody thinks that this movie is boring just as I think.
Who loves this movie.I dont agree.
Who hates this movie.I agree.
Look!!!!!!!!
There is something in the music who realy stinks.The most when Rothbart casts a spell on Odette and Daniel and they died.
+When Barbie is in danger and she must rescue the troll,and when she deis and the the fairy queen,the unicorn,and the kids runs away from Rothbart,When they takes Odette from the ball.
This movie is not for children.
Mattel must had a better story than this one.
Barbie in the Nutcracker is a ballet story too,but it`s 65125412747132517247235725%times better than this stupid Barbie of Swan Lake.
I can`t wait for Barbie and the magic of Pegasus.
But I hope it will never be as Barbie of Swan Lake.
I want even Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia.

How can you people like this movie..........................

How can you like this movie.
I agree with the one who said:I hate it.....this movie stinks...!
Thats right.
And she`s right,That some of the music who realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy stinks.
The worst music I have never heared about.
1.When Odette must rescue the troll from Rothbarts house.
2.When The fairy queen comes and rescues Odette from the prince`s castle.The same music and faster.
And NOW comes the wooooooooooooooooooorts music in the movie.Be careful............Please be careful.
3.When Rothbart casts a spell on Odette and Daniel and they dies.
This one...........Is scary...........my ass dances from this music..........It`s very very very very very very very very very very very very very bad too.The viollin tones is up first,and after that it begins to be lower.It was veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery termolo.It`s fast and scary.
How can you people love this movie.It`s not beautiful at all.
You say that your girls get scared.They gets scared from the Villian.....The music............and so on..........
I can`t understand how people loved this movie.
1.WHY??????
2.IT`S NOT A CLASSIC
3.IT DOSENT HAVE A BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
Barbie could make a better movie then this one like:Sleeping beauty,Cinderella,and more classical stories.
To get a GOOD movie and NO MUSIC who totaly scares,get:
Barbie in the Nutcracker.
Barbie as Rapunzel.
Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper.
Barbie Fairytopia.
I have to say.....
Fairytopia is good,but it has also music who stinks.

Great Movie!

I love this movie although I'm alot older. I love the colorful background and the music. The story is just so great. I saw this on Nickelodeon and I was just in complete awww.

BEAUTIFUL*~*~*

BEAUTFUL, as usual Mattel makes another gorgeous Barbie movie with an enchanting story to it! I own all 3, and I'm 22! Pathetic? No. Honest! So listen to me when I say little girls, and young at heart will enjoy these magical dvd's for years to come. Barbie Rocks! ~*~*~*~*~*~* :0)

Beautiful Tale... Shame about the annoying villain!

Beautifully animated, readopted tale of Swan Lake. It is a shame that the character who plays the villain's daughter is portrayed as Asian, with an annoying voice, and is ofcourse, evil: Not a good role model of Asian children! All the other characters are of various nationalities. It is a shame that an attempt to give equal relevance to all nationalities ends up pidgeon-holing one: it was an embarrassment to watch the annoying villainess character. Otherwise, a superb and beautiful movie.

Um.. it's a LITTLE GIRL's movie, not an epic

I'll admit it. I was skeptical. I rolled my eyes and wondered how a Barbie movie could possibly be entertaining in any way.


But I was wrong. Sure, they're not epic, moving tales of love and excitement, meant to blow away your mind and change your views on life itself. They're little girl movies meant to entertain little girls. In fact, they entertained me, at 18, my mother and to some extent my brothers, as well as my 8-year-old sister. The animation is pure eye-candy; colorful, bright and lush. The acting isn't top notch, but it's pleasant and enjoyable. The characters are mostly adorable. They weren't meant to be anything more than cutesie girl movies. And as a cutesie girl movie, it more than suceeds.

This take of the Swan Lake introduces Odette as, not a princess, but a baker's daughter for which I give them points. Instead of the typical tomboy character who rebels against her parents, Odette is a quiet, shy girl, who loves her father and enjoys working (and dancing) in the bakery. More points for overcoming the new stereotype. She is a reluctant heroine, who thinks herself not up to the task of saving the world, but who prooves herself to have grace under fire. Finally, a girly girl is presented as something ok and not as undesirable. More points awarded.

