Written in 1843 by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol is one of the most popular Christmas tales of all time, having undergone over a dozen movie adaptations in the last century. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (The Polar Express, Beowulf) and starring Jim Carrey, this 3D animated version brings the classic story vividly to life once more, although it’s not nearly as kid-friendly as you’d expect for a Disney film.
To refresh your memories, the classic tale follows one Ebenezer Scrooge (Carrey), a grouchy and rich old man who is devoid of any Christmas spirit and detests anyone partial to the festive season. To cure this, he is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his former business partner (Gary Oldman), then the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, (all Carrey) who take him on a whirlwind journey through many memories and possibilities.
A Christmas Carol was my induction into the world of 3D movies outside of theme parks, and after a slight hiccup with the projector, the movie launched onto – and off of – the screen. Partnered with the rich colours and textures expected of Disney animation, the entire film is a visual treat. Carol has been created using motion capture animation, which seems to be growing more realistic, and illustrates a marked improvement since Zemeckis’ last attempt in The Polar Express. Human characters reflect their actors – the likenesses of Jim Carrey and Colin Firth were evident in Scrooge and his nephew – but older characters look far more lifelike than younger, showing there is still a way to go with this technology.
This is the same classic Dickens tale you’ve read/heard/seen countless times before, however Zemeckis’ interpretation has its quirks. The Christmas ghosts are interestingly represented: ‘Past’ is a burning candle, shedding light on what had been; ‘Present’ is a merry giant showing the joy and decadence of Christmas; and ‘Yet to come’ is a silent and shadowy reaper-like creature. The sequences following the passage of Scrooge and the ghosts are very enjoyable, almost like a theme park ride, but the chase by ‘Future’ and his Lord of the Rings-style black steeds felt unnecessary. The movie, for the most part, is quite gloomy, but this is mainly due to Dickens’ story and not the adaptation. There are some light-hearted moments throughout, dotted in the memories and visions, but it isn’t until the very end that the usual Disney joy is truly felt. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this film is suitable for young children; not only is it frightening, much of the dialogue has been adapted straight from the original text and may be hard for kids to follow.
Verdict:
An enjoyable adaptation of a classic story for the festive season, but definitely not one for the youngsters.
