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I was actually mesmerized by the atmosphere and felt swept up by the creepiness. Especially the ghost of christmas yet to come! Can you review harry potter! There's christmas in those movies!
Another fun fact from this weird film is: During the beginning sequence in the street, a guide dog spots Scrooge, yelps and quickly drags his owner away. This is a nod to the original novel, when author Charles Dickens explains how Scrooge's temperament was so known in the city that "even the blinds' dogs knew and avoided him".
Another like it is the herse with the GOFYTC! Its a nod to both the herse reference when Scrooge is going up his stairs with the candle (which is also a scene in the deleted scenes), and the fact Scrooge and the ghost saw more destitution throughout the town and back alleys in the book that aren't touched on in 90 % of movies. "... The ways were foul and narrow; the shops and houses wretched; the people half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly. Alleys and archways, like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt, and life, upon the straggling streets; and the whole quarter reeked with crime, with filth, and misery..."
@@theadaptationstationmaster yeah they should have done it differently and for a much shorter time, but I will admit, I did / do appreciate the nod to the harsher and dank parts that usually don't get included.
Considering how the coins on the eyes are to represent a fare to pay the Ferryman to the next life, Scrooge stealing them is a pretty clever representation of Marley's ghost being trapped in limbo.
Fun Fact: The Ghost of Christmas Past as a Candle is actually how he was originally depicted in the story. In most adaptations, he was changed into a female fairy or angel. I’m surprised this film actually got his depiction right.
To be fair making it a living candle back in the day would’ve been hard as hell, even doing it in live action would be hard today. There’s a reason why the only adaptations to do the whole candle thing are this and this year’s Netflix version, it could only work in animation
No he wasn't a Candle in the original, initially he was described the same way Elrond was described in #TheHobbit book; he was neither old nor young, he had the body of a youth, but the gravitas of wisdom thru old age. He even was dressed like you'd expect Elves to be dressed, he was wearing a wreath of Holly, and his robe had summer flowers on it. He did carry a flame cap, because light was coming from his figure. Then Charles Dickens went in my opinion a little crazy, and said the spirit was constantly shifting and fluctuating in appearance and form. Such as at one point only being an arm or an leg, having 20 legs, being a head, etc
I think one of my favorite moments in the movie was when Scrooge goes over to his nephew's house. And this is after he saw a vision of all of them making fun of him. You watch him be brave and humble, not expecting anything from it, and he asks to join. And everyone embraces him completely without question. I legit teared up the first time I saw that scene.
I have read the book myself, and really it is supposed to be relatively scary, as it is a Christmas ghost story. In a way part of the point is that it's to dissuade people to be like Scrooge and see the value in Christmas and what it stands for. A Christmas Carol is also a important cultural novel in how it established the genesis of what we know now as a 'Modern Secular Christmas '.
7:48 Actually, Scrooge and Marley not having a real connection is accurate to the book. “Even Scrooge was not so cut up, but that he was an excellent man of business.” This quote explained that Scrooge and Marley’s relationship though amicable was built around a foundation of business. They weren’t exactly friends so much as associates, as Scrooge would’ve been past the point of need for friends by that point of the firm joining.
It makes sense, you can be friendly with people you work with but not particularly close, where the only thing keeping you together is what you’re working at.
Fun Fact: Jim Carrey has described the film as "a classical version of A Christmas Carol. There are a lot of vocal things, a lot of physical things, I have to do. Not to mention doing the accents properly, the English, Irish accents. I want it to fly in the UK. I want it to be good and I want them to go, 'Yeah, that's for real.' We were very true to the book. It's beautiful. It's an incredible film."
No joke. This is actually my favorite version of the story. Yes, I do love the dark moments but to the Critic’s point I actually do think the spirit of Christmas balances them out. When Scrooge gives to the charity worker and at first the man can’t believe the amount and Scrooge softly thanks him, you just feel the newfound love and light he has in his heart. The best scene for me is when Scrooge goes to Fred’s party. Up to now, he’s had it easy. Giving of one’s self to strangers is one thing. It’s totally another to go to the family you’ve treated like crap for years, the last connection he has to his sister, and actually ask, really, to be forgiven. Carey really just hits it out of the park when he’s standing there, so pathetic and vulnerable, and just says, “if you’ll have me.” That pregnant pause. And then Fred just bursts with glee and welcomes his uncle at last. Just, God! So much love! And that’s when Scrooge’s redemption is actually complete.
Don’t you like Jim Carey’s “The Grinch” too? Doug says otherwise, but I absolutely adore that remake, which is a rare occurrence for sure. Both his Christmas remakes were very well done imo
True, in fact the widow of Dr. Suess was going to pull back the rights to make the grinch unless Jim Carrey was cast. The other actors Universal wanted to hire at that time were Jack Nicholson and Eddie Murphy.
I thought his reading of 'Then they had better do it and decrease the surplus population!' Was one of the best among any christmas carol adaptation. You really feel the bitterness and cold heart of scrooge in this version
To me, this is the definitive version. I love the atmosphere, pacing and darkness of it all. It's truly an emotional rollercoaster. By the time he is back, you feel such a genuine sigh of relieve and joy because of the intensity he's been through, making the ending where he turns good all the more welcome. None of the others had that for me quite as well as this one. Though Carrey is not the best Scrooge, this is the only version I return too.
Another little detail that I love about this movie that wasn't mentioned here: Scrooge's first time seeing Christmas Future is completely silent until Scrooge starts talking. It's like all the tension before Marley's ghost compressed down into about ten seconds of Scrooge's shadow turning into the ghost
An Odd Fact from this film: Scrooge falls at least eighteen times throughout the film. This may be a reference to Scrooge being humbled before his fellow man, the fact that he falls from high places, as well as low ones. His final fall is from the rail at the back of the carriage on Christmas day. This fall seems to hurt him least of all, since his heart and spirit have been "lightened" by the spirit's visits.
I love how the ghost of Christmas present subtlety ages throughout the scene, I didn't even notice it the first time I watched it but it's great how subtly it's done as his hair gets greyer and he slowly gets thinner.
Dong's long opinions sometimes can be big accurate and hit the right spots but his shortcomings can be pre-climax at times.. Scratching out long content can be a little tiresome sometimes when you have too much to do..
I'm also "A Christmas Carol" fanatic and watch multiple versions of it every season. I saw this version after re-reading the book and was amazed by how close of an adaptation this version was! Perhaps the closest adaptation, as it included Scrooge's sister (who in some versions is left out completely) the snuffing out of Christmas Past, the revelation of "the Forgotten Children of Man", and even minor details that some versions gloss over, like Scrooge sending the turkey to the Cratchits, but not revealing his transformation to Bob until the day after. Lots to love about this version, and I hope with time it gets more appreciation
Don’t forget the scene where the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the bakery that keeps their ovens running so the poor (like Bob Cratchit’s family) have a warm meal on Christmas, mentioning those “men of the cloth” that were trying to stop them from doing that simple act of kindness. It was a brief segment that Dickens wrote in to criticize the clergy’s attempts to shut down bakeries that kept their ovens running on Sundays to warm the meals of the impoverished of London. I’ve never seen any other adaptation include things like that.
The only thing missing that I think is REALLY important is when Christmas Past shows Scrooge a scene he isn’t in: Belle with her husband and children! I’m currently rereading the book for the season and paused to watch this movie and see if that scene was in there, because it isn’t in ANY other version I’ve seen and I thought this was the most faithful to the novel, but it’s still not there!
This is one of my favorites movies ever, I don't care what anyone says. It's Victorian, it's creepy, it's Christmas..it has a lot of things that I love. It's the best adaption to Dickens' story, which is a big plus and doesn't shy away from any type of horror and as a horror movie fan, it's one of the things that has me liking it. It's like a Disney movie for horror film lovers without it being a film about Halloween.
Except... unlike the Dickens novel, this film is... BORING. Its dull. A snoozefest. It takes too long to actually get into the story, and the way they do so is lacking. They tried, and I Have seen worse, but that's no excuse. Its rated PG, but it should be rated PMTKSS,LETWI, Parents making their kids sit still, long enough to watch it. No Child has the Attention Span to watch this film, so why not just target the adults and give it An R Rating? Kids Hate this movie, Especially the Younger ones. Why? Because its Boring.
@Matthew Rowlett Well, that's how the story starts. Sorry. Also, subtle, crawling horror is a thing and it's effective. It may be boring to you, but I love it. I love the creeping horror.
