A Christmas Carol (2009)
Director Robert Zemeckis (Beowulf, Forest Gump) uses his motion-capture technology to re-tell Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story.
Jim Carrey plays Ebenezer Scrooge, a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption by several mysterious apparitions - the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Chrismas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come (all three are played by Carrey). Also features Gary Oldman as Bob Crachit / Tiny Tim and Bob Hoskins as Mr. Fezziwig.
- Director:
- Robert Zemeckis ('Beowulf', 'The Polar Express', 'Cast Away', 'What Lies Beneath', 'Forest Gump', 'Back to the Future')
- Writer:
- Robert Zemeckis
- Cast:
- Jim CarreyGary OldmanRobin Wright PennBob HoskinsColin FirthCary Elwes
Reviews & comments
A faithful rendering of the original
The problem for any version of this story made in rrecent decades is that it will inevitably be compared with earlier versions rather than Dickens' original story. Needless to say the biting social comment of the original has been gradually candy coated in a series of earlier film and tv versions to provide a bland "goodwill to all men" message more fitted...
Variety
pressWhile it's true that the various ghosts and geographically plausible aerial images of the British metropolis in mid-19th-century are arrestingly vivid, there isn't a moment when it wouldn't be preferable to see Jim Carrey himself, even slathered in old-age makeup, as well as the real Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins and the rest of the cast, rather than their airbrushed CGI approximations.
Urban Cinefile
pressConceptually brilliant with mind-blowing special effects, but who is the intended audience of this visual extravaganza? Certainly not children: the content is far too dark with haunting imagery that could provoke nightmares for impressionable youngsters.
Hollywood Reporter
pressExuberant movie technology overwhelms, then buries Dickens' emotional tale.
Variety
pressWhile it's true that the various ghosts and geographically plausible aerial images of the British metropolis in mid-19th-century are arrestingly vivid, there isn't a moment when it wouldn't be preferable to see Jim Carrey himself, even slathered in old-age makeup, as well as the real Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins and the rest of the cast, rather than their airbrushed CGI approximations.
Urban Cinefile
pressConceptually brilliant with mind-blowing special effects, but who is the intended audience of this visual extravaganza? Certainly not children: the content is far too dark with haunting imagery that could provoke nightmares for impressionable youngsters.
Hollywood Reporter
pressExuberant movie technology overwhelms, then buries Dickens' emotional tale.
A faithful rendering of the original
The problem for any version of this story made in rrecent decades is that it will inevitably be compared with earlier versions rather than Dickens' original story. Needless to say the biting social comment of the original has been gradually candy coated in a series of earlier film and tv versions to provide a bland "goodwill to all men" message more...
Share