Christmas Carol movie (almost unimaginably good)

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810049009/info ^

[gusopol3]

Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheery nephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late.

[gusopol3]

We didn't even see it in 3D, so we're going back

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

From the ads, it seemed like yet another movie aiming to put the “X” back in “Xmas.” Did you find it to be otherwise?

[Hebrews 11:6]

I've always thought George C. Scott was the quintessential Scrooge.

Thanks for your ringing endorsement of this new animated version. I've seen the TV ads, and it's disconcerting to me to know it's Jim Carrey's voice, because the animated Scrooge appears to be a dead-ringer for Dick Van Dyke. Was that a problem, or is my imagination merely on overdrive?

[Notary Sojac]

Aw c’mon. There are two really great Scrooges in movie history. Alastair Sim was the first, George C. Scott the second. No way Jim Carrey of all people is within a country mile.

[TN4Liberty]

I've always thought George C. Scott was the quintessential Scrooge.

Absolutely agree... he portrayed Scrooge as a person who had lost what was important to him, not an evil entity. Not sure about Jim Carrey as Scrooge. I fear he will turn it into a caricature since that is his bit anyway.

[gusopol3]

Lots of Victorian Christmas caroling, no hiding of the Christianity. I guess there is a lot more impact of the “spooktacular” in the 3D, as there are some extended flying/ swirling segments, which we weren’t able to appreciate to the fullest ,I’m sure.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Lots of Victorian Christmas caroling, no hiding of the Christianity."

That's good to know.

I remember the insipid "Sister Act" that I had to endure several times in long-haul flights a few years back. The whole stupid movie took place in a freakin' convent yet the script bent itself into rhetorical pretzels to avoid any mention of "Jesus" or "Christ." The setting might as well have been a gym or a bus station.

[dawn53]

I like George C Scott’s performance, too, but my favorite remake of Christmas Carol was the one Michael Caine made with the Muppets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBthi_An5qQ

Speaking of George C Scott, I thought his portrayal of the beast in The Beauty and the Beast (with Trish Vandevere) was a masterful performance.

[gusopol3]

I’m not the person to consult on character development I’m afraid, but it is an absolutely compelling rendition.

[TennesseeGirl]

Scrooge McDuck was the best (lol, just joking)! Honestly, I am counting the days until the dvd of “Up” is released (Nov. 10). I crack up whenever I think of the fight between the two geezers (Mr. Fredrickson and Charles Muntz) — the walker, the dentures, the aches and pains :) Russell was adorable.

[ALPAPilot]

I like George C Scott’s performance, too, but my favorite remake of Christmas Carol was the one Michael Caine made with the Muppets.

I always thought this would be Dickens’ favorite version. It’s mine too. The Wall Street Journal gave this new version terrible reviews, not that I believe the stuff I read in newspapers.

[Snurple]

The greatest Scrooge of all time was Mr Magoo!!!

[gusopol3]

I was always partial to Mr. Magoo, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7qOFB4IXA8 , since you’re probably too young to have seen it.

[Mr. Jazzy]

This has absolutely nothing to do with the topic, but one of my all time favorite movies is “Muppet Treasure Island” with Tim Curry! One of the funniest EVER!

[gusopol3]

well, this one is really going to make you wonder.

[paulycy]

Scrooge Magoo BUMP!

[al_c]

Aw c’mon. There are two really great Scrooges in movie history. Alastair Sim was the first, George C. Scott the second. No way Jim Carrey of all people is within a country mile.

No way ... Bill Murray.

Just kidding. But Carol Kane was the best ghost ... absolutely hilarious!!!

[mojo114]

Not according to moviefone.com
Mr. moviefone was on Jim Vicevich radio show WTIC this morning and he said he didn’t like the digitizing of the characters and don’t bring kids under 6 or maybe 8.

[SMCC1]

The Muppets Christmas Carol is my favorite version. Michael Caine was incredible in that considering he was acting with puppets.

I want to go see this new one... but closer to Christmas.

[mware]

Alastair Sim by far the best, Albert Finney wasn’t bad either.

[Cyropaedia]

Patrick Stewart did an excellent job of playing Scrooge as well.

I would argue that it rivaled Scott's portrayal.

[Shimmer1]

I’m with you!

