MOVIE REVIEW: A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay: Robert Zemeckis
Adaptation from a story by Charles Dickens
TRT: 96 Minutes (PG) for scary sequences and images..
Cast
Jim Carrey as Voice of Scrooge/ Voice of Ghost of Christmas Past/ Voice of Ghost of Christmas Present/ Voice of Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit / Marley / Tiny Tim
Bob Hoskins as Voice of Fezziwig/Old Joe
Colin Firth as Fred
Robin Wright as Penn/Belle
Peacock Feathers (2 out of 5)
By Marcus Thorpe
A Christmas Carol is a story told a hundred times, but a hundred different minds. Now it’s time for Robert Zemeckis, Jim Carey and the power of 3-D to give this old story a new twist. Audiences are taken on a while ride of animated creativity that is hard to match. Yet, Through all the sparkle, power of Jim Carey times 4, and ultimate Christmas message this version makes you feel a little like the grinch stole what really makes A Christmas Carol great, the heart.
The story is certainly a familar one, a man named Scrooge despises the holiday season, he is lonely, he is miserable, he hates Christmas. Scrooge is scultped in his scrawny, mettlesome self through the power of Disney animation. It is beautiful I must say, the visual of this movie is unreal. You are tossed and turned, you are able to pick out every bone in the frail old man’s body, the wrinkles in a worried face of Bob Cratchit, the colors come to life. But that is where my enjoyment ended. I thought the vision of Robert Zemeckis was flailing around the screen like child’s crayon creation, the parents certainly are proud of the artowrk, but to the eye of someone not related to the child, it looks a bit overwhelming and not focused. I’m sure Carey and Zemeckis are proud of the work they did, but for everyone else I’m not quite sure it lives up the the genius that is Charles Dickens.
I think the problem might be in Carey. A talented actor, no doubt, but I have a problem with the multitude of characters he plays. Scrooge is not that far removed from the people he comes across and for good reason, Carey plays several characters. His Voices of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come feel overworked. I think Gary Oldman does a nice job as Cratchit, Marley, and Tiny Tim. He does a nice job of giving you a look inside with just a pause: understated, unlike the Carrey characters.
Another thing that worries me just a bit, the subject matter for a younger child. I could see a younger child say under the age of 10 being a bit uncomfortable during some of the big and loud scenes. A few in my rows were covering their eyes and parents looked at the child more than the screen, so be advised. Don’t get me wrong, I love the story and message behind A Christmas Carol. My advice, skip Disney’s version and pick up the book to read to your child!
MT
Want to see movies where I do?? Check out showtimes to the Arena Grand at http://www.arenagrand.com
Posted by
on 12/02 at 10:15 PM
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