Despite it's flaws, this is still my favorite Christmas Carol adaptation. I personally love Carrey as Scrooge and adore Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit. The scenes that work really work for me and personally I like the style, I think it weirdly suits they story pretty well.
My dad really wanted to see this and dragged me to it. I was around 9 or 10 at the time. Needless to say, I was traumatized for a bit. I've grown to appreciate this since, though.
Same this movie was amazing dark light hearted and captures everything perfectly in the story including the small details how London was suffering a lot during those times the part traumatized me most was when the ghost of Christmas presents died while laughing
While I still prefer the Muppet Christmas Carol, that small scene between Bob and Scrooge in the vision of the future is incredibly brilliant. Quite possibly the best moment of any adaptation thus far.
I have to say it. Mickey's Christmas Carol is the DEFINITIVE best version of this tale. At least for me. I know I know, cardinal sin because the Muppet's Christmas Carol exists but for me, I just gravitate towards that one the most. It has some of the most iconic moments, I love how just kind of naturally the Disney characters fit into each role. And it has some really standout scenes towards the end, like MICKEY MOUSE CRYING didn't think Disney would ever do that to their mascot. And the gravediggers just laughing over Scrooge's grave "he ain't goin' nowhere." oof, then there's the one line from Pete. The GOCF doesn't say a word, aside from "Why YOURS Ebenezer. THE RICHEST MAN IN THE CEMETERY.", and it sticks man. The coffin opening up to be Hell itself, it's just good stuff...and even if you don't believe in any sort of afterlife, or are Agnostic like myself....I think in all of us is that natural fear of the unknown of what happens after we die. Also Pete just cackling over Scrooge's fear is so unsettling. It's got all the ingredients for a good version of this story. Good animation, good pacing, the fear hits when it's supposed to, the hope and heartwarming moments are also there, every time I see it every year around this time, it just makes me wish so BADLY Disney would go back to traditional animation. Or at least incorporate more of it in their future projects. It really is a lost art form.
"Richest Man in the Cemetery" has stuck with me since I saw it as a kid (Though nothing else about that version has, I'm very much a Muppets Christmas Carol person), but I remember it being "Richest Guy in the Graveyard", and was a bit disappointed that I misremembered all these years, the real line doesn't alliterate as well.
@@TheSmart-CasualGamer I actually think the way Pete delivers it is pretty hard hitting. I think what works is that Pete is the one who shoves him into the grave, AS he says it, whereas in most (I could be misremembering the Muppets one) he either stumbles in or is sucked in like here. But the ghost of Christmas Future just OUTRIGHT shoving him into his own grave that's just dark man lol.
I agree 100%, I grew up with Mickey’s Christmas Carol and it’ll always have a place in my heart that no other version of this story could replace! (Plus I live in Finland, Muppets wasn’t so big thing here, I didn’t even see the movie until last year.) The only complain I have about it is that Goofy is in the part of Jacob Marley. It always bugged me even as a kid, like, that’s not Goofy we know, he’s just too pure for that! I think Flintheart Glomgold would’ve fitted the role perfectly, altho I do understand that he wasn’t so known back then, not before Ducktales.
I work as a psychotherapist at a clinic for intellectually impaired kids. We’re presenting an adaptation of Christmas Carol to the patients this Friday. I wrote the script adapting the story in a way all patients, each with their own singular disabilities, could enjoy. I’m also playing Scrooge. I love this adaptation, I presented it to the cast, alongside the cartoon version with Mickey, so that they would have an idea how the characters behaved and talked. This is my favorite Christmas story, one of my favorite books of all time, and I’m so proud that I’m presenting it to the kids. Let this timeless lesson live with them forever and God bless us, all of us.
@@ryannixon4138 Thank you. First, at Children’s Day, we did an adaptation of The Sword in the Stone using Arthur and Kay’s relationship to teach kids about bullying and overcoming your self-doubts. Then, seeing the positive reception by the patients, I decided to go bigger for Christmas 😂. It’s a tough process, making a play, but gladly, it’s all coming together.
@@rorysainsbury6816 I don’t know if this is the correct term in english, I translated it directly from the one we use here in Brazil. I work with kids that have some neurological development impairment, like autism, fragile X syndrome, ADHD and so forth.
I love that this was as dark as it was. Carol is not a whimsical story. It was essential created as protest. I really enjoy this version because it captures that perspective.
I don't care what anybody says this is the best Christmas Carol adaption. It's dark and it's gritty like the book which is something that I'm surprised Disney allowed. Plus I can't get enough of Jim Carrey's performance as Scrooge. I don't really think there's any other performance like it. It's not as rewatchable as some of the other Christmas classics or even Polar Express for that matter but it's a movie I'll find myself watching every year or every other year
The problem (as outlined in the review) is that Christmas Carol isn't JUST dark and gritty, it's full of happy moments and upbeat scenes and likeable characters. This film went too far in trying to be dark and gritty and wound up forgetting to include most of that, focusing way too much on the harsher, heavier scenes and making them feel TOO miserable. The point of Christmas Carol is to balance out the dark scenes with positive scenes. We see Tiny Tim and the Cratchitt family having a great time at Christmas to contrast with how miserable the family is once Tiny Tim dies in the vision of the future. Or hell, as the review points out, the romance between Scrooge and Belle. The point is to set up their relationship as happy and loving only to then jump ahead a few years to show them bitterly separating, showing how much Scrooge changed and why he became so unhappy and so focused on his business. Granted the romance isn't always the best part of the adaptations, but this part almost skips it entirely, meaning anything you're meant to feel by the break-up scene just isn't there.
I'm not gonna lie, outside of the returning partner scene (which was just awkward). I genuinely love how dark this movie is. The lighting, transitions, and overall feel make you feel like you're the own being visited by actual ghosts. It all comes together in an, in my opinion, good ending that's more of a light at the end of the tunnel rather than an explosion of light.
I found myself thinking of this version a lot this year, especially after watching some other versions of Christmas Carol. Honestly, it's better than I remember for the most part, though I still think the Muppet version is my favorite one. This version DOES have 2 things/scenes I really like though. 1. The one Doug talked about with Scrooge forced to face Bob's raw pain. Chilling and heart breaking all at once. 2. When Scrooge goes to his nephew's dinner at the end. When he goes in and he hears the game he heard before, he has a look of pain on his face that says, "I deserve this, but I hope I can make amends." When he asks his nephew if he can stay for dinner, he looks so small and frail, and the pain in his voice really shows how much he wants to change if given the chance. And then you have Fred's immediate joy and acceptance of Scrooge that just shows what a good guy he is and how glad he is to have his uncle turn around. Honestly, that scene is underrated. Bottom line, a flawed version, but still one with value and some of the best scenes in any adaptation. Not the best, but still good enough.
I recently listened to the Tim Curry-narrated audio of the original, and I noticed that in the original book, Scrooge isn't hurt by the game he observes with the Ghost of Christmas Present. He's so caught up in the merriment that even after his nephew's dig at him, the Ghost practically has to drag him away.
I agree! Though I would add, the scene where you can hear the chains from Marley's ghost from behind the closed door, getting closer and closer. It's the first time i've watched a Christmas carol and felt Scrooge's fear.
I actually love how dark and weird this film gets. It felt like a drug trip some of the time, and the first time I watched it, I had more chills down my spine than I could count. It also gave it an other-worldly feel that made it more enjoyable for me to watch
The use of a candle image for the ghost of Christmas past was actually pretty close to the original story. That ghost has had the greatest variety in all the versions, I think because they were limited by special effects technology, and then it became trendy to put your own spin on it. It’s nice that they managed to do it here.
I saw this movie in 3D in the theaters as a kid, and this is honestly my favorite Christmas movie. Most Christmas content is family friendly, but this movie embraced its scary scenes. It gave me nightmares back then, but I loved watching Jim Carrey more than I did Tim Allen.
I was in college when this film hit theaters and decided to go see it, being a pretty big fan of Robert Zemechis's work. I figured it would be a bit creepy, but being one who likes creepy stuff, I just figured that would be part of the fun. But my goodness, I was NOT prepared for the number of screaming, crying children who had to be taken out of the theatre by their parents. And those who made it past the ghost of Jacob Marly, finally lost it when the children in the tower and the ghost of future showed up.
