Write YOUR review - Christmas Carol

[Tom Morrow]

Disney's A Christmas Carol

Disney's A Christmas Carol — Film Review Exuberant movie technology overwhelms, then buries Dickens' emotional tale The Hollywood Reporter In one sense, this is a most faithful interpretation of Dickens' 1843 novella. Indeed, nearly all the dialogue is lifted from the original text. But this also is writer-producer-director Zemeckis' third motion-capture film following Beowulf and The Polar Express. It has been shot and, on accommodating screens, will be projected in Disney's trademarked Digital 3D. So, taking a few cues from Dickens and with the latest in digital technology at the creators' disposal, this movie version revels in effects. Initially, all this serves to invigorate an old war horse. One is reminded that what Ebenezer Scrooge experiences — when the chained ghost of his long-dead partner and then three spirits assault him in his own bedroom — is horror in the true sense. So this is a very dark tale, a tour of a miserly, misanthropic man's soul, and Zemeckis' film does reclaim this aspect of a story that has become more of a cheery cartoon in modern retellings. But as the spirits escort Scrooge through his sorry life, Zemeckis gradually makes this Christmas Carol his own. But as he does, with his intense reliance and belief in movie technology, this auteur shuns the beating heart of Dickens' story. Zemeckis' A Christmas Carol is, in its essence, a product reel, a showy, exuberant demonstration of the glories of motion capture, computer animation and 3D technology. On that level, it's a wow. On any emotional level, it's as cold as Marley's Ghost. by Kirk Honeycutt complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Ezra]

I thought I'd revive the ghost of "Write Your Review" threads. I started with this Hollywood Reporter piece, which praises the film's faithfullness to the original Dickens' story, but says that it gets lost in show-y special effects.

You are invited to follow up with your own reviews. Disney's A Christmas Carol opens on Friday Nov. 6th nationwide.

[Disneyland_DHI]

thank you, Ezra. I have not seen the film yet, but I saw the "Write Your Review" and had that caught my attention, seeing as I practically started them. I would have done it recently, but my most recent theater excursion was for the Toy Story Double Feature

[Sesshomaru-sama]

Thank you for giving us the chance to write our own reviews on this new film. It's a good thing I just bought tickets to watch it in 3D this Friday.

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

[#1DisneyFreak]

I have a friend that I went to high school with who did all the main animation for Jim Carrey's face (SO proud of him!!)

Anyway, he's so stoked about the film, so I really want to go see it. I can't wait to give my review!

[Sesshomaru-sama]

#1DisneyFreak, that's so awesome!

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

[monkey4057]

WARNING! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS! DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN THE FILM!

A very interesting film with a very interesting take on the story. The motion capture didn't seem any different that CGI, so I'm not sure it was entirely necessary. Also, I'm not sure Jim Carrey was perfect for Scrooge. He was good, but not good-good. He was better, though, as the younger versions of Scrooge, Past, and Present. As for the 3D, there are two ways to see it: dimensionally and pop-offs. Dimensionally, it is excellent. Pop-offs concerned, there weren't that many but they weren't entirely absent (sort of oddly, two good ones are when Scrooge points a ruler at Cratchit for clapping and when he leans towards Cratchit at the "raise you salary" line).

Now for the story. An interesting topic is that at one point or another, the Ghosts represent Scrooge. How? I'll be getting to that through this semi-analyzation:

STAVE I
Scrooge passes a choir and they hush. They sing again as he leaves. Two kids ride along a carriage railing and are referred to by Scrooge as "mad delinquents". He mentions that those dying should indeed do such, saying it would "decrease the surplus population". Upon reaching his house, Scrooge drops his keys and bends down to pick them up; when he rises, the knocker has Marley's face, eyes and mouth closed. As Scrooge reaches for it, it suddenly awakens and roars. During his talk with Scrooge, Marley loudly wails a couple times saying "Woe is me!", his jaw dislocating at one point (a bit of an awkward moment). Scrooge looks out his window and sees the scene filled with tortured souls, one is a man looking at a mother and baby repeatedly moaning "I wish I could help you!", then rushing through a screaming Scrooge.

STAVE II
Past arrives and shows Scrooge former Christmases of his, not saying that much actually. Its face eventually transforms into many faces of the past such as Fezziwig and Scrooge (connection) to the point Scrooge shouts "HAUNT ME NO LONGER!" and distinguishes it.

STAVE III
A small, empty room Scrooge had peeked in prior to Marley's visit is now shimmering with eccentric clocks and an extremely high ceiling to fit Present, sitting on an enormous mountain of food laughing excessively yet with a serious personality. He seems to be a bit of a teaser, making the floor turn invisible as a means to view the events of what's happening. At Fred's house, a guessing game is being played-the subject an animal. At one point a woman says, "I know who it is! It's your Uncle Scrooge!". When Scrooge shows concern that Tiny Tim could die, Present's face morphs into Scrooge's whilst quoting his "surplus population" remark (connection). In a large room that appears to be part of a clock tower, he reveals his time of death: that night. During this point, he reveals Ignorance and Want, two ugly children who are seen aging and receiving consequence (Ignorance is trapped in a cage and Want is seen in a straight jacket) as Present dies, laughing even as a skeleton.

