Disney's A Christmas Carol

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Disney's A Christmas Carol

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Disney's A Christmas Carol

Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins, Jacquie Barnbrook, Lesley Manville, Cary Elwes, Fionnula Flanagan

An animated retelling of Charles Dickens classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.

Id: 11022261

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Disney's A Christmas Carol Recent Reviews

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Disney's A Christmas Carol Recent Reviews
  • hobster1
    November 6, 2009
    hobster1
    Gorgeous adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic is a 3D feast for the eyes. This slavishly faithful interpretation, is highlighted by effects so extraordinary, there are moments where it literally looks as if snow is falling in the theater. As recounted here, the story real...( read more)ly takes its time and exhibits a dark moodiness, especially in the early scenes. In other parts, there are nightmarish images that are rather jolting for a PG rated film. Consequently, the film will please adults much more than it will entertain young children. However, for those that are patient, this atmospheric version of the classic tale is an enjoyable holiday treat.
  • DrZeek
    November 6, 2009
    DrZeek
    Ebenezer Scrooge: What do you want with me?
    Jacob Marley: You will be haunted by three spirits.
    Ebenezer Scrooge: I'd rather not.

    Director Robert Zemeckis once again ventures into the world of motion capture animation to retell the classic Dickens' tale 'A Christmas Carol,...( read more)' featuring Jim Carrey. While not bringing much new to the classic tale, the film serves as a very literal retelling of the story, mixed with some fun visuals once the ghosts get on the scene.

    Carrey stars as Ebenezer Scrooge this time around, the mean, old, stingy man, living in Victorian-era London. Scrooge is, of course, a scrooge, who wants nothing to do with the joy of Christmas, despite it being Christmas eve, with many around him singing the praises of the time of year that it is.

    On the night of Christmas Eve, Scrooge is suddenly startled by the ghost of his dead partner Marley, portrayed by Gary Oldman (playing multiple parts). Marley informs Scrooge that he will be given the chance to save his soul, by being visited by three different spirits in the night. Soon enough, Scrooge is visited by the different ghosts (all portrayed by Carrey) showing him different aspects of his life, with the intent of hopefully changing the way Scrooge treats himself and those around him.

    Ebenezer Scrooge: Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen.

    I really enjoyed the way the ghosts were portrayed in this film. Its a combination of spookafying imagery, blatant caricature, somewhat laughable, and being a bit irritating in a way that all blends together well. It fits the way the actual book was written, which goes the same for the way the setting is portrayed. The London we see here is quite drab and lifeless, depending on the ghost portions to really give us some visual splendor.

    Zemeckis' work in this realm of filmmaking has improved somewhat (but he should get back to live action). Polar Express didn't do much for me at all, with its scary zombie children. Beowulf was an epic over-the-top comedy (that I did like more than either of the other mocap films). Here, the animation is solid when dealing with Scrooge and the ghosts, although some of the random characters that pop up have clear issues of not having much emphasis in detail be put upon them. What I do appreciate; however, is his us of the 3D format. There are some woosh shots here or there, but he never lets the format use him, he constantly uses IT as a tool. This, combined with Zemeckis' regular composer Alan Silvestri's score works to keep the whole film interesting and involving.

    Unfortunately, the 3D, which should serve as a strength to the film, also serves as one of its greatest weaknesses. I saw this film on the IMAX screen in 3D, and it was wonderful in that setting (although the 3D trailer for Avatar beforehand didn't help for seeing 'Carol's animation). I can't imagine watching this film again on a standard 2D screen, let alone on DVD/Blu Ray. The large spectacle aspect is the draw for this film, but I wouldn't want to see this literal version again with other, better versions that exist, such as Muppet's Christmas Carol.

    Ebenezer Scrooge: Haunt me no longer!

    Still, the movie is well made. Carrey delivers in all his performances. I can watch Gary Oldman do anything. Supporting work from Bob Hoskins, Colin Firth, and Cary Elwes is also fitting. I also appreciated the dark elements that are missing from other versions of the story. Scary images do appropriately accompany some of the scenes between Scrooge and the spirits, and its very fitting and well handled.

    Solid film, but the viewing format is what counts.