Yes!!!! I agree 100% ever since 2011 when I first saw the movie 2 years after it was released this has been my definitive Christmas movie I watch every year no matter what. Glad to see someone giving this film the love it deserves, it’s not only a masterpiece in dark storytelling and emotion but the best Christmas movie ever made
A Christmas Carol is ghost story on christmas, it should have dark elements. This version is the only one that shows Marley's ghost break his jaw, Scrooge seeing all the ghosts out his window
This version is my favorite! I love the language pulled more directly from the original that I cherish and the dark edge is what makes me want to start my kids out with this version. In that way I'm so grateful that they didn't rush it; they treat the timing like it's the entire audience's first time learning of this story. Love that they show more of Belle's story, but my only complaint was that they didn't say her name and show the scene where she found love.
Although George C. Scott’s Christmas Carol can’t be beat, this one is amazing! Very close to Charles Dickens’ original story, and the animation as well as the acting was incredible!
I love when people are as obsessed with the miniscule details of animation as I am. You touched on all the ones I love in this and even introduced some I didn't notice before.
Honestly, kind of upset that you didn’t mention the part where Scrooge goes to his Nephew’s dinner. The man who’s been nothing but mean to his nephew, presumably throughout all his life, goes to the party. I love the subtext in that scene and it consistently makes me tear up.
My favorite scene in the future ghost is where Scrooge sees a couple and they're overjoyed somebody died and they could catch up on their payment. You don't know who they are but there's a bit of chill and mystery in that scene
In our dubbing, the guy that dubbed the Spirit of Present Christmas was the same one that dubbed Darth Vader. They put reverb in it that actually somehow synced with the music in the background and was always all around, not just from the front. In cinema with great sounding, his voice made every single one of us just shut up. Like we all were ready to shout out "Glory to Empire!" on command. XD It was worth going to cinema just for that.
Something tells me I’m the only person who thinks this is the best Christmas carol I feel like the animation works well with the gross setting of 1800’s London and the dark atmosphere is done to perfection
@@nvm9040 Muppets for sure! If we want full live action (no muppets) than Alastair Simm! So very good! Sir Patrick Stewart is good too, but his crotchetyness feels stiff, rather than curmudgeonly.
This film did have its problems but there were a few diamonds in the rough. And I agree that Tiny Tim’s death scene and Cratchit’s reaction was really effective. Another rendition of A Christmas Carol that is beautifully haunting is the Richard Williams’ animated short.
It’s not even his family which makes it extra sweet, it’s all of Fred’s friends and his wife. The fact that they all accept their friend’s uncle despite him having such a bad reputation they can mock him in a game of 20 questions now that’s Christmas, accepting somebody because your friend also accepts them
I've always thought that Carrey absolutely disappears in this Scrooge. His ever-present frown was never cartoonish to me. It made sense for this film. When there's a dramatic moment, Carrey SELLS it. He's so much more restrained and subtle when it counts. Sorry, I'll never stop loving this movie.
Honestly, this is my favorite version and I've seen lot of them from the 1934 to more recent. And this has to be my favorite version of the Ghost of Christmas Present, his jovial laughing is sooooo contagious and the way he morphs into scrooge to use his words against him and Hark the Herald Angel Sings playing wheb they start flying over the town is sooo beautiful to me
agreed this version has the best Present ghost... and in my opinion the best Future ghost as well.... for the quiet moments not the over the top stuff.
I wish Jim Carrey could have done more voice work, because in this and along with Horton Hears a Who, he shows some amazing raw talent and emotion in his voice performances, showing he can be a good voice actor just as much as he can be a good actor.
12:44 that’s what’s been hurting my Christmas spirits but watching nostalgia critic Christmas vids(that and rank n bass Christmas movies) has helped be remember the Yuletide spirit, merry Christmas 🎄 from Canada 🇨🇦
19:02 I've already been brainstorming a horror version of the Christmas Carol. Scrooge either steals Time Travel powers or works out how to be immortal in order to avoid his punishment in death.
despite how over the top dark it is, is kinda sad that this is one of the last dark kids films that was ever release, along side with probably paranorman, because after that i don't remember any kids film that went that dark
@@manuelalbertoromero9528 okey i give you that since it recently came out. I could say wendel & wild too but that shit is dark as watching a horror film with spike lee and this one never shut the hell up about politics and Donald Trump.
I saw this version with my dad in 3D shortly after it came out. We loved it! We read the book every year, so we know the story well, and he felt it was a very loyal adaptation
I just started watching this movie this month. I was 17 when it came out and I didn’t really see it because I figured it be just like all the other adaptations but now that I’m giving it a chance it actually might be a better version than I’ve ever seen, and I started off with the Flintstones Christmas Carol as a kid.
This movie actually introduced me to a Christmas Carol when it came out. I was 6 when this was out, and I thought it looked pretty good. I didn’t see it until a few years later on TV, and it was decent. I’m glad more people are starting to appreciate this movie more ☺️☺️☺️
Didn’t know they did one, though the fact that they do Christmas specials is frequently discussed. Was it just them or were there other Hannah Barbera characters?
Wait, you "started watching it this month" and you're "now giving a chance", implying that you're not done yet? How long does it usually take you to finish a movie? 😂
Alastair Sim in Scrooge will always be the definitive adaptation of this tale for me. I love the acting, the emotions, and the theming of the music they use. Barbara Allen being used as a theme for Scrooge's nephew and sister works so well and definitely sets the mood well for the relationship there.
Love that version, but they did drag on the ghost of Christmas past scenes for far too long in my opinion. A lot was added that I felt wasn't needed. But that's just me and why I tend to lean toward other versions
@@jessicaable5095 thats fair. I personally really like the extended past scenes. Scrooge realizing that he had gone against his sister's final wish is especially powerful in this version. I tear up a little every time.
Personally, I always saw this one as the definitive version of A Christmas Carol. This is always the one that pops into my head when someone mentions A Christmas Carol
in every iteration....the chiming of the servants bells....long since cut from their tethers....yet ringing all the same. raises goosebumps. every. single. time.
saw this movie in a theatre when I was like 8 or 9 and the scenes were so scary I had to close my eyes and block my ears and now as an adult I can absolutely say the childhood trauma was justified
I think it would've been a pretty good jumpscare if they cut out the 5 minute chase scene. Its quick, you wouldn't expect it, and your immediately thrown in a new environment. (19:54)
This is my favorite version and I have to tell ya, from the clock tower scene onward raises my anxiety levels a little bit. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come always creeped me out the first couple of times I saw this. And the night I watched it, I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I had to use the bathroom, but before I got out of bed, I remembered how freaked out I was about the third spirit so I stayed in my room. I was seven when this film released in theaters, so it’s too bad I won’t know what it was like. Also, I was talking about the story like the original not this particular movie yesterday with a friend and when I realized that the animation here was known as motion capture, he told me that they always got bad reviews. In this film along with The Polar Express’ defense, they were made in the 2000s. Therefore, CGI was becoming a thing. But once again, this is my favorite adaptation.
I for one love this film! I have seen so many over the years but NEVER have I encountered a film that is so loyal to the book! It follows the text almost word for word, not only in the lines but the visuals as well. I can't watch this film without hearing the audio book in my head. And it includes so much from the book, little things that no other film has but add so much to the story. Like guide dogs pulling their masters out of Scrooge's way, the Ghost of Christmas Past's snuffer, the Ghost of Christmas Present's empty scabbard, people throwing snowballs on Christmas day. And I know that Fezzywig's dancing looks weird that's what I love about that scene. Dickens described Fezzywig and his wife as amazing dancers and I think they went with this larger-then life scene to represent that. Granted I agree that the film went way too dark with the death of the Ghost of Christmas Present and the whole Ghost of Christmas yet to Come segment went way off the rails for no reason. To be honest I didn't realize until now that was Bob letting out all his sorrow in front of Scrooge's face, I thought he looked dazed instead of sad. But still I always have trouble deciding if this or the Muppet's is my favourite Christmas Carol.
I have a soft spot for this because I think it's a really good adaptation of Dickens' story, and with the dark tone it went for the uncanny valley quality of the animation works.
Yes, this is movie has too much uncanny valley, yes, in some places the CGI hasn't aged great. But this is still one of the most effective Scrooge facing the consequences of Tiny Tim's Death I've ever seen.
