Ebenezer Scrooge thinks Christmas is just a load of humbug, but even he would agree that A Christmas Carol in 3D is quite a thrill.
Remaking Charles Dickens’ classic tale is a daunting task, but Robert Zemeckis’ extraordinary rendition proves that good stories never die.
Thankfully, the story of old Ebenezer does not get lost amidst the extraordinary animation effects; instead they bring the moral tale to life. Not to mention that there is possibly no better character actor than Jim Carrey for the role of the old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the three spirits who visit him on Christmas Eve. Although Carrey lends his voice to four separate characters, he succeeds in keeping all four diverse, as if they were performed by four different actors.
Carrey carries the role of Scrooge as if it was written for him: a greedy, grumpy, old man with a croissant-shaped face and a large nose, who has no compassion for the poor and whose biggest fear is dying penniless. Children are scared of him and everyone generally despises him for his cold-heartedness and calculated manner. Zemeckis’ Scrooge is grumpier, thinner, and even more unpleasant than the original, so it is no surprise that the uninvited ghosts who visit him are so genuinely spooky.
The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come are a visual wonder and represent the best part of the movie. The ghost of Christmas Past is a flickering candle that never dies, symbolic of the eternal flame of Scrooge’s hidden memories. Christmas Present is a jolly man who teaches Scrooge that the spirit of the Holidays remain in people’s hearts throughout the year, and shows him all the poor, but happy families in London. And the cloaked shadowy figure with a scary reminiscence of death is the ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come.
“Are these the shadows of things that are, or of things that might be?” he cries as the ghost drops him off in coffin.
Zemeckis has directed many classics, such as Forrest Gump and The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol deserves to be ranked with them. Although this version of the classic tale is animated, it resonates more with adults than with children. Some scenes make the viewers sit uncomfortably in their seats; especially when Scrooge hears about Tiny Tim, or when he is chased by the ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Be.
Zemeckis takes an old story, dusts it off, and brings some Disney magic along with yuletide cheer to make it the perfect holiday film.
Cinéma Banque Scotia 977 St. Catherines West. Mon – Thu 12:00 2:30 5:00 7:30 10:00.