The villian, wonderfully voiced by Kelsey Gramner, was amusing in his being completely and totally wrapped around his whiny daughter, Odile's finger. The irony was not lost on me; Rothbart perfectly in control of himself and everything at his command.. except his young girl.


The dancing scenes won me over. I was shocked when I heard actual Swan Lake music and actual ballet being performed in front of me. It was beautifully done and fit seemlessly into the movie. A wonderfu way to expose little girls to classical music and dance as an artform. In a world where this sort of thing is considered 'uncool' this was a wonderful surprise.

The hate reviews for this movie are pretty interesting. Apparantly a bunch of young teens didn't like the movie and decided to do a group bashfest. About five hate reviews are nearly identical; they love Bratz, hate this movie, and thought Bratz was 1673819x better than Barbie. Furthermore, the music was called 'not classical' and 'not beautiful', and while they are entitled to their opinion about how good the music was, the movie contained THE Swan Lake score as originally composed.

Barbie of Swan Lake was a wonderful princess tale, pretty and girlish in every way, but by no means soppy or insipid. In a way it shows how you can be a shy girl and yet still be strong and attractive. Like most Barbies the prince is more of a love-interest than a real character, but is well done nonetheless. It is a wonderful movie that girls will love, watch over and over and has only good messages to it. I was stunned by how good these movies were.

WOOF! This one is the worst! EVIL RED EYED Villian. YUCK!

This movie robs the classic ballet's music, and ruins what story there was with its evil bad guy. (You'd think it was a Disney flick.) The bad guy scared my kids, and they even had nightmares. He has a long, ugly, & pointy nose. He and his awful daughter transform into birds that are dark and intimidating. The red light glowing evil power from his eyes is plain SICK! He shoots his sorcery red power lightning to harm others and even turn Barbie/Odette into a Swan. Because she's a swan- the prince guy almost shoots her with a bow & arrow.

This movie is tense, tormenting, and was the greatest disappointment ever! Not for kids under 6.

Terrific!!

This movie was terrific! when i first got it i watched it every night and it never got old to me although i dont like the end very much but thats just the end the rest if the movie is fantastic! i really liked the music and dancing alot i definitely recommend swan lake.

BarbieLover

Barbis wins again

Another hit for Barbie! Barbie of Swan Lake features beautiful costumes, losts of dancing and gracefully waving arms, and plenty of faithful friends. Ivan the porcupine and Carlitta the skunk are adorable characters and their constant bickering always makes my seven year old daughter giggle!!! Barbie's unicorn friend was a bit sassy and lacked the charm of Penelope the dragon, Barbie's sidekick in the Rapunzel movie. The villian Rothbart was trememndously voiced by Kelsey Grammar. And although a villain, too, Rothbart's daughter, Odelle, was very grating on the nerves. Her screeching voice goes way past annoying! Still, the movie is charming and little girls and their mom's, too, will be happy to own this one.

Too SCARY for toddlers! Get your act together 'Mattel'!

The 'Mattel' and 'Mainframe' entertainment companies should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this UNRATED animation movie, with NO age recommendations on it's DVD case! My 3 year old was terrified at certain scenes in this movie. The 'innocent Barbie' theme is misleading. I'm no religious zealot or uber conservative here, but these companies should really indicate (on the packaging) that these movies can indeed scare some toddlers! All they care about is their money and profits. All the MANY negative 1-star reviews here are NO COINCIDENCE!

Magical Animation Inspires Imagination

Artisan Entertainment captures the elegance of Swan Lake through three-dimensional digital animation (think Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo vs. Power Puff Girls). The London Symphony Orchestra performs an enchanting original score to accompany the dance-like movement of the characters. When young Kelly can't sleep during a camping trip, Barbie shows her the swan constellation Cygnus. Then Barbie tells her the story of Odette (played by Barbie herself), a magic crystal, and her quest to save the Enchanted Forest. The forest is populated with elves and fairies that were transformed into animals by the hawk-nosed, spindly Rothbart, voiced by Kelsey Grammar. His spoiled daughter Odile's cackling laugh sounds as irritating as it did when actor Maggie Wheeler played Janice on the hit TV show Friends. Carlita, a skunk with spunk, and Ivan, a befuddled squirrel, provide comic relief. Computer-generated facial expressions appear lifelike. Sound effects, such as the hooves of Lila the unicorn clopping on cobblestone and the raging waterfall, are convincing.