Considering his opinions on mo-cap, I'd love to hear Doug's thoughts on The Adventures of Tintin. It is, in my opinion, the best looking mo-cap film because it was so stylized. It wasn't trying to be hyper-realistic and I think that really helped the illusion. Also a really good movie in general (though I know Americans aren't generally very familiar with Tintin as a character, hence why it bombed in the States)
It did well enough for a sequel to get greenlit…but then WB had to fuck the Tintin fanbase over by making Peter Jackson do The Hobbit movies leaving him as a creatively drained husk of his former self
This would be a decent adaptation except for all the cartoony over the top moments. Marley’s jaw, Fezziewig spinning into the air, the ghost Xmas present turning into a laughing science room skeleton….to name a few.
Honestly the most impressive feat by this movie is how WELL it sticks to the source material I was shocked when I first saw this air on tv how close it stayed to the original, even more impressive considering its made by Disney
And the main thing is changed (Christmas presents sequence) was to spice up the visuals in an intuitive way without sacrificing too much They even added lesser used details like the empty scabbert and the ongoing outrage about Sunday ovens
A bigger nightmare before Christmas than the actual nightmare before Christmas. I know A Christmas Carol is usually seen as a dark film, but this one went darker than we would have expected towards the end. Nice to see this one get a proper review after seeing the Disneycember review.
My boss asked all of the new employees to do a skit for our Christmas potluck, so we decided to do A Christmas Carol parody with the governor as Scrooge
While this is far from my favorite version (of my favorite story of all time) , I wholeheartedly agree that the moment of Scrooge and Cratchit face to face on the stairs is brilliant. Gary Oldman's face communicates every ounce of a father's grief and Scrooge has to confront that level of emotion, knowing he could have helped.
This was a good adaptation in my opinion. It was also one of the scariest! In my opinion, the scariest scenes are with the door knob scene, Marley’s scene, The death of the Present ghost and the entirety of the Future ghost.
When I was a kid I remember watching this in a imax theater. It was a school trip and it blew my mind. But when I watch it at home it's just not the same.
There may not be a "definitive Christmas Carol movie," but honestly I think the Muppets' version comes pretty darn close. Even with all the usual Muppet silliness, they did an incredible job of capturing the heart of Dickens' story.
hard to say. the muppets is the most entertaining and its close to the book; Gonzo reading the narrating lines. But as far as closest to the book Zemekis version wins. Love both though.
The Muppets version has gained a reputation for being the most accurate, pretty sure at least it’s one of very few adaptations that gets Scrooge’s catchphrase right. In the book he’d say “bah” and “humbug” separately and they’d go together every now and again. In the muppets version Scrooge’s introduction has him say “humbug” without the “bah” proceeding it and he frequently says “humbug” on its own but I’m fairly certain Scrooge only says the combined version once and he says it with a pause between the two words
After the release of this film, Mars Needs Moms came out in theaters 2011 and it was a box office bomb even the studio behind both a Christmas carol (2009) and Mars Needs Moms was shut down
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
It's time for some Jim Carrey and Christmas!
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Can you talk about the old Jackson 5 cartoon?
Dubbins is dubbins
Another "a Christmas carol" to review huh critic ? tis the season
Can you review Fred Claus, Swan Princess Christmas, Babes in Toyland (1997), and Home Sweet Home Alone?
I was actually mesmerized by the atmosphere and felt swept up by the creepiness. Especially the ghost of christmas yet to come!
Can you review harry potter! There's christmas in those movies!
Another fun fact from this weird film is: During the beginning sequence in the street, a guide dog spots Scrooge, yelps and quickly drags his owner away. This is a nod to the original novel, when author Charles Dickens explains how Scrooge's temperament was so known in the city that "even the blinds' dogs knew and avoided him".
Another like it is the herse with the GOFYTC! Its a nod to both the herse reference when Scrooge is going up his stairs with the candle (which is also a scene in the deleted scenes), and the fact Scrooge and the ghost saw more destitution throughout the town and back alleys in the book that aren't touched on in 90 % of movies.
"... The ways were foul and narrow; the shops and houses wretched; the people half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly. Alleys and archways, like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt, and life, upon the straggling streets; and the whole quarter reeked with crime, with filth, and misery..."
That's a nice touch.
@@theoryquery I think that's a poor excuse for squeezing in a stupid action scene. But the dog bit is cool.
I noticed that too!
@@theadaptationstationmaster yeah they should have done it differently and for a much shorter time, but I will admit, I did / do appreciate the nod to the harsher and dank parts that usually don't get included.
Considering how the coins on the eyes are to represent a fare to pay the Ferryman to the next life, Scrooge stealing them is a pretty clever representation of Marley's ghost being trapped in limbo.
That's actually a nice detail
It’s too bad they didn’t have electricity bills back then to add the cost too
as far as some people think that doesnt mean they do.
@@jmurray1110 nice percy reference.
HOLY MOLY that's complex
Fun Fact: The Ghost of Christmas Past as a Candle is actually how he was originally depicted in the story. In most adaptations, he was changed into a female fairy or angel. I’m surprised this film actually got his depiction right.
Yeah, this film has a weird dichotomy of being staunchly faithful to the novel while being ridiculously over-the-top in much of the execution.
To be fair making it a living candle back in the day would’ve been hard as hell, even doing it in live action would be hard today. There’s a reason why the only adaptations to do the whole candle thing are this and this year’s Netflix version, it could only work in animation
@@mrcritical6751 None of the previous animated adaptations did it either.
@@dreamlandnightmare yeah they typically go angelic with him
No he wasn't a Candle in the original, initially he was described the same way Elrond was described in #TheHobbit book; he was neither old nor young, he had the body of a youth, but the gravitas of wisdom thru old age. He even was dressed like you'd expect Elves to be dressed, he was wearing a wreath of Holly, and his robe had summer flowers on it. He did carry a flame cap, because light was coming from his figure. Then Charles Dickens went in my opinion a little crazy, and said the spirit was constantly shifting and fluctuating in appearance and form. Such as at one point only being an arm or an leg, having 20 legs, being a head, etc
I think one of my favorite moments in the movie was when Scrooge goes over to his nephew's house. And this is after he saw a vision of all of them making fun of him. You watch him be brave and humble, not expecting anything from it, and he asks to join.
And everyone embraces him completely without question.
I legit teared up the first time I saw that scene.
Yes. In my opinion, it was definitely the most heart warming scene in the movie
I like that too because in the end while they made fun of him, it was more out of upset that he didn’t arrive then out of hatred.
IF you'll have Me........
@@hyicrotai9801 such a beautiful and sweet scene 😭
The scene where the Ghost of Christmas Present dies is legitimately one of the scariest scenes I've ever seen in a PG-rated movie. It's intense.
The boy and girl creeped me out so much. Every time I watch it they still creep me out.
Returning to when PG stood for something
@@Hufflepuffozian And something not often adapted from the book. Yeah, alot of versions leave out Ignorance and Want.
I have read the book myself, and really it is supposed to be relatively scary, as it is a Christmas ghost story. In a way part of the point is that it's to dissuade people to be like Scrooge and see the value in Christmas and what it stands for.
A Christmas Carol is also a important cultural novel in how it established the genesis of what we know now as a 'Modern Secular Christmas '.
Same. He was so friendly and jolly that I didn't think he'd go out that way. Wait... Can he even die if he's a Christmas Spirit?
7:48 Actually, Scrooge and Marley not having a real connection is accurate to the book. “Even Scrooge was not so cut up, but that he was an excellent man of business.” This quote explained that Scrooge and Marley’s relationship though amicable was built around a foundation of business. They weren’t exactly friends so much as associates, as Scrooge would’ve been past the point of need for friends by that point of the firm joining.
It makes sense, you can be friendly with people you work with but not particularly close, where the only thing keeping you together is what you’re working at.
Fun Fact: Jim Carrey has described the film as "a classical version of A Christmas Carol. There are a lot of vocal things, a lot of physical things, I have to do. Not to mention doing the accents properly, the English, Irish accents. I want it to fly in the UK. I want it to be good and I want them to go, 'Yeah, that's for real.' We were very true to the book. It's beautiful. It's an incredible film."
And he wasn’t wrong at all 🙂☺️😊
Ok but was a movie that was entertaining? The reason why you’d see something on the big screen?
Has anyone seen "The Man who Invented Christmas" it is a movie about how Charles D made the book and his life struggles
@@theanimeunderworld8338 I haven't but now I want to because that sounds really good!!! 😀😃😁
@@rorysainsbury6816 apparently Christmas wasn't a big holiday like it is now
It was a religious day off but nothing like today
No joke. This is actually my favorite version of the story. Yes, I do love the dark moments but to the Critic’s point I actually do think the spirit of Christmas balances them out.
