A Christmas Carol (2009)

A Christmas Carol(2009)

Official Website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/achristmascarol/

Dir: Robert Zemeckis

Perf: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins, Cary Elwes, Callum Blue, Molly Quinn and Paul Blackthorn.

Let me preface this review by saying that I was in no mood to see a Christmas movie before Thanksgiving, but I was worried that it wouldn't still be in theaters in a month. Additionally, the last Zemeckis film I saw and enjoyed was Contact(1997). I saw A Christmas Carol in IMAX 3D, and was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed it. I even teared up when Scrooge had his epiphany...

Most everyone knows the story of Charles Dickens' novel, A Christmas Carol, and over 75 films versions exist under the title "A Christmas Carol" and "Scrooge" combined. The 2009 version ranks in my top 5, which also includes Scrooge(1970), Scrooged(1988), A Muppet Christmas Carol(1992), Scrooge(1951). Each of these has it's own vision. Music, comedy, puppets, drama, and in this latest version, animation.

The animation was incredible, aside from the strange variances in character heights. However, the 3D took away from it. I enjoyed the ride each time a ghost would whoosh us away to the next stop with Ebenezer, but it was unnecessary. I found myself feeling like I was channel surfing between two separate films; one that told a story and one that offered a thrill ride. The two competed for my attention.

Much to my delight, this film is much darker than any other version in my top 5. It was much scarier than the PG rating (to quote my sister as we left the theater.) The animation of Ignorance and Want was downright creepy. The ghosts of Marley and Christmas Future (and his hell horses, with their evil red eyes and steamy snorts) made me jump in my seat. The 3D made the hell horses appear to be in my lap, and that's the last place you want to see a hell horse.

The multiple (8) roles for Carrey were so nicely vocally varied that I would not have placed the voices had it not been for their individual visual resemblances to him. Oldman's portrayal of Bob Cratchit was beautifully timid, and his turn as Jacob Marley's ghost is second only to Alec Guinness. Colin Firth and Bob Hoskins were wonderfully drawn into their characters. The voices of Callum Blue(Dead Like Me, Tudors, Smallville) and Molly Quinn(Castle) were immediately recognizable.

All in all, the story was well told, wonderfully animated, and perfectly voiced, with only the minor distraction of 3D to hinder my full attention (but not my enjoyment). It is available in theaters in a standard non-3D version and a 3D version, and an IMAX 3D version. I would recommend the non 3D version if you're taking children to see it, because I'm sure it would detract from the fright factor that was mainly based in the 3D effects. Otherwise hit the IMAX if there's one handy in your area!

Trivia: The 1971 version of A Christmas Carol (which allowed Alastair Sim to reprise the role of Ebenezer Scrooge 20 years after his initial portrayal) won the Academy Award for best animated short in 1973. I believe this is the only version to receive an Academy Award. So far..