As evil reigns unimpeded in this antediluvian land, a warrior is born to finish it off. He is the barbarian?

How do you like to spend a day at the barber shop? Calvin just inherited one from his father and has no intention in keeping it. But, just as he sells it, he realizes his father's vision?

Barbie as Rapunzel is an 80-minute video that will thrill children aged three to eight, following on from the success of Barbie in the Nutcracker. Barbie may have started life as a doll in the 1950s, but these days she's also making her name as a computer-animated film star. In a modern twist on the classic fairy tale, Barbie stars as Rapunzel--a courageous and imaginative princess who is locked away in a tower by the evil witch Gothel. With help from her friends (Penelope the cute purple dragon and Hobie the rabbit) and through the power of her own creative energies, she paints her way out of the tower to find freedom, truth and love.

The video is visually impressive with dark and light colours used effectively to emphasise good and evil, allowing Barbie to be surrounded by her favourite soft pinks and purples.

The well-known actress Angelica Huston is memorable as the vocal talent behind the unbalanced and scary Gothel. Excellent sound effects greatly enhance the film and Dvorak's New World Symphony played by the London Symphony Orchestra makes a pleasant change from films' current dependence on pop hits.

Hugo the mighty dragon, Otto the nasty ferret and the sword fight between the feuding kings will hold the attention of those brothers of Barbie fans who are less than enthusiastic about watching this film, but essentially this is a little girl's film and the outrageously pink castle, the magical fashion show before the masked ball and the fairytale wedding will make it a firm favourite for its intended audience. --Tracey Hogan.

Look who became a star. Barbie comes to life in the computer-animated Barbie in the Nutcracker, taking the longtime-favorite doll into a new realm. The 76-minute tale is a slight variation on the traditional story based on Tchaikovsky's music. Instead of an open-ended dream, Barbie and her escort, the Nutcracker (soon to be Ken, natch), are on an adventurous quest. Along the way there are more creatures and derring-do than the original. The sole known voice talent, Tim Curry, has a good old time as the Mouse King, and the animated dancing is gracefully adapted from New York City Ballet members. A few clever characters, bright animation and wonderful music should entrance any Barbie fan from age three to nine. --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com