When Scrooge gives to the charity worker and at first the man can’t believe the amount and Scrooge softly thanks him, you just feel the newfound love and light he has in his heart.
The best scene for me is when Scrooge goes to Fred’s party. Up to now, he’s had it easy. Giving of one’s self to strangers is one thing. It’s totally another to go to the family you’ve treated like crap for years, the last connection he has to his sister, and actually ask, really, to be forgiven.
Carey really just hits it out of the park when he’s standing there, so pathetic and vulnerable, and just says, “if you’ll have me.” That pregnant pause. And then Fred just bursts with glee and welcomes his uncle at last.
Just, God! So much love! And that’s when Scrooge’s redemption is actually complete.
Don’t you like Jim Carey’s “The Grinch” too? Doug says otherwise, but I absolutely adore that remake, which is a rare occurrence for sure. Both his Christmas remakes were very well done imo
that's nice but the 1951 version is still better.
Jim Carrey started the 2000s as the Grinch and ended it as Scrooge. Both villains of Christmas.
And both super iconic with a similar arc.
They had to get a huge star to play the Grinch and Jim Carrey is the only 1 of them that could pull it off
True, in fact the widow of Dr. Suess was going to pull back the rights to make the grinch unless Jim Carrey was cast. The other actors Universal wanted to hire at that time were Jack Nicholson and Eddie Murphy.
As someone who is not a fan of Christmas and is a fan of Jim carrey I see this comment section as an absolute win win.
Holy crap! I just realized that!
I thought his reading of 'Then they had better do it and decrease the surplus population!' Was one of the best among any christmas carol adaptation. You really feel the bitterness and cold heart of scrooge in this version
Bill Gates - _Then they had better do it and decrease the surplus population!_
This movie really reminds you that Christmas Carol is technically a ghost story
Technically, it could also be considered a horror story.
And if The Man Who Invented Christmas is to be believed originally a tragedy as Dickens didn’t originally intend for Scrooge to be redeemed
A creepy one at that
You best start believing in ghost stories, Mr. Scrooge...
*You're in one!*
To me, this is the definitive version. I love the atmosphere, pacing and darkness of it all. It's truly an emotional rollercoaster. By the time he is back, you feel such a genuine sigh of relieve and joy because of the intensity he's been through, making the ending where he turns good all the more welcome. None of the others had that for me quite as well as this one. Though Carrey is not the best Scrooge, this is the only version I return too.
I feel the same, this is the definitive version of the story to me too.
Another little detail that I love about this movie that wasn't mentioned here: Scrooge's first time seeing Christmas Future is completely silent until Scrooge starts talking. It's like all the tension before Marley's ghost compressed down into about ten seconds of Scrooge's shadow turning into the ghost
disney had the balls to go dark on this version, and i'm here for it, one of my favourite renditions.
This is when Disney had no problem going into dark territory
An Odd Fact from this film: Scrooge falls at least eighteen times throughout the film. This may be a reference to Scrooge being humbled before his fellow man, the fact that he falls from high places, as well as low ones. His final fall is from the rail at the back of the carriage on Christmas day. This fall seems to hurt him least of all, since his heart and spirit have been "lightened" by the spirit's visits.
I like that interpretation of it!
it would all hurt
I love how the ghost of Christmas present subtlety ages throughout the scene, I didn't even notice it the first time I watched it but it's great how subtly it's done as his hair gets greyer and he slowly gets thinner.
I’m not a notification squad type of person, but Doug’s opinion on this horror film is something I need to hear.
But Nostalgia-Ween was a few months ago-
You and a billion people who watch Nostalgia Critic 😂
Dong's long opinions sometimes can be big accurate and hit the right spots but his shortcomings can be pre-climax at times.. Scratching out long content can be a little tiresome sometimes when you have too much to do..
i was holy fuck most of the time
Same
I'm also "A Christmas Carol" fanatic and watch multiple versions of it every season. I saw this version after re-reading the book and was amazed by how close of an adaptation this version was! Perhaps the closest adaptation, as it included Scrooge's sister (who in some versions is left out completely) the snuffing out of Christmas Past, the revelation of "the Forgotten Children of Man", and even minor details that some versions gloss over, like Scrooge sending the turkey to the Cratchits, but not revealing his transformation to Bob until the day after. Lots to love about this version, and I hope with time it gets more appreciation
Don’t forget the scene where the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the bakery that keeps their ovens running so the poor (like Bob Cratchit’s family) have a warm meal on Christmas, mentioning those “men of the cloth” that were trying to stop them from doing that simple act of kindness. It was a brief segment that Dickens wrote in to criticize the clergy’s attempts to shut down bakeries that kept their ovens running on Sundays to warm the meals of the impoverished of London. I’ve never seen any other adaptation include things like that.
The only thing missing that I think is REALLY important is when Christmas Past shows Scrooge a scene he isn’t in: Belle with her husband and children! I’m currently rereading the book for the season and paused to watch this movie and see if that scene was in there, because it isn’t in ANY other version I’ve seen and I thought this was the most faithful to the novel, but it’s still not there!
@@michaelacatapano
It's one of the deleted scenes on the DVD release.
This is one of my favorites movies ever, I don't care what anyone says.
It's Victorian, it's creepy, it's Christmas..it has a lot of things that I love. It's the best adaption to Dickens' story, which is a big plus and doesn't shy away from any type of horror and as a horror movie fan, it's one of the things that has me liking it. It's like a Disney movie for horror film lovers without it being a film about Halloween.
Except... unlike the Dickens novel, this film is... BORING. Its dull. A snoozefest. It takes too long to actually get into the story, and the way they do so is lacking. They tried, and I Have seen worse, but that's no excuse. Its rated PG, but it should be rated PMTKSS,LETWI, Parents making their kids sit still, long enough to watch it.
No Child has the Attention Span to watch this film, so why not just target the adults and give it An R Rating? Kids Hate this movie, Especially the Younger ones.
Why? Because its Boring.
@Matthew Rowlett Well, that's how the story starts. Sorry. Also, subtle, crawling horror is a thing and it's effective. It may be boring to you, but I love it. I love the creeping horror.
@Matthew Rowlett I disagree, when I watched as a kid I loved it
@@matthewrowlett1564 that's you...not most of us
Completely agree ! I watch it every christmas since 2018 now :)
Despite it's flaws, this is still my favorite Christmas Carol adaptation. I personally love Carrey as Scrooge and adore Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit. The scenes that work really work for me and personally I like the style, I think it weirdly suits they story pretty well.
My dad really wanted to see this and dragged me to it. I was around 9 or 10 at the time. Needless to say, I was traumatized for a bit. I've grown to appreciate this since, though.
Same this movie was amazing dark light hearted and captures everything perfectly in the story including the small details how London was suffering a lot during those times the part traumatized me most was when the ghost of Christmas presents died while laughing
I think I was 4 the first time, but by that point I’d seen coraline, 9, and monster house-
While I still prefer the Muppet Christmas Carol, that small scene between Bob and Scrooge in the vision of the future is incredibly brilliant. Quite possibly the best moment of any adaptation thus far.
I have to say it. Mickey's Christmas Carol is the DEFINITIVE best version of this tale. At least for me. I know I know, cardinal sin because the Muppet's Christmas Carol exists but for me, I just gravitate towards that one the most. It has some of the most iconic moments, I love how just kind of naturally the Disney characters fit into each role. And it has some really standout scenes towards the end, like MICKEY MOUSE CRYING didn't think Disney would ever do that to their mascot.
And the gravediggers just laughing over Scrooge's grave "he ain't goin' nowhere." oof, then there's the one line from Pete. The GOCF doesn't say a word, aside from "Why YOURS Ebenezer. THE RICHEST MAN IN THE CEMETERY.", and it sticks man. The coffin opening up to be Hell itself, it's just good stuff...and even if you don't believe in any sort of afterlife, or are Agnostic like myself....I think in all of us is that natural fear of the unknown of what happens after we die. Also Pete just cackling over Scrooge's fear is so unsettling.
It's got all the ingredients for a good version of this story. Good animation, good pacing, the fear hits when it's supposed to, the hope and heartwarming moments are also there, every time I see it every year around this time, it just makes me wish so BADLY Disney would go back to traditional animation. Or at least incorporate more of it in their future projects. It really is a lost art form.
I do like that version a lot but I wish it was a bit longer.
