Disney’s A Christmas Carol
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Review by Michael Pascual for Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Rating:
I couldn’t disagree more with those who have given this a low rating. I saw this movie in the theater, in 3D and thought it was one of the better movies of the holiday season. Although I couldn’t quite understand why it was released so early, it should have been more of a Christmas time release instead of Thanksgiving. As far as the film itself I thought it was a good update on a classic story. While I don’t consider myself an aficionado, I do know the story well and found it stayed true enough to it. The warmth and humanity of the characters is definitely still present. Then of course there is the 3D aspect, which completely blew me away. I’ve seen most of the 3D releases in the last year or so, and with the exception of Avatar this movie did the best job of utilizing it. Actually, I am more excited about this movie being released in 3D than any other movie, including Avatar. I’m just happy you’ll be able to buy this movie alone and not bundled along with a TV. Hopefully this is the start of 3D Blu Ray movies be released minus the bundle. And I know Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is currently available but it’s no where as good as this movie is.
Review by Mark Blackburn for Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Rating:
I came with an open mind. This, after all was the story my father had told us children, when we were snuggled up warm in our beds. He would plant a dining room chair in the hallway. And from memory he recited “the story of Scrooge.” It was a little frightening, to be lying there in darkness, a bit of light streaming in from the hallway, as your father’s voice suddenly turned all funny. He became, in turn, three spirits – voices different from Scrooge’s own.
Dad did that each Christmas eve. Until we grew “too old for that,” as he explained one year while putting his shaving soap on the tree, after putting up all the decorations, including the battered angel – the one my Mom got, that first Christmas in 1936 when Dad planted his first kiss on her lips, as they danced (he said) to English band leader Ray Noble’s THE TOUCH OF YOUR LIPS.
Pardon my reverie . . . I just wanted to establish my credentials, for saying . . .
This is not merely the best version of my favorite story (Dad would tell you that; if he were alive this would be his 92nd Christmas). No, no. This is the most amazing “movie experience” that I have ever known. I cannot imagine how any film maker(s) could ever top this.
They had me hooked from the opening. The camera shows a beautifully bound copy of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. An invisible hand opens to the first page and those very words my own father composed . . .
Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good . . . for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.
We see a corpse, its eyes held shut with pennies. Scrooge himself removes them from the eyes, at the end of the scene saying, without shame to the undertakers, while rubbing the coins together between thumb and finger, “Tuppence is tuppence!” The subtle change in the undertaker’s face — so subtle you might miss it in the half light of the almost dark room — is one of dismay at seeing someone THAT cheap. The facial expression borders on horror.
Out in the street, children stop playing and dogs duck into alleys at Mr. Scrooge’s approach, on his way to his place of business, with its gilt-lettered sign, “Scrooge & Marley Co.” That will also be the closing scene of the movie, with Scrooge seen through frosty windows to be dancing with sheer, child-like joy, while outside, Bob Cratchit, for the very first time, turns to the `camera’ and addresses us:
(Those very words my father composed out of thin air, Christmas 1949!)
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew [and] ever afterwards, it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!”
I could share with you a hundred little details (the sort of details that otherwise concern “God and the Devil”). But “Let there be light!” sums up the effect on your eyes, as we see clearly despite only the very faintest light sources: and that is what sets this movie apart from any other ever made.
You’re not conscious of it at first. Then it dawns on you. An entire scene has been done in the light of a distant street lamp. The lamp (never seen) is about 50 feet to your left. Your eyes are drawn to the wrought iron fence outside Scrooge’s rather magnificent home. The camera goes in tight, and the texture of the wrought iron – you know the tiny little waves made by a ball peine hammer on the surface of the metal when it was forged . . . the light from that unseen street lamp, 50 feet distant, is just enough for you to see a glint of yellow on the shiny black metal finish.
This `cinematography’ – working at light levels so low, they could never be captured by a digital `film’ camera – is repeated in scene after scene. It makes the sunshine on Scrooge’s face, and on Tiny Tim, held aloft on Scrooge’s shoulder at movie’s end so . . . welcome! Light has been used (finally!) to underline Scrooge’s utter, endless joy (your own too).
I don’t know if you, like me, will sit there, tears of joy streaming down your face, watching the closing credits. Only three other people were left in the theatre as the scroll of credits reached its end. (I watched this one with my mentally-handicapped friend “Michael” – please see our review of the last `best’ Christmas movie “POLAR EXPRESS”).
A couple and their 14 year old son sitting just ahead of us, delayed their departure, putting on their coats, discreetly so as not to block the view of the only two persons left watching intently. As if to explain my tear-stained face, I said to the woman (an investment counselor as it turns out): “I have to see who wrote that stirring `carol’ — a (mainly) men’s choir led by a truly great tenor. Sure enough, the music was written by the last great film score composer, Alan Silvestri. He co-wrote all those wondrous songs like “When Christmas Comes to Town” for Polar Express; all the great incidental music for “Forrest Gump” too!