STAVE IV
Yet to Come appears as Scrooge's shadow (connection, and my favorite element of the film...Yet to Come being a shadow, that is). To begin the journey, it jumps at Scrooge and transports him to Town Square, eventually chasing him with Shadow Horses eventually shrinking Scrooge (this part contains a jump-moment that the hand in Half-Blood Prince couldn't accomplish) who eventually lands in a bag. The bag is shown to carry curtains and clothes the person has died in. Scrooge recognizes the woman who nicked the stuff as his maid ("You're fired!"). In a bedroom resembling Scrooge's, Yet to Come pulls back the covers on the body a tiny bit before Scrooge makes it stop. Yet to Come points at a bedroom where Cratchit cries at the bed of a small child. In a graveyard, Yet to Come points at a tombstone, the snow of which quickly flies of to reveal EBENEZER SCROOGE, his birthdate, and his day of death (25 Dec). The ground opens and Scrooge hangs by a vine above a casket that opens to reveal emptiness, surround by lights the color of the Underworld. After vowing to honor Christmas, Scrooge realizes the vine is Yet to Come's finger, which drops him.

STAVE V
Scrooge finds himself tangled in the curtains of his bed and falls off. He rejoices (recognizing his laugh as Present's) and at one point dances with his maid, who runs off shouting that he has gone insane. He takes part in the "delinquent" behavior seen earlier in the film. He passes the choir who once again hush at his presence but resume when he starts singing. He joins Fred's party right before the woman says the "Uncle Scrooge" part of her guess. Scrooge asks to join and is accepted by all practically immediately. The next day, he acts as his old self to Cratchit (who arrives 16 min late instead of early) but reveals his new self after menacingly saying that he will raise Cratchit's salary. He vows to help Cratchit's family. Cratchit leaves, watches his boss dancing through the window and turns to the audience, telling that Scrooge kept his word and the results are seen materializing on the street, Tiny Tim riding on Scrooge's shoulder.


Good. The contrasts between Staves I and V are a nice touch. However, although the chase scene was an interesting way to lead to Old Joe, it was rather pointless.

3/4.
Rated PG-Scary situations and images*

*Do not underestimate this; there are some frightening visuals and a few startling moments (the knocker roaring and the carriage coming out of the window are perfect examples) that really serve their purpose.

Spoilers Over


EDIT: Having seen the movie twice now, I do feel like adding a couple things. Regarding Jim Carrey as Scrooge, he isn't too much like his usual self except for Stave V (i.e., "light as a feather" line, saying "Merry Christmas" to his maid). And, as a few others have said, Tiny Tim appears to be quite a MacGuffin (he might have been already, but a mite more so here).

[Disneyland_DHI]

what would one suggest for 3D Viewing? Dimensional or pop-off?

[monkey4057]

Dimensional.

[Disneyland_DHI]

I'm going tomorrow!! I'm kind of tempted for pop-off since I like that cheap novelty, but if my friends come, we'll take a vote

[Disneyland_DHI]

Saw the film. Very great

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED STOP READING HERE. THERE MAY BE MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!

Saw the film in 3D yesterday, and all I can say is FANTASMIC! Commercials for the film herald the same exact thing for Ghost Galaxy, but don't get too cocky and say, "That wasn't scary for me at all!" like I did because you have to remember that's a fast-paced four minute roller coaster and this is a slow-paced hour-long (might be two) film, especially if you pick to see the film in 3D. If your kids want to go to the movies this month, take them to Fantastic Mr. Fox, because they may be crying at moments, particularly when Marley's face replaces the knocker and it roars in Scrooge's face, which I really loved. Something I really loved is how the film started out with a book on a table, then the book opens, which just screams, "I WANNA BE A CLASSIC DISNEY FILM SOMEDAY!" I also loved how when the film wanted to show how something rotted or decayed over time, it won't fade like a regular film, but it will rot very quickly, such as when the walls in Scrooge's old schoolhouse cracked, the cracks instantly came. Something else I just have to praise is how the same actors were used in the mocap and voice process, like Jim Carrey as all the ghosts and Scrooge (which gives the feeling they're trying to test his imagination), Gary Oldman is both Marley and Bob Cratchit (both his buisness partners), and Robin Wright Penn as his Belle the ex-fiancee and Fan his sister (both of whom are people obviously close to Scrooge).

[Ezra]

Long post, lots of spoilers.

Before I write a review, I have to say that I'm not a fan of movie adaptions of A Christmas Carol. Most of them try too hard for "hearwarming" and end up sticky-sweet. Too often Ebenezer Scrooge is played as a "loveable curmudgeon" and a pushover, making the whole journey pointless. So, whenever there's a new version, I expect to be dissapointed.

I was not dissapointed.

Disney's A Christmas Carol is good. Really good. Surprisingly good. A good deal of the script by Robert Zemeckis is lifted right from the pages of the Charles Dickens novella, and what isn't definitely expands on it in a way that serves the original story. I suspect that this version owes alot to Richard Williams 1971 animated film — possibly the only other film to even attempt to portray the Spirit of Christmas Past as a slowly extinguishing candle.

