The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

The loss of a loved one haunts gifted Clara's (Mackenzie Foy) heart, and her grief stricken father (Matthew Macfadyen) struggles to comfort her.

Festive ceremonies can't ease her troubled mind, nor can appeals to the breadth of tradition, nor the temptation to snuggle away.

Honestly immersed in dire bleak emotion, she visits a trustworthy friend (Morgan Freeman as Drosselmeyer).

And his supportive counsel and sympathetic understanding miraculously ignite her imagination, which magically blooms thereafter, a fantastic realm inadvertently emerging, wherein which she's respected as Queen.

Yet dark forces have set about undermining her rule, forces which take advantage of her naivety.

But those who remain loyal to her innate justice refuse to yield as the usurper rises, the rag tag as composed as they are outnumbered, united with the formerly influential.

Known as Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren).

As darkness descends.

In The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, an enchanting tale wildly revelling in solemn majesty, its embroiled burnished brightness boldly bursting the bland banal.

Within, inherent characteristics predisposed to leisure and play must outwit irreverent subjugation while clashing with concrete woe.

Is it so hard to enjoy the peaceful refinements a culture enlightens without being threatened by their jests?

Enamoured impulse, commercial spontaneity, sportspersonlike intrigue, a weekly night out?

Who doesn't like Mexican food?

The realization that the limitless nature of the democratic arts, as opposed to one-dimensional all-powerful commands they may be, produces much more lively overtures, which can creatively inspire curious hearts and minds, who produce much more clever material when given room to play, and freed from mind-numbing stereotypes, enlivens dull predictable routines, and lets you appreciate Birdman and Ferris Bueller sans hesitation, depending on complementary moods.

No one ever really listens to anyone who uses violence to assert themselves, although they pretend to to avoid pain.

I see smart men and women whose families respect them precisely because they don't micromanage things all the time.

They seem happy because their families are happy, and are always ready to provide assistance when required.

Perhaps Clara realizes her father is like that after contending with thoughtless Sugar Plum (Keira Knightley).

And agrees to dance with him lightly.

Caught up in spirited flight.