"Richest Man in the Cemetery" has stuck with me since I saw it as a kid (Though nothing else about that version has, I'm very much a Muppets Christmas Carol person), but I remember it being "Richest Guy in the Graveyard", and was a bit disappointed that I misremembered all these years, the real line doesn't alliterate as well.
I prefer the looney Tunes one
@@TheSmart-CasualGamer I actually think the way Pete delivers it is pretty hard hitting. I think what works is that Pete is the one who shoves him into the grave, AS he says it, whereas in most (I could be misremembering the Muppets one) he either stumbles in or is sucked in like here. But the ghost of Christmas Future just OUTRIGHT shoving him into his own grave that's just dark man lol.
I agree 100%, I grew up with Mickey’s Christmas Carol and it’ll always have a place in my heart that no other version of this story could replace! (Plus I live in Finland, Muppets wasn’t so big thing here, I didn’t even see the movie until last year.)
The only complain I have about it is that Goofy is in the part of Jacob Marley. It always bugged me even as a kid, like, that’s not Goofy we know, he’s just too pure for that! I think Flintheart Glomgold would’ve fitted the role perfectly, altho I do understand that he wasn’t so known back then, not before Ducktales.
Unironically one of my favourite versions. It hits perfectly especially with *that* scene where Scrooge looks into a broken Bob into the eyes.
I work as a psychotherapist at a clinic for intellectually impaired kids. We’re presenting an adaptation of Christmas Carol to the patients this Friday. I wrote the script adapting the story in a way all patients, each with their own singular disabilities, could enjoy. I’m also playing Scrooge. I love this adaptation, I presented it to the cast, alongside the cartoon version with Mickey, so that they would have an idea how the characters behaved and talked. This is my favorite Christmas story, one of my favorite books of all time, and I’m so proud that I’m presenting it to the kids. Let this timeless lesson live with them forever and God bless us, all of us.
That's adorable
@@ryannixon4138 Thank you. First, at Children’s Day, we did an adaptation of The Sword in the Stone using Arthur and Kay’s relationship to teach kids about bullying and overcoming your self-doubts. Then, seeing the positive reception by the patients, I decided to go bigger for Christmas 😂. It’s a tough process, making a play, but gladly, it’s all coming together.
Congrats and good luck!
Just to check when you say intellectually impaired, do you mean like they’re not very intelligent?
@@rorysainsbury6816 I don’t know if this is the correct term in english, I translated it directly from the one we use here in Brazil. I work with kids that have some neurological development impairment, like autism, fragile X syndrome, ADHD and so forth.
I love that this was as dark as it was. Carol is not a whimsical story. It was essential created as protest. I really enjoy this version because it captures that perspective.
I don't care what anybody says this is the best Christmas Carol adaption. It's dark and it's gritty like the book which is something that I'm surprised Disney allowed. Plus I can't get enough of Jim Carrey's performance as Scrooge. I don't really think there's any other performance like it. It's not as rewatchable as some of the other Christmas classics or even Polar Express for that matter but it's a movie I'll find myself watching every year or every other year
Truly a man or woman of fine taste.
I agree. This is my favorite adaptation of the story for all these reasons
The problem (as outlined in the review) is that Christmas Carol isn't JUST dark and gritty, it's full of happy moments and upbeat scenes and likeable characters. This film went too far in trying to be dark and gritty and wound up forgetting to include most of that, focusing way too much on the harsher, heavier scenes and making them feel TOO miserable.
The point of Christmas Carol is to balance out the dark scenes with positive scenes. We see Tiny Tim and the Cratchitt family having a great time at Christmas to contrast with how miserable the family is once Tiny Tim dies in the vision of the future.
Or hell, as the review points out, the romance between Scrooge and Belle. The point is to set up their relationship as happy and loving only to then jump ahead a few years to show them bitterly separating, showing how much Scrooge changed and why he became so unhappy and so focused on his business. Granted the romance isn't always the best part of the adaptations, but this part almost skips it entirely, meaning anything you're meant to feel by the break-up scene just isn't there.
1951 exists though
This was the first version I saw as a kid and it scared the shit out of me which is what makes it my favourite adaptation of Christmas carol
I'm not gonna lie, outside of the returning partner scene (which was just awkward). I genuinely love how dark this movie is. The lighting, transitions, and overall feel make you feel like you're the own being visited by actual ghosts. It all comes together in an, in my opinion, good ending that's more of a light at the end of the tunnel rather than an explosion of light.
Jim Carrey as Scrooge! Surprisingly he's better than I thought he would be. But this movie will scare the Dickens out of you!
The best part is I can imagine Carrey making memorable faces behind the scenes
His Scrooge sounds very similar to Mr. Burns.
@@somerandolad 😈 Excellent
I see what you did there
@@sagesarrazine6270 YUP!!!
I found myself thinking of this version a lot this year, especially after watching some other versions of Christmas Carol. Honestly, it's better than I remember for the most part, though I still think the Muppet version is my favorite one. This version DOES have 2 things/scenes I really like though.
1. The one Doug talked about with Scrooge forced to face Bob's raw pain. Chilling and heart breaking all at once.
2. When Scrooge goes to his nephew's dinner at the end. When he goes in and he hears the game he heard before, he has a look of pain on his face that says, "I deserve this, but I hope I can make amends." When he asks his nephew if he can stay for dinner, he looks so small and frail, and the pain in his voice really shows how much he wants to change if given the chance. And then you have Fred's immediate joy and acceptance of Scrooge that just shows what a good guy he is and how glad he is to have his uncle turn around. Honestly, that scene is underrated.
Bottom line, a flawed version, but still one with value and some of the best scenes in any adaptation. Not the best, but still good enough.
I recently listened to the Tim Curry-narrated audio of the original, and I noticed that in the original book, Scrooge isn't hurt by the game he observes with the Ghost of Christmas Present. He's so caught up in the merriment that even after his nephew's dig at him, the Ghost practically has to drag him away.
I agree! Though I would add, the scene where you can hear the chains from Marley's ghost from behind the closed door, getting closer and closer. It's the first time i've watched a Christmas carol and felt Scrooge's fear.
Honestly, I really like this version of A Christmas Carol mostly because of how surprisingly dark it is.
Still not as creepy as The Polar Express.
I have to agree with you there, I really did enjoy how dark it gets in this version of A Christmas Carol.
@@dreamlandnightmare The Conductor constantly looks like he’s about to commit murder.
it’s the only version that I watch I saw when it came out which was holy moly 13 years ago as you can tell it was scary as shit
A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite Christmas stories of all time too!
I remember seeing this at the IMAX and it was crazy beautiful, it's a different feeling from watching it on normal television
I actually love how dark and weird this film gets. It felt like a drug trip some of the time, and the first time I watched it, I had more chills down my spine than I could count. It also gave it an other-worldly feel that made it more enjoyable for me to watch
The use of a candle image for the ghost of Christmas past was actually pretty close to the original story. That ghost has had the greatest variety in all the versions, I think because they were limited by special effects technology, and then it became trendy to put your own spin on it. It’s nice that they managed to do it here.
I saw this movie in 3D in the theaters as a kid, and this is honestly my favorite Christmas movie. Most Christmas content is family friendly, but this movie embraced its scary scenes. It gave me nightmares back then, but I loved watching Jim Carrey more than I did Tim Allen.
I was in college when this film hit theaters and decided to go see it, being a pretty big fan of Robert Zemechis's work. I figured it would be a bit creepy, but being one who likes creepy stuff, I just figured that would be part of the fun. But my goodness, I was NOT prepared for the number of screaming, crying children who had to be taken out of the theatre by their parents. And those who made it past the ghost of Jacob Marly, finally lost it when the children in the tower and the ghost of future showed up.
That's amazing, I wish I was there
Personally, this is my favorite Christmas movie, and my favorite version of A Christmas Carol! I watch it every year!
It’s an improvement from some bad Christmas Carol films
I like it better than Scrooged, but worse than the Muppet Christmas Carol.
Yes!!!! I agree 100% ever since 2011 when I first saw the movie 2 years after it was released this has been my definitive Christmas movie I watch every year no matter what. Glad to see someone giving this film the love it deserves, it’s not only a masterpiece in dark storytelling and emotion but the best Christmas movie ever made
A Christmas Carol is ghost story on christmas, it should have dark elements. This version is the only one that shows Marley's ghost break his jaw, Scrooge seeing all the ghosts out his window
@@92bagder didn't the 1984 version also have Marley's jaw being broken or dislocated?