Not even the most obscure detail of left out. This script even includes a line by Scrooge protesting England's Sunday Law. Where the presentation embellishes the story, it does so in order to flesh out some of its details. Ignorance and Want are made to demonstrate what happens to them if they are neglected: They become insane or criminal. This version makes sure you get the message of each lesson the story tries to teach.

When the (quite terrifying) ghost of Jacob Marley shows Ebenezer the other spirits hovering over the street, the actions they're locked in do alot to explain their torment. One chained to a millstone, forever pushing it around in a circle but not producing anything. Another, harnessed like a horse, is chasing a turnip that is dangled before him on the end of a stick. Another bangs his head repeatedly on an iron chest he can never unlock.

Jim Carrey's performance has the appropriate gravity for Scrooge, so much so that he makes his arguements against Chrismas at the beginning of the film almost sound sensible. He makes the character completely believable, so that the Three Spirits really have their work cut out for them!

I was concerned about Jim Carrey's potential ham acting. But in this near-animation medium, I think Carrey's nervous energy works out to his advantage. Animated characters are hardly ever at rest, and Carrey is hardly able to sit in a chair without fidgeting. Somehow, it works.

Scenes with the Cratchitt family are exceptionally well done. It reads clearly that they are all trying to put on a brave face for the sake of the holiday, dispite being near-overwhelmed with hardship. Gary Oldman is especially good as Bob Cratchitt. His grief at Tim's pasing is palpable. Most movies gloss over this, thinking that audiences will care about them solely because Tiny Tim is cute. But this version really does a good job of portraying the tragedy of it.

Most of the spectacular special effects are over the top, but really do serve the story. Having the Spirits conduct Scrooge on his journey via fly-throughs are very much in keeping with the story, but give the film a lively energy that will keep younger audience members entertained.

There are moments when the story embellishments go a little too far, though. A scene of Scrooge fleeing the pursuing Death Coach is over-long, getting way too caught up in the whiz-bang of the speciall effects. Icicle surfing and gutterpipe slollum? Really?

The look of the film is very beautiful. The views of the London cityscape at the beginning reminded me of Peter Ellenshaw's backdrops and matte paintings for Mary Poppins expanded into three dimensions for a fly-through. Some scenes were quite "painterly" with more than a touch of Currier & Ives or Norman Rockwell sentiment to them. The general look of the film was not-quite-animated and not-quite-live-action — but something new. There's a fantastical Ray Haryhaussen quality to it all that's very pleasant.

The 3D is very rich looking, without anything being extruded to far. If it were pushed any further, it would be the eye-popping, headache inducing gimicky stuff we see from other studios. (Just seeing the trailer for Fly Me To The Moon gave me a headache.) My criticism of Disney and Pixar turn in good work in 3D, but they're a little too timid about it. Zemeckis seems to have it just right.

I was also concerned about the motion capture technology. I have seen neither Polar Express or Beowulf, but clips from both of those films give me the jibblies. The humans, with their dead-fish eyes, are like creepy-creature zombies of uncanny valley. And the environments look too much like a video game.

I needn't have worried. — The main characters were so convincing that at times I forgot that I was watching motion capture. I say convincing, rather than realistic, because the character designs are highly stylized. Some look more like caricatures from editorial cartoons than real people, and yet are still convincing human characters.

There are minor exceptions: Some of the bit players in street scenes do occasionally exhibit the dead-eyed uncanny valley look. Carolers in the street look glazed until they catch sight of Scrooge coming. A chestnut vendor looks glassy-eyed until she speaks and seems to waken. It's like seeing extras in a live action movie that don't quite behave as expected, a fault that can easily be forgiven because the occurances are so brief.

The only major exception to this is the dance scene in Fezziwig's shop. The environment isn't nearly as detailed as the rest of the film. Mr & Mrs Fezziwig are definitely creatures of uncanny valley, and their dance looked more like a game of Tekken when the players unlock their "special moves". I highly doubt that Bob Hoskins and Jacquie Barnbrook (or anyone really) can dance like that. I suspect the the dance wasn't motion capture at all, but pure (but not well executed) animation.

I have to say that mid-air leaping turn by Mrs Fezziwig reminded me quite a bit of Mary's rooftop dance in Mary Poppins, which made me wonder if the Peter Ellenshaw look of the film wasn't entirely coincidental.

Unfortunately, the scene is also the first appearance of Isabelle, who also doesn't quite look alive. It's unfortunate that such an important moment doesn't come off. But when she breaks up with Ebenezer in the very next scene, she seems perfectly alive, and everything is back to the high quality look I came to expect by that point. If this scene was one of the earliest in the production schedule, perhaps it should have been sent back for a re-do.

Other than one very important scene falling flat, and a few forgivable overuses of special effects, this is by far the best adaption of A Christmas Carol I've ever seen. (Possible exceptions being Richard Williams' 1971 cartoon, and Alistair Sims turn as Scrooge in 1952... but both of those seemed dry and boring to me when I was a child. Where this new one has a lively pace and energy that should satisfy the kids.)