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A Christmas Carol (2009)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Time Out rating

Average user rating

9 reviews

Synopsis

Director Robert Zemeckis uses the motion-capture techniques developed in his previous film, 'Beowulf', to tell re-spin Charles Dickens's Christmas classic with an all-star voice cast.

Movie review

From Time Out London

The third ‘performance capture’ animation from writer-director Robert Zemeckis – following ‘The Polar Express’ and ‘Beowulf’ – takes Dickens’s cautionary and sentimental 1840s novella and delivers a visually arresting but surprisingly ghoulish and family-unfriendly ghost ride.
Not unlike the latest ‘Harry Potter’, it opens with a fantastic, technically superb aerial swoop over the teeming streets of London but, from there on, seems uncomfortable on the ground. To an extent, this ‘Christmas Carol’ is a case of style – and stylisation – overwhelming substance. The technology’s developing competence in delivering texture and vertiginous line and scale deny any sense of intimacy in the film’s settings, from the oceanic swathes of planked floorboard that Scrooge paces in his lending-house, to the restlessly changing angles from which poor, trusting Bob Cratchit’s (Gary Oldman) festive table is viewed in his cold, humble dwelling.

Likewise, despite staying true to Dickens’s dialogue, the characterisations are opaque, as facial expressions and people’s eyes are often creepily indistinct. How can we judge, for instance, Jim Carrey’s acting when he has provided a database of performances in his six incarnations? He plays Ebenezer Scrooge as a lonely schoolboy, heedless young lover and elderly curmudgeon and is also the ghosts of past, present and future – which means that possible pathos and sympathy is trumped by the surreal and impersonal spectacle of endless metamorphoses. That said, cinematographer Robert Presley and the design team provide many instances of graphical triumph, influenced by silent cinema, the spirit of Tim Burton and – in Scrooge’s moment of torment in the dockside murk and mist – David Lean. What the film suffers from is a want of common comfort, despite its nominally redemptive, happy ending.

Author: Wally Hammond 2009-11-03 10:41:42

Time Out London Issue 2046: 5-11 November, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Jayvee said...

Posted on Nov 20 2009 17:51 An excellent fikm but not suitable for young children under about 10.

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steve t said...

Posted on Nov 18 2009 07:45 Fantastic film the atmosphere of the Dickens novel comes through giving you a feeling of actually being there. The 3D effects are stunning and this must be the future of cinema to come. The film sticks well to the original story and portrays it well and my whole family enjoyed the experience . Well recommended!!!

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BbyGal said...

Posted on Nov 16 2009 16:00 This film was oright but i wouldnt go see it again... i like the way it was in 3d and the eeffects of the snow and stuff but it was very much like all the rest of the film like all dogs christmas caral ( but i liked that better ) i was not expecting it to be great but i was bored and just wanted it end what i didnt think i would feel like x

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Wen181 said...

Posted on Nov 12 2009 12:45 Awful film. No warmth. technically amazing but too much of it and the characters were so ugly.

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Gobinder said...

Posted on Nov 09 2009 10:40 Captures the atmosphere of Dickens perfectly,butt it does have a little too much darknes and some children may be frightened. Hovever,it is still an excellent film and well woth seeing.

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bob said...

Posted on Nov 08 2009 19:02 Little bit darker than I expected and the film seemed to end very fast. It didnt show much of scrooge been good and spending his money. The film in 3d did look fantastic and Jim carrey did play a good roll. Overall a good film that could of been better

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steve said...

Posted on Nov 08 2009 14:40 Superb! True to the original Dickens, brilliantly and beautifully animated, an unforgetable fim. And the closing song over the credits will bring tears to your eyes.

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Salvatore said...

Posted on Nov 08 2009 00:12 GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! THE best 3-D ever!
Everyone should go!!!! And be ready to be thrilled!!!

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Cyrillesley said...

Posted on Nov 05 2009 09:53 Good review. I'd add that is not suitable for kids under 10 as it has some scary moments. It feels more like a ride at an ammusement park than a film. Looks fantastic, but ultimately leaves a hollow feeling.
Disappointing

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