I think the purpose of Fezziwig dancing and flying in the past showed how the younger Scrooge saw him: a free spirit full of joy and frivolity.
This version is my favorite! I love the language pulled more directly from the original that I cherish and the dark edge is what makes me want to start my kids out with this version. In that way I'm so grateful that they didn't rush it; they treat the timing like it's the entire audience's first time learning of this story. Love that they show more of Belle's story, but my only complaint was that they didn't say her name and show the scene where she found love.
Although George C. Scott’s Christmas Carol can’t be beat, this one is amazing! Very close to Charles Dickens’ original story, and the animation as well as the acting was incredible!
I love when people are as obsessed with the miniscule details of animation as I am. You touched on all the ones I love in this and even introduced some I didn't notice before.
Honestly, kind of upset that you didn’t mention the part where Scrooge goes to his Nephew’s dinner. The man who’s been nothing but mean to his nephew, presumably throughout all his life, goes to the party. I love the subtext in that scene and it consistently makes me tear up.
My favorite scene in the future ghost is where Scrooge sees a couple and they're overjoyed somebody died and they could catch up on their payment. You don't know who they are but there's a bit of chill and mystery in that scene
In our dubbing, the guy that dubbed the Spirit of Present Christmas was the same one that dubbed Darth Vader. They put reverb in it that actually somehow synced with the music in the background and was always all around, not just from the front. In cinema with great sounding, his voice made every single one of us just shut up. Like we all were ready to shout out "Glory to Empire!" on command. XD
It was worth going to cinema just for that.
Something tells me I’m the only person who thinks this is the best Christmas carol
I feel like the animation works well with the gross setting of 1800’s London and the dark atmosphere is done to perfection
You're not the only one, I love it alot, especially the way it looks, it almost looks like the original illustrations of the book come to life.
I think the same. Best version.
It's my personal favorite version.
I think the same thing about it being the best animated version but question is does anyone have a favorite live action version????
@@nvm9040 Muppets for sure!
If we want full live action (no muppets) than Alastair Simm!
So very good!
Sir Patrick Stewart is good too, but his crotchetyness feels stiff, rather than curmudgeonly.
This film did have its problems but there were a few diamonds in the rough. And I agree that Tiny Tim’s death scene and Cratchit’s reaction was really effective. Another rendition of A Christmas Carol that is beautifully haunting is the Richard Williams’ animated short.
My favorite moment of this movie is when Scrooge goes to have dinner with his family, and how they are so joyous that Scrooge arrived.
It’s not even his family which makes it extra sweet, it’s all of Fred’s friends and his wife. The fact that they all accept their friend’s uncle despite him having such a bad reputation they can mock him in a game of 20 questions now that’s Christmas, accepting somebody because your friend also accepts them
@@mrcritical6751 yes! Exactly!!!!!
I've always thought that Carrey absolutely disappears in this Scrooge. His ever-present frown was never cartoonish to me. It made sense for this film. When there's a dramatic moment, Carrey SELLS it. He's so much more restrained and subtle when it counts. Sorry, I'll never stop loving this movie.
One of the cool things about the ghost of Christmas future, is that he's always in Scrooge's shadow. That's a cool detail for this story
The scene where Christmas Present laughs as he fades away to dust is my favorite. Still not entirely sure why, it’s just so haunting.
Honestly, this is my favorite version and I've seen lot of them from the 1934 to more recent. And this has to be my favorite version of the Ghost of Christmas Present, his jovial laughing is sooooo contagious and the way he morphs into scrooge to use his words against him and Hark the Herald Angel Sings playing wheb they start flying over the town is sooo beautiful to me
That's still my favourite scene lol
agreed this version has the best Present ghost... and in my opinion the best Future ghost as well.... for the quiet moments not the over the top stuff.
Best animated version in my opinion but the best live action was the Patrick Stewart version in my opinion
@@nvm9040 agreed he does a really good rendition and I like the more chilled tone… I think it’s more chill it’s been a while since I seen it
I wish Jim Carrey could have done more voice work, because in this and along with Horton Hears a Who, he shows some amazing raw talent and emotion in his voice performances, showing he can be a good voice actor just as much as he can be a good actor.
12:44 that’s what’s been hurting my Christmas spirits but watching nostalgia critic Christmas vids(that and rank n bass Christmas movies) has helped be remember the Yuletide spirit, merry Christmas 🎄 from Canada 🇨🇦
19:02 I've already been brainstorming a horror version of the Christmas Carol. Scrooge either steals Time Travel powers or works out how to be immortal in order to avoid his punishment in death.
This was my introduction to A Christmas Carol. I saw in theatres when I was 10 years old; and how it didn't scare me for life, I have no idea.
despite how over the top dark it is, is kinda sad that this is one of the last dark kids films that was ever release, along side with probably paranorman, because after that i don't remember any kids film that went that dark
@@motor4X4kombat I don't know, Guillermo's Pinocchio definitely goes there at times.
@@manuelalbertoromero9528 okey i give you that since it recently came out. I could say wendel & wild too but that shit is dark as watching a horror film with spike lee and this one never shut the hell up about politics and Donald Trump.
If you saw it at around 6 or 7, it probably would have.
I saw this version with my dad in 3D shortly after it came out. We loved it! We read the book every year, so we know the story well, and he felt it was a very loyal adaptation
I just started watching this movie this month. I was 17 when it came out and I didn’t really see it because I figured it be just like all the other adaptations but now that I’m giving it a chance it actually might be a better version than I’ve ever seen, and I started off with the Flintstones Christmas Carol as a kid.
For me it was Disney's Christmas Carol with Scrooge.
This movie actually introduced me to a Christmas Carol when it came out. I was 6 when this was out, and I thought it looked pretty good. I didn’t see it until a few years later on TV, and it was decent. I’m glad more people are starting to appreciate this movie more ☺️☺️☺️
Didn’t know they did one, though the fact that they do Christmas specials is frequently discussed. Was it just them or were there other Hannah Barbera characters?
Wait, you "started watching it this month" and you're "now giving a chance", implying that you're not done yet? How long does it usually take you to finish a movie? 😂
Jim Carrey feels like that kid that was left inside the Bubblegum Factory for too long
Bubble gum factory?
Alastair Sim in Scrooge will always be the definitive adaptation of this tale for me. I love the acting, the emotions, and the theming of the music they use. Barbara Allen being used as a theme for Scrooge's nephew and sister works so well and definitely sets the mood well for the relationship there.
Yup. Definitely.
Love that version, but they did drag on the ghost of Christmas past scenes for far too long in my opinion. A lot was added that I felt wasn't needed. But that's just me and why I tend to lean toward other versions
I like the 1938 version.
Edit: and the 1951 version.
@@jessicaable5095 thats fair. I personally really like the extended past scenes. Scrooge realizing that he had gone against his sister's final wish is especially powerful in this version. I tear up a little every time.
As there are two versions (Black & White & Colour) ALWAYS go for the B&W version as it makes it look more creepy & gothic.
Personally, I always saw this one as the definitive version of A Christmas Carol. This is always the one that pops into my head when someone mentions A Christmas Carol
I love this film, it scared the shit out of me as a kid.
HOW YOUNG ARE YOU?!!!!
@@michaelversace456 this movie came out in 2009 so you know,13 years ago
dude might as well be like 20 something,what the hell kinda question is this?
@@Hal-fx9xx A question begging the response of HOW OLD ARE YOU?!!!
@@michaelversace456 old enough
satisfied?
@@Hal-fx9xx Wow, you really don't get it do you? I'm the old one.
in every iteration....the chiming of the servants bells....long since cut from their tethers....yet ringing all the same. raises goosebumps. every. single. time.
And the sound of Marley's chains getting closer and closer to the locked door....truly terrifying!
This film is a combination of some of my favorite things, atmosphere, eeriness (the animation), animation, and Jim mf Carrey.
saw this movie in a theatre when I was like 8 or 9 and the scenes were so scary I had to close my eyes and block my ears and now as an adult I can absolutely say the childhood trauma was justified
I didn't like this one at first, but it's really grown on me over the years. We watch it every time it's on.
It’s gotta be better than Robert Zemeicks last motion capture movie: Mars Needs Moms
i was like a family picture when the shit hit the fan in some scenes
@@torquetheprisoner Ghost of Christmas Present's death, though. That was hardcore.
