User reviews

This is a sweet film, only for children really of course. It is basically a CGI film featuring the famous Barbie doll as Odette in Swan Lake, along with a few other characters (the only other one who was a doll originally is the prince). This film is not too mediocre and is exceedingly entertaining for most children, especially girls who love Barbie. Boys may like it as well.

For the quality of the film, there are a few things to add to it. There is quite a structured plot and well-thought characters and setting. It is not very similar to the original Swan Lake story, but luckily it is not too noticeable.

I like it because it is sweet, quite funny and has quite good dancing and music from the original ballet.

While Barbie talks to the little doll Shelley, who is going to race the next day, she shows her the constellation Cygnus, the swan. Then, Barbie tells Shelley the story of Odette, who turned into a swan...

This is not only for children, I also recommend this to adults who want to keep their kids quiet and not mucking around. ;-)

I will admit at 17, I do like a vast majority of the Barbie movies, Nutcracker being my personal favourite. Swan Lake, while not perfect, is still very enchanting. There are some slow parts in the film, and I was annoyed by Maggie Wheeler's Odile. However, the computer animation in general is stunning, especially the dance sequences and any scene in the forest. Plus the opening credits were beautifully done. The music, adapted from Tchaikovsky's timeless ballet is just wonderful, a real gem of a score. And although the story is not always faithful to the original story, it still has some elements of it embedded, while putting its own enchanting take on it. The voice acting is highly commendable, a standout being Kelsey Grammar, who was terrific as the villainous Rothbart. The unicorn Lila is one of my favourite Barbie sidekicks along with Major Mint and Penelope. Oh, and Odette both in human form and swan form, is so beautiful. All in all, not perfect but very sweet and charming, and a delight for preschoolers. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I watched this film for the first time years ago. As a child, the movie was so fascinating with beautiful ballet routines. Now as an adult, after watching it again, everything just the same. Barbie as Odette, a bakery's daughter, she is beautiful and has a sweet personality. One day, she sees a unicorn running around her shop. She tries to save the unicorn, and everything starts changing. This film is inspired by one of the most popular ballet, Swan Lake. Although the ending and main plot is totally different. This movie is clearly aimed for children and young viewers. The antagonist, Odile, is really interesting. Her voice is so unique, I still could remember her signature laugh since I was kid. Odette in this Barbie movie is quite strong and brave, I am not very fond of the prince characteristic as he is just too cliché and not that distinctive from other male partner of Barbie films. Overall, I enjoyed this movie as for young viewers. The story is light and quite enjoyable.

Barbie of Swan lake has been my favorite Barbie movie(and quite frankly, movie in general) since I was 3 years old. I would watch it nonstop on realest until the dvd broke(I think my mom was ok with that (; ). The story is incredible full of twists that still keep me on the edge of my seat even as a teen. The music, gorgeous, I love the music in swan lake and I enjoy seeing little badly animated figures on my tv screen dance to it. The dances are gorgeous. But with that said, the animation of course is not great, but it was made in 2003. And unfortunately the story is not the same as the original swan lake. But otherwise it is such a great movie for kids. Girls get positive female role models, Barbie and the fairy queen and Laila(the unicorn).

One of the most iconic barbie movies, it reminds me of my childhood i was always enchanted by this one especially the soundtrack, and frankly odile is an icon. A perfect fairy tale movie. I love the dance and the characters it is just so legendary.

The animation is not the standard we are used to compared to for example The Matrix part II. But my daughter of 7 does not care about this. It's her favorite movie of all time also due to the bright colours and the humor somehow girls like. As far as I am concerned the soundtrack is great.

For my daughter 10 out of 10. For me 5 out of 10.

This film is a pure masterpiece of motion pictures. Everything from the animation to the BRILLIANT writing is absolutely amazing!!! This movie is the Everest of all arts. Voices were just the BEST and verrryy not cancerous at all.

Everything from the poster to the mere acting makes this movie the masterpiece it is. I recommend this to any adult to watch over and over again.

disclaimer: this review is for sarcastic purposes not to be taken seriously.

If you have any knowledge at all about the Jewish people, you will see the antisemitism in this movie. Rothbart is designed to look like an offensive Jewish stereotype with his ridiculously large nose. It particularly stands out against the small delicate features of Barbie and the other human cast members. Other offensive Jewish characteristics include the idea of being evil and power hungry, and having a J. A. P. Daughter with an annoying laugh who is hyper-materialistic and always complaining.

Rothbart being an offensive Jewish stereotype is part of the original play, but that is no excuse for something so Antisemetic to exist in the modern era, and be directed at children.

Just because a child doesn't know this is Antisemetic doesn't make this appropriate viewing. They will still see a large nose and a nasal laugh as ugly and villainous traits, while having small delicate features makes you a beautiful hero. Therefore, I cannot recommend this movie at all.

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...

Story - 8/10 It changes aspects of the original ballet but still kept the storyline,

Animation 6/10 Because the movie was made in 2003 i'll give it a pass

Characters 7/10 Likeable characters that originated from the ballet alongside with new characters.

Total = 21/30

One of my favorite Barbie movies ever! Such a classic but so interesting!

This movie was amazing: the music,the dancing and the story. It's nothing like the original swan lake but had aspects from it.

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.

An excellent film for young and not so young viewers. Although artificially generated, the animation is superb and keeps the viewer's attention focused throughout most of the film. I was surprised to learn only afterwards that Kelsey Grammar had lent his voice for one of the characters. I have a question regarding the animation system used in making this film. The facial characteristics of the animated characters resemble those I've seen in software programs used by clothing and apparel industry manufacturers to simulate human models for garment design. I know that software designers often re-use modules from other projects they've worked on. Does anybody know anything about the technical background of the animation software used for this film?

I don't think I've ever, in my 14 years of life, seen a movie as amazing as Barbie Swan Lake. There is absolutely nothing to compare my love for this film. The plot, the characters, the animation was utterly amazing. The choreography was spectacular. The music in the movie spoke to my heart. By the end I was in tears at how beautifully crafted this movie was. Every aspect, every detail, in the film is absolutely fascinating. Especially Odette's dress. It was the most beautiful, wonderful dress i had ever seen in my entire life, and would give anything to be one with the movie. 100 out of 10 and I would recommend this movie to anyone. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.