    Ebenezer Scrooge: Humbug.
  • flickfever
    November 2, 2009
    flickfever
    When a story such as "A Christmas Carol" is so widely known and regarded, it can be difficult to retell it in a way that can recapture the imagination and wonderment of an audience. Luckily, Robert Zemeckis' latest incarnation, Disney's A Christmas Carol, succeeds magnificently. ...( read more)And it does so not only by the merit of its original source material (the brilliant story by Charles Dickens.) It triumphs so magically by dint of its eye-popping, dazzling execution.

    What this story may lack in its "failure" to modernize the story or provide quirky, fluffy pop culture relevance; it makes up for by being an honest-to-goodness, faithful adaptation of a familiar story that doesn't need modern tidings. The story was written as a depiction of Victorian life in England during the 19th century--and it mirrors today's economic world stage so much so, that any more modern-day tie-ins than that would have been superfluous. After all, what good would it do to tell a Bernie Madeoff joke in a movie that takes place in the 1800s? Even with Jim Carrey as the star, it would seem rather ridiculous to see it in this film--and even more ludicrous for audience to expect such an incontinent misgiving.

    The sheer amount of visual delights are too many to count or even remember individually. What imprints most in the mind of the viewer when watching this movie is that these are a collection of images that will not be soon forgotten. If the medium of film is one in which to tell a story you must show your story, then this story is told in a cinematic language lined with opulent velvet. Style is never placed over substance; but there's enough style to fill the stockings of a nation.

    Jim Carrey is in fine form (primarily) as a voice actor. Never before have his over-the-top thespian skills or his predilection for the idiotic been more in check and subdued than in this holiday feast of a film. Carrey brings significant amounts of gravitas to a film that could have meandered into kiddy nothingness. Instead, Carrey brings enough quirky humor to his "acting," but manages to dial down the heightened comedy for a more nuanced performance--adding another dimension to his presence in the film.

    And if another dimension is to be commended, it certainly is the third dimension which Zemeckis ingeniously chose to include in the production. The 3D, stop-motion animation has never looked better. Of course, there are certain technical hurdles that have not been fully eradicated since the likes of The Polar Express and Beowolf. But overall, this movie is boundlessly more sophisticated than its dwarfed predecessors in that the technology has advanced to proportions of unreal realism. What once seemed like eerie, hollowed-out versions of human expressions is now (for the most part) like looking into an eerie menagerie of mirrors pointed at real life.

    At times, the mood is brooding and much too frightening for children under the age of eight--possibly even ten. But, then again, what good is a story that's supposed to teach children valuable lessons if it cannot strike some sort of fear in that child that will make the lesson much more poignant? Although quite thunderous, the sounds, sights and sentiments showcased in the film are meant to signify much more than mere entertainment.

    It goes without saying that this film is a visual masterpiece; and that it has, once again, raised the bar for the standard at which animation of this class should be produced. And all the acting talent, random access memory and money couldn't supercede what's at the heart of the experience when you step into the theater to watch this film: the amazing story of Ebenezer Scrooge; his cursed greedy soul and the redemption he must learn to attain. That's more than a lump of coal at the heart of it--that's box office (and awards) gold.
  • jimmc
    November 2, 2009
    jimmc
    We all already know the story, however this was a good remake. The 3D effects brought it from the 19th into the 21st century. Great merging of live action and animation.
  • drumspg811
    November 7, 2009
    drumspg811
    Auto 8a einai 8eiiko exw akousei pola
  • davecoff
    November 7, 2009
    davecoff
    ok this one looks stupid but Jim Carrey is in it so it most be funney
  • crholic
    November 7, 2009
    crholic
    i don't watch this movie, but i know typical of disney's story and i've read Chrismast Carol so i think it supposed to be a good movie
  • rizzacayan
    November 6, 2009
    rizzacayan
  • Jennika3
    November 6, 2009
    Jennika3
    Save your money for the 3-D. Not much popped out on the screen...if your wanting to see the movie, just watch the regular or wait to just rent it. I pretty much fell asleep through the whole thing wasted my $. Not worth seeing unless you want to see at home
  • bassmaster51392
    November 6, 2009
    bassmaster51392
    ive seen multiple versions of the same story but this one has Jim Carrey in it so it should be better than the others.
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