The couple’s son explained how the 3-D glasses work. Oh yes. His mother had opened our conversation saying, “I actually caught one of those snowflakes” (felt it in her hand). Her son said (not convincingly to his Dad) “the snow looks (better) the closer you are to the screen.” Together, they noticed that my friend Michael was still wearing his 3-D glasses, while sipping the last of his diet coke.
“Michael,” I said, “is from a L’Arche home,” waiting to see if the term `registered.’ “That’s for mentally-handicapped,” volunteered Michael. Oh yes, and Michael agreed with me when I said, “that’s the best movie I have ever seen.”
Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Review by sublimesting for Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Rating:
As another reviewer stated I also consider myself a Christmas Carol afficionado. I read the book each season and watch every version I own, which is substantial. I find it to be quite faithful to the book exept for the few instances he mentions. Yet, the film does contain other minor details such as the fact that Scrooge was suffering a cold at the time. However, they do not ruin the movie for me at all. Can I do without them? Yes, I can but they do not in any way detract from a wonderful movie that stays very close story-wise and dialogue-wise.
This movie is absolutely gorgeous to view. I can not wait to get this on Blu-Ray. It completely captured the feel of an 1800′s England Christmas. I found the ghosts to all be unsettling and as my wife said “That was actually scary!” It may not be for kids to be honest. And I think that was the point – this wasn’t originally written for children, it is a Christmas ghost story which was a very popular thing to do at the holiday times then. The ghosts weren’t there to be nice and helpful, they were in Scrooge’s life to matter-of-factly show him how he screwed up. I never got the feeling in any CC media that the ghosts truly cared for Scrooge’s well-being.
Anyways, this is now an annual staple for my holiday traditions. P.S., I never really cared for Jim Carrey either.
Review by Chris Pandolfi for Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Rating:
The story of “A Christmas Carol” and its themes haven’t been fresh in people’s minds for well over 100 years, which is why the new film adaptation by Robert Zemeckis is so surprising. This is, from my perspective, the definitive version – a sumptuous visual feast that in no way compromises the drama, excitement, and hope of the Charles Dickens classic. Its greatest achievement is not reducing itself to the level of jolly Christmas clichés. The streets and buildings of nineteenth-century London are brightly coated with snow, yet they betray the cold reality of poverty and despair. And Ebenezer Scrooge, having been played by many, many actors over the years, finally looks like the ancient, decrepit, bitter man I always imagined him to be; his face doesn’t show the slightest trace of warmth, humor, or charm.
The film’s success can be attributed to Zemeckis’ love affair with special effects, which in this case involves the same motion capture technology he employed in “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf.” This allows for the creation of characters caught in that delightful gray zone between real and unreal. Some are more exaggerated than others; Scrooge – a little too tall, a little too thin, a little too hunched over – is a menacing physical representation of his own anger and resentment. The Ghost of Christmas Past, an elfin wraith with a breathy voice and a head made of fire, is as slight, slender, and soft-spoken as a candle. The Ghost of Christmas Present is a loud and jovial Father Christmas figure, whose laugh is just as big as his body, perhaps bigger. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a silent yet frightening skeletal phantom made out of shadows.
Scrooge and the Ghosts are all played by Jim Carrey, which hardly comes as a shock since he has an affinity for variety of character and over the top performances. Other actors include Gary Oldman as Bob Crachit, Tiny Tim, and Jacob Marley, whose postmortem appearance in Scrooge’s bedchamber is intensely creepy, just as it should be. Robin Wright Penn plays both Scrooge’s younger sister, Fen, and his neglected fiancée, Belle. Bob Hoskins plays old Fezziwig, a man so thoroughly in the Christmas spirit that he and his wife defy gravity as they dance. Colin Firth plays Scrooge’s hopelessly optimistic nephew Fred, quite possibly the only person who thinks his uncle is worth addressing in a friendly manner.
As Scrooge is taken on his journey of redemption, both he and the audience are treated to fantastic aerial tours of London, with shots that swoop and soar over rooftops, through windows, and around street corners. 3-D technology, normally so unimpressive, is here perfectly utilized, allowing for one of the most immersive environments of any recent animated film. One of the most stunning sequences involves a spectral carriage chasing a shrunken Scrooge up and down dark, snowy cobblestone streets; it’s not only an astounding visual achievement, it’s also an exhilarating thrill ride. Harkening back to the roller coaster train sequences created for “The Polar Express,” Zemeckis proves that you should stick with what works best.
There are also some equally effective quiet moments, such as the opening shot, which pays homage to classic Disney animated films with the opening of a book. Other moments are surprisingly powerful, as when a grieving Bob Cratchit, his eyes red with tears, seems to be staring directly at Scrooge even though he can’t really see him (Cratchit, in that moment, is nothing more than a vision of the future). I also appreciated the shot of doomed ghosts floating just outside Scrooge’s window; some of them act humorously, banging their heads against their chain boxes, and yet we can’t help but feel sorry for them.
