‘A Christmas Carol’ is a Thrilling Adaptation of a Classic Story
-----We all know the story behind Charles Dickens classic story, ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Here, Screenplay Writer and Director Robert Zemeckis intended to portray the story with its full visual potential, not seen in early adaptations. The result is just that, giving a true and heartfelt take on a tale we all know, and will gladly revisit by way of modern filmmaking’s stunning motion capture technology and thrilling 3-D.
-----The age old tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is as potent as ever in Zemeckis’ ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Audiences are once again treated to the tale of Scrooge, an angry and greedy old man with no reservations about his lifestyle or his irreverent attitude towards the 25th of December. That is until one Christmas Eve night, when Scrooge finds himself visited by the ghost of an old friend, who tells of three spirits to visit Scrooge, consisting of the Ghosts of Christmas’ Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
-----Jim Carrey plays a total of eight characters in the film, including the three Christmas Ghosts and the film’s protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge. Utilizing the same motion capture techniques of Zemeckis’ previous films ‘Beowulf’ and ‘Polar Express,’ the technology allows a blend of the actor’s facial expressions with altered appearances and animated environments. Here Carrey avoids his routine seen countless times in comedies throughout the years, and plays a genuine, hard-bitten Scrooge, with only traces of Carrey’s humor seeping through in appropriate scenes. Perhaps a bit more likable in his early minutes as Scrooge than is traditional for the tale, Carrey’s transformation is genuine nonetheless. He also stars as the Ghosts; at times subtly and blatantly resembling Carrey. Another benefit of the motion capture technique is seen in the film’s ability to perfectly conceive younger versions of Scrooge’s appearance, all revolving around the altered likeness of Carrey. Co-starring the eight Carrey’s is the ever talented Gary Oldman, unrecognizable here in a few key, if small, voice roles, including that of Bob Cratchit, the underpaid assistant at Scrooge’s business. Among other names sure to catch an eye in the opening credits is that of Cary Elwes, famous for his leading role in ‘The Princess Bride,’ thought here he just has a number of cameo voiceovers as a few of the film’s more obscure characters. Ultimately, it’s the Jim Carrey show, but that’s a good thing here, even in this faithful adaptation of a book that can be very dark at times.
-----Technically the film is seemingly flawless in its execution of the story at hand. Less corny and overbearing than ‘Beowulf,’ while less sappy and sentimental than ‘The Polar Express,’ Zemeckis has finally found the right balance for his animated narratives, in the fast paced, ‘A Christmas Carol.’ The environments are spectacular, and the art direction is one of the year’s best. It’s worth the price of admission just to partake in Zemeckis’ swooping shots of the snow emblazoned streets, as he takes full advantage of taking the camera places it can’t easily achieve in real life. Furthermore the cinematography is enhanced wonderfully by the slick 3-D, which never succumbs to the gimmicks the format is famous for, instead pulling you along with Scrooge on his wild ride like never before. The musical score never misses a beat, and the classic Christmas carols provide a chill-inducing homeliness to the film that few modern movies incur. It’s a heartwarming experience sure to be watched for years to come in what some may consider the definitive version of the tale; for even when its 3-D is left behind in the theater, an HD presentation by the fireplace should easily stand the test of time.
-----The plot is no problem, providing a loyal and fun interpretation of Dickens’ book. The motion capture is dazzling, taking the narrative to places it has not gone before. And the whole film is executed superbly, with little to complain about save the fact that it’s not a new story. It’s a complete experience to rival many Christmas classics, and will do just that if received well by audiences. At the end of the day, it’s nice to go into a theater knowing that, if told amply, the story onscreen will be a good one. The 3-D presentation is but a bonus for an already great Christmas movie, representing one of the few Holiday classics of the decade!
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