Saturday, December 5, 2009

Jim Carrey -- "A Christmas Carol"

The Munchkins and I saw the most exquisitely beautiful movie this afternoon, and I really wasn't expecting it to be so wonderful. The latest adaptation of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" is brilliantly done in performance capture animation, and 3-dimension. The art work in the movie is on an entirely different level than I have ever seen in an animated film before. It will take your breath away. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the movie four stars, calling it "an exhilarating visual experience", and I agree with him. It is the perfect magical event for children to experience the wonderful story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his tale of miserly stinginess and ultimate redemption. The cast is superb, with Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn and Cary Elwes playing a multitude of roles. Try to guess who they are.

My favorite movie version of "A Christmas Carol" has always been the classic version with Alastair Sim. Somehow it just didn't feel like Christmas without watching "A Christmas Carol" at some point during the season. But this new release is definitely the best version since then.

"A Christmas Carol" was first published on December 19, 1843. Dickens wrote the book because he was concerned about how the spirit of Christmas was being lost, and he was disturbed about the appalling circumstances in which the poor were living. Very young children were forced into dreadful working conditions due to the poverty of their families. "Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?" Dickens had experienced this himself as a 12 year-old boy.

The book was met with critical acclaim when it was first published, with one critic saying, "If Christmas, with its ancient and hospitable customs, its social and charitable observances, were ever in danger of decay, this is the book that would give them a new lease. The very name of the author predisposes one to the kindlier feelings..."

This movie is also true to Dickens prose:

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, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

Give yourself a Christmas present, and go to see this beautiful movie.

18 comments:

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I intend to. I've heard marvelous things about it for months. Glad you and Phinnaeus and Marigold enjoyed it so much!

Merry, merry!!

Mariana Soffer said...

Thanks a lot jo the recommendation, I hope they play it in the theaters soon in my remote country, cause now after reading your post I really wanna see it.

Take care Jo
M

A human kind of human said...

I cannot wait to see it. Colin Firth is on of my top 5 favourite actors and Jim Carey... well is Jim Carey.

Glad you enjoyed it so much.

Stephen Leach said...

Arrrghhh I really want to, but haven't had the chance. I should persuade the family to see it.

PurestGreen said...

My love and I went to see this and while I was entralled with the beauty of the film (especially the mostly silent scenes like near the beginning when Scrooge is trudging in the snow alone), I was actually disappointed in how the story was done. It was like the director couldn't decided whether he wanted a traditional, classic approach or a goofy disney-inspired one. But overall I enjoyed it and would watch it again just to see the details of the characters' hands.

SparkleFarkel said...

Disney's A Christmas Carol: I WANT TO GO TO THERE! Especially after reading your fabulous review! Yesterday, I bought (Actually, I only paid a dollar for this treasure, so I guess you could say it was a "steal".) an ancient copy of The Works of Dicken: (Volume XXIX) Christmas Stories, from our library's used book sale. I can't wait to get lost in its pages. Maybe this afternoon, when it's suppose to snow. That would be a perfect setting!

Pauline said...

"His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him." If only we each headed our own hearts, allowing love and laughter in.

The Bug said...

The Alistair Sims version is our favorite too - he's just so deliciously SCROOGE. But this one looks really good too - maybe I'll talk some of my family into going to see it when we're down for Christmas...

Jennifer D said...

I am goin'!

Charles Gramlich said...

I wondered how this would be. Glad to hear it is outstanding. I'll have to see it for sure.

B said...

I've heard this is great! Looking forward to seeing it!

Also, thanks for including me on your blog list - I just noticed! :)

Owen said...

Many thanks for the movie review Jo, am off to see if it's playing anywhere around here in France... hope so, looks great. Am going to have to go back and read the original story, I don't think I ever did... my loss no doubt...

Unknown said...

Now I will have to see it!

Paula Slade said...

It is indeed a gorgeous film!

Scoobyloves2004 said...

I too cannot wait to see that movie. A Christmas Carol has always been one of my favorites. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until it comes out on DVD. Too many small children to take into a theater.

susie said...

I will have to go to see this, and take the grandkids. It sounds good, and let's face it, it has to be better than shopping!

Jo said...

You will love this movie, everyone. Make the time to go and see it. And then watch it win at the Academy Awards in January!

Katy said...

Thanks for the review Jo. I saw this last weekend with my daughter and agree that it was beautiful. I also think the story was nicely handled. However, I would caution anyone taking small children that its scary.

Also, I would add that the Muppet Christmas Carol was my favoriate version of all time, and I am not a die hard Muppet fan by any means.