The entire film embodies a darker, shivery tone – not to the point of becoming a computer-animated horror film, but certainly beyond the colorful whimsy of the average Christmas special. This, I believe, truly captures the tone of Dickens’ original story, which doesn’t spare the reader the hardships of destitution, disease, and loss. Consider Bob Cratchit’s family; they do make merry of themselves on Christmas Day, but they also live a meager existence, and there’s always the sense that, should nothing about their situation change, they could end up with even less.
Robert Zemeckis created a perennial holiday classic with “The Polar Express,” and I think he may have done it again with “A Christmas Carol.” Yes, we have seen this movie before, and yes, its message is far from original. But there’s no denying the fact that it’s sending a good message, where love, compassion, and the possibility of hope reign supreme. There’s also no denying that, with visuals this striking, it practically begs to be seen, especially in 3-D. This is one of the year’s best looking animated films, so richly detailed, so sharply defined, so gloriously shot. It creates a mood, effectively evoking feelings of warmth and tenderness without becoming sappy or mindlessly cheerful. That above all made seeing this film an absolutely beautiful experience, one that I recommend to everybody.
Review by Craig Whittle for Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Rating:
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
STARRING: The Voices of: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins and Carey Elwes
WRITTEN BY: Robert Zemeckis; based on the novel by Charles Dickens
DIRECTED BY: Robert Zemeckis
Rated: PG
Genre: Animation / Drama
Release Date: 06 November 2009
When it comes to animation, it doesn’t get any better than the master himself; Robert Zemeckis. He changed the face of animation forever with his classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Years later he dazzled all of us with The Polar Express and his legendary adaptation of Beowulf. Now, he’s done it once more with his latest masterpiece from Walt Disney: A Christmas Carol.
I don’t know of any story that’s been retold more than this one, and rightfully so. It’s been around for nearly 200 years, and I’m sure Zemeckis’s version won’t be the last to be seen.
I’ll take the liberty of assuming that everyone is familiar with the plot, and just highlight the key points: Ebenezer Scrooge absolutely despises Christmas and everything to do with it. He has a massive fortune but not so much as a single friend, and treats everyone like rubbish. Seven years after the death of his partner Jacob Marley, he will be visited by the ghost of Marley as well as three other specters (the ghosts of the past, present and future) on the night of Christmas Eve. The ghosts will show him visions of his past, present and future and the life he has lived and will live, if he does not change his twisted ways.
You get what you’d expect from the plot, yes, and you’ve seen it a hundred times in other forms, yes; but you have never seen it quite like this. Despite being a huge Robert Zemeckis fan and maybe even a bigger fan of Jim Carrey, I too had these same thoughts going in. But as I was, you too will be amazed.
The animation is nothing short of incredible. Several times in the film, I thought I was looking at real people and actual sets, for a few seconds. It’s truly impressive. This will no-doubt be a must-own on Blu-ray! The colors are vibrant, the picture is crystal clear and the sound quality is truly spectacular.
You can see Jim Carrey and Colin Firth and Gary Oldman, hidden in the characters they voice, and it’s awesome! I’m sure that the actors physically acted out these scenes at some point during the process in addition to the voice-over-work, as their physical movements are all very life-like.
Jim Carrey plays Ebenezer Scrooge exceptionally well and we have never seen the character more hideous and vial. He is terrifyingly thin and oddly hunched over and looks like he’s ready to croak any second. His voice is raspy and dry and it makes your skin crawl.
If you are expecting to laugh during the film, DON’T. The laughs are scarce as this is a very heavy drama indeed. In addition to the drama, it’s very dark as well, so you may want to re-think taking smaller children. The spirits are scary and there are several moments where things jump out at you and make loud unsettling noises.
What makes this so different from other versions of the classic Dickens tale, aside from the obvious beautiful look the film offers, are the moments where Scrooge is visited by the ghosts.
Robert Zemeckis wrote the script in addition to directing the film, so it is very much his spin on things. The three entities are all different from what we have seen in versions of the past and they offer a nice touch to the story, cinematically. They don’t crowd the scenes they’re in. They take Scrooge where he needs to go, and offer him minimal guidance and that is good for the kids; they will be able to learn the valuable lessons of this story, from seeing what’s happening with the characters, versus the ghosts telling us and Scrooge the implications his actions have and will cause.
We also go on spectacular thrill-ride adventures with Scrooge as he is hurled through the streets of London, and shot into the sky like a rocket.
Zemeckis and his team of animators have created a gorgeous London for this story to unfold in. I think that’s one of the best elements to animation; you can create interesting and majestic worlds for your characters to live in, without limitations to reality and visual believability.
There are a ton of animated movies that youngsters will love watching, but parents would rather have heart surgery than sit through. There are also several animated films parents don’t want their kids to see due to its content and subject matter. Disney’s A Christmas Carol is something parents will find comfort in their children watching, and they will undoubtedly enjoy themselves as well.