[gusopol3]

I agree too much for young kids, several families did leave as the ghosts came on. It’s PG rated.

[tlb]

>>>The greatest Scrooge of all time was Mr Magoo!!!

I was going to post the same comment. With the ultimate Tiny Tim portrayed by Gerald McBoingBoing.

Children: Will we have a gander and some razzleberry dressing

Tim: Oh razzleberry dressing would be nice

Children: Will we have a pudding made of liver while we’re guessing

Tim: Or maybe razzleberry dressing twice

Children: We haven’t had a hen
Since I can’t tell you when
We’d love a hen again

Tim: With razzleberry dressing

Children: “We’ve been so awful good - “

Oldest Daughter: “From me down to the baby - “

Children: “And we’re not made of wood - “

Tiny Tim: “Or razzleberry gravy!”

[dsutah]

I liked those two actors portrayals a lot! Another one who was really good was Reginald Owen. He was in an early “A Christmas Carol” along with Gene Lockhart/his family. (that was another acting family of those days which included June Lockhart in “Lassie” series.)

[dsutah]

There was another animated “A Christmas Carol” on “Mr. Magoo”, with the voice of Jim Backus a long time ago. Another one was “Scrooge” with Albert Finney that came out many years ago, and was a musical!

[LizzyD]

LOL...I watched Mr. Magoo’s recitation of the role so many times growing up that I practically knew it by heart...then the first time I saw the George C. Scott version I was totally amazed to finally understand the meaning of it all...love Magoo, but George C. Scott really is a better actor! :-)

[grame]

must see for me every year, so I'm looking fwd to this version. Nutcracker is too, but my husband says I'm weird about that one.

[Sloth]

I like George C Scott’s performance, too, but my favorite remake of Christmas Carol was the one Michael Caine made with the Muppets.

I was going to mention that one, too. My favorite line in there is where the rats prod Kermit into asking Scrooge for Christmas Day off, and Scrooge says incredulously, "The entire day?" then you hear the rats throwing Kermit under the bus "No, no... it was the frog's idea."

There's also an outtake on the DVD, in one of the 'Christmas future' scenes where Tiny Tim has died... The Cratchett family sits somberly remembering him, and one of Miss Piggy's daughters asks "Can I have his food?"

[this_ol_patriot]

FWIW:
Movie Versions

A Christmas Carol (1938) starring Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart, June Lockhart, Leo G. Carroll, and Terry Kilburn. 69 min.

A Christmas Carol (1951) starring Alastair Sim, Meryvn Johns, Michael Hordern and Glyn Dearman 86 min.

Scrooge (1970) starring Albert Finney, Sir Alec Guinness, Edith Evans and Kenneth More. 115 min.

A Christmas Carol (1984) starring George C. Scott, David Warner, Susannah York, Frank Finlay, Edward Woodward and Nigel Davenport. 100 min.

Scrooged (1988) starring Bill Murray, John Forsythe, Karen Allen, Carol Kane, and Bobcat Goldthwait. 111 min.

A Christmas Carol (1999) starring Patrick Stewart, Nick Adams, Desmond Barrit, Charlotte Brittain, Tom Brown, Kenny Doughty, Laura Fraser, Richard E. Grant, Joel Grey, Roger Hammond, Celia Imrie, Ian McNeice, John Mills, and Saskia Reeves. 93 min.

Cartoon Versions

An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998) 73 min.
Christmas Carol: The Movie. (2001) 77 min.
A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994) 90 min.
The Jetsons Christmas Carol (1985) 30 min.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) 25 min.
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962) 52 min.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) 89 min.

[jocon307]

I like that one too. But I’m intrigued by this Muppets version. I’ve never seen that.

[Rome2000]

[TennesseeGirl]

I had almost forgotten Mr. Magoo’s. What was their pudding? Razzleberry pudding? Razzledazzle pudding? Kinda unique using a Broadway play as the backdrop. Yeah. I’d rank it right behind Scrooge McDuck for animated versions; heck, yeah, I liked the Magoo version, too.

[Varda]

I thought Michael Caine was brilliant in a Muppet Christmas Carol. Jim Carrey is also a talented actor (outside his comedy roles) and this is the second good review I've seen. I'll have to give this new production a try.