@@magallanesagustin4952 yeah that scene was like 🤯😳😮😦😧😨😰😱
@@magallanesagustin4952 still get chills, EVERY time.
And I watch this twice a year every year for the last 13.
I think it would've been a pretty good jumpscare if they cut out the 5 minute chase scene. Its quick, you wouldn't expect it, and your immediately thrown in a new environment. (19:54)
This is my favorite version and I have to tell ya, from the clock tower scene onward raises my anxiety levels a little bit. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come always creeped me out the first couple of times I saw this. And the night I watched it, I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I had to use the bathroom, but before I got out of bed, I remembered how freaked out I was about the third spirit so I stayed in my room. I was seven when this film released in theaters, so it’s too bad I won’t know what it was like. Also, I was talking about the story like the original not this particular movie yesterday with a friend and when I realized that the animation here was known as motion capture, he told me that they always got bad reviews. In this film along with The Polar Express’ defense, they were made in the 2000s. Therefore, CGI was becoming a thing. But once again, this is my favorite adaptation.
I for one love this film!
I have seen so many over the years but NEVER have I encountered a film that is so loyal to the book! It follows the text almost word for word, not only in the lines but the visuals as well.
I can't watch this film without hearing the audio book in my head. And it includes so much from the book, little things that no other film has but add so much to the story. Like guide dogs pulling their masters out of Scrooge's way, the Ghost of Christmas Past's snuffer, the Ghost of Christmas Present's empty scabbard, people throwing snowballs on Christmas day.
And I know that Fezzywig's dancing looks weird that's what I love about that scene. Dickens described Fezzywig and his wife as amazing dancers and I think they went with this larger-then life scene to represent that.
Granted I agree that the film went way too dark with the death of the Ghost of Christmas Present and the whole Ghost of Christmas yet to Come segment went way off the rails for no reason.
To be honest I didn't realize until now that was Bob letting out all his sorrow in front of Scrooge's face, I thought he looked dazed instead of sad.
But still I always have trouble deciding if this or the Muppet's is my favourite Christmas Carol.
21:16 Side note, I once had a goldfish I named Spirit, I am constantly reminded of his lines in this scene where he screams "Spirit!!!"
I have a soft spot for this because I think it's a really good adaptation of Dickens' story, and with the dark tone it went for the uncanny valley quality of the animation works.
I feel like this is a perfect example of letting Jim Carrey do whatever he wants to on a film
That would be Grinch or Bruce Almighty
@@ninjanibba4259 more so Ace Ventura when he first became a big star 😉
@@nsasupporter7557 also true
@@ninjanibba4259 “the most annoying sound in the world” scene from Dumb and Dumber was improvised, did you know that?
@@nsasupporter7557 actually I still haven't seen that movie, but I believe improvisation would be all over that movie
Just wanna say Jim Carrey would be a awesome chest player
Yes, this is movie has too much uncanny valley, yes, in some places the CGI hasn't aged great. But this is still one of the most effective Scrooge facing the consequences of Tiny Tim's Death I've ever seen.
So this is why you shouldn't do wheelies around a connect four.
I saw this film in theaters when I was 8. The laughter of Present as he decays and withers away still haunts my dreams to this day
Holy hell, I just realized Jim Carrey sounds like Mr. Burns in this role…
Honestly i think this shows Jim Carrey can play a hero and a villain pretty well
He has already played good villains like the Riddler, the Cable Guy, the Grinch and Count Olaf.
Then you must not have seen very many Jim Carrey movies 😳
He’s already shown he can play the hero and villain very well!
@@magallanesagustin4952 hell even The Mask who is one of Carrey’s most popular roles was kinda a villain until the last third
It's kind of interesting that actors who play villians (David Warner, Richard E. Grant etc and of course Gary Oldman) have played Bob Cratchit
Considering his opinions on mo-cap, I'd love to hear Doug's thoughts on The Adventures of Tintin. It is, in my opinion, the best looking mo-cap film because it was so stylized. It wasn't trying to be hyper-realistic and I think that really helped the illusion. Also a really good movie in general (though I know Americans aren't generally very familiar with Tintin as a character, hence why it bombed in the States)
It did, but seemed to have performed reasonably well outside the US to turn up a profit.
It did well enough for a sequel to get greenlit…but then WB had to fuck the Tintin fanbase over by making Peter Jackson do The Hobbit movies leaving him as a creatively drained husk of his former self
You know i'm pretty sure even Mindreaders can't even tell what Jim Carrey next move will be
Jim Carrey is like that kid in school who loved to stick the eraserhead from his Pencil into his eardrum to get all the earwax away
This would be a decent adaptation except for all the cartoony over the top moments. Marley’s jaw, Fezziewig spinning into the air, the ghost Xmas present turning into a laughing science room skeleton….to name a few.
Honestly the most impressive feat by this movie is how WELL it sticks to the source material
I was shocked when I first saw this air on tv how close it stayed to the original, even more impressive considering its made by Disney
Yeah, I don't even know if there was a single piece of dialogue from the book that this movie missed or changed.
Yeah, the beats and dialogue are surprisingly faithful. It just goes way over the top with the visuals.
Absolutely! I love the original material and I don’t think it can be best by any film. But this is really really close to the original
And the main thing is changed (Christmas presents sequence) was to spice up the visuals in an intuitive way without sacrificing too much
They even added lesser used details like the empty scabbert and the ongoing outrage about Sunday ovens
@@jmurray1110 As well as Ignorance and Want. Something often left out of most adaptations of the story.
22:03 Did we learn nothing from Dragonball Evolution? “There ARE no rules.”
I really enjoyed the present spirit with his rather jolly nature.
That's exactly how the book describes him: a jolly Giant.
19:08 a FAMILY picture
My absolute favorite Christmas carol! I love the faithfulness to the book and just how twistedly dark it was. Love me some macabre Christmas!
Man i should really go more often to that Octopus that washes your car for you
A bigger nightmare before Christmas than the actual nightmare before Christmas. I know A Christmas Carol is usually seen as a dark film, but this one went darker than we would have expected towards the end.
Nice to see this one get a proper review after seeing the Disneycember review.
My boss asked all of the new employees to do a skit for our Christmas potluck, so we decided to do A Christmas Carol parody with the governor as Scrooge
This was a fine looking Christmas Carol. The Uncanny Valley look works with the story.
While this is far from my favorite version (of my favorite story of all time) , I wholeheartedly agree that the moment of Scrooge and Cratchit face to face on the stairs is brilliant. Gary Oldman's face communicates every ounce of a father's grief and Scrooge has to confront that level of emotion, knowing he could have helped.
This was a good adaptation in my opinion. It was also one of the scariest! In my opinion, the scariest scenes are with the door knob scene, Marley’s scene, The death of the Present ghost and the entirety of the Future ghost.
When I was a kid I remember watching this in a imax theater. It was a school trip and it blew my mind. But when I watch it at home it's just not the same.
There may not be a "definitive Christmas Carol movie," but honestly I think the Muppets' version comes pretty darn close. Even with all the usual Muppet silliness, they did an incredible job of capturing the heart of Dickens' story.
hard to say. the muppets is the most entertaining and its close to the book; Gonzo reading the narrating lines. But as far as closest to the book Zemekis version wins. Love both though.
For me, Muppets is my favorite version. It's a pretty darn faithful version, and for me, the inclusion of the songs elevates it quite a bit!
yeah, the muppet version is awesome.
The Muppets version has gained a reputation for being the most accurate, pretty sure at least it’s one of very few adaptations that gets Scrooge’s catchphrase right. In the book he’d say “bah” and “humbug” separately and they’d go together every now and again. In the muppets version Scrooge’s introduction has him say “humbug” without the “bah” proceeding it and he frequently says “humbug” on its own but I’m fairly certain Scrooge only says the combined version once and he says it with a pause between the two words
Christmas pudding, no doubt 😂😂😂 20:07
As of today, this version of Christmas Carol is great. I watch it every Christmas season.
After the release of this film, Mars Needs Moms came out in theaters 2011 and it was a box office bomb even the studio behind both a Christmas carol (2009) and Mars Needs Moms was shut down
Right as they were developing a remake of Yellow Submarine too
@@mrcritical6751 and now look what happened
This is easily one of the best Christmas Carol Yet-To-Come versions ever next to The Muppet Christmas Carol of course.
Gotta say....This is probably my favorite adaptation of the SCROOGE story. It has a certain darkness I really gravitate to.