Disney's A Christmas Carol Film Review
A Retelling of the Classic Tale in Motion Capture 3D
Nov 9, 2009
Hollywood kicks off the 2009 holiday season in the first week of November with another Disney version of a timeless classic, A Christmas Carol. Disney's third retelling of A Christmas Carol following Mickey's Christmas Carol in 1983 and The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992, but the first filmed in Disney Digital 3D and with the process of performance capture, a technique director Robert Zemeckis has previously used in The Polar Express and Beowulf.
Another Version
The question to ask is can Disney possibly breathe any more life into a story that has been told so many times before? The story should be well known to the masses by now, unless the person has been living under a rock for their entire life. Did Disney pull this version off? With flying colors, thanks to the brilliant animation of Robert Zemeckis.
The Oscar-winning director brings out the best in Charles Dicken's classic tale about an old and bitter miser named Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey), who undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of one night. The motion capture animation along with 3D make the audience feel like they have traveled back to 1830's London. Give credit to Zemeckis for using 3D, which is not only a draw for the film, it enhances the motion capture animation. The beautiful visual details dazzle the eye, yet the story stays true to the tale admired for decades.
Classic Jim Carrey
Carrey provides his manic personality to bring life to the old, bitter man. He is able to bring the character alive in digital, animated form, while being true to the character’s persona. He also gives motion to the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Gary Oldman, Cary Elwes, Bob Hoskins, and Robin Wright Penn also give motion to a slew of characters within the film.
Final Thoughts
Don’t assume this is a film just for smaller children because its from Disney. There are some visuals and elements of the film that will be considered quite frightening for much younger children and should only be watched by a mature audience.
The classic tale of reviving the Christmas spirit juiced with several dazzling flights of digital fancy, a succession of striking images and Jim Carrey's voicing of Scrooge is a wonderful sight to behold. A perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Much credit much be given to Zemeckis for not giving in to the masses and continuing to improve his motion capture technology.
