Barbie & The Diamond Castle – Barbie & The Diamond Castle (2008)

Directed by: Gino Nichele | 80 minutes | animation, family, fantasy | Original voice cast: Kelly Sheridan, Melissa Lyons, Cassidy Ladden, Chantal Strand, Maryke Hendrikse, Lara Janine, Kathleen Barr, Mark Acheson, Scott McNeil, Jeremy From, Noel Johansen, Nicole Oliver, Heather Doerkson, Michael Dobson, Ron Halder, Linda Sorenson , Veena Sood | Dutch voice cast: Laura Vlasblom, Alexandra Alphenaar, Willemijn Verkaik, Tony Neef, Cystine Carreon, Bas Keijzer, Paul klooté, Marloes van den Heuvel

‘Barbie & the Diamond Castle’ is the second Barbie film released directly on DVD in 2008 after ‘Barbie: Mariposa’. This CGI film is also about Barbie-related figures, and thus accompanies a product line of dolls and other merchandise that are already in toy stores before the film’s release. ‘Barbie & the Diamond Castle’ is – how could it be otherwise – a straight formula film; the obligatory elements are all there: friendship, lots of flowers, stars, and magic. The evil enemy is also present and of course there is someone in need, who must be helped by the heroine of the story.

‘Barbie & the Diamond Castle’ is called a musical, but although the film is fairly filled with poppy songs, that name is not quite correct. However, the fairy tale is reasonably well put together, the film runs smoothly and the songs are pleasant to listen to, both in Dutch and in English. While Barbie and her best friend Teresa are singing about their close friendship, the social gathering is interrupted by the arrival of Stacie, who has had an argument with Courtney. To teach Stacie the importance of friendship, Barbie tells the story of two best friends, Liana and Alexa, who also once thought they had lost each other, something that almost killed the two. Liana and Alexa live in a magical world, living in a simple house from the proceeds of their flower sale. They are very fond of music and singing together. When one day they help an old woman with a meal, while they have hardly anything themselves, she rewards them with a present: an ugly mirror. Liana polishes the mirror and turns it into a beautiful gem decorated with colorful stones. While singing, Liana and Alexa suddenly hear a third voice. This turns out to be Melody. Melody has been hiding in the mirror when Lydia, one of the three muses of the Diamond Castle, the birthplace of music, decided she wanted to be the only muse and with her newly acquired evil powers turned the other two muses to stone. Melody enlists the help of Liana and Alexa, because if Lydia is victorious, the whole world will turn into a desolate mess. With the help of two adorable puppies, Sparkles and Lillie, and a handsome but conceited twin, Alexa and Liana must defeat Lydia and her evil flying snake.

The CGI can just get by with it, there is often something wrong with the facial expressions and the hairstyles look like they have been treated with ten cans of hairspray, they move so stiffly. But the colors are cheerful and the message is positive. In addition, the girls are not portrayed as helpless damsels in distress, but they also get very far without the help of the gentlemen (whom they don’t even choose at the end!). ‘Barbie & the Diamond Castle’ is therefore a great and risk-free addition to any young girl’s Barbie collection and otherwise a nice introduction to the world of Barbie.