ALL MOVIES
X

Page   1  2  3  4  5  >

  • Storytelling Slacks in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
    (August 2010)
    Christian Hamaker
    Gamers will understand the structure and hodgepodge approach to storytelling in Scott Pilgrim vs....
  • Ferrell's Just Coasting in Uninspired Other Guys
    (August 2010)
    Jeffrey Huston
    For anyone who loves Will Ferrell's brand of absurd man-child humor, you get more of that in The Other...
  • Harsh Realities Aren't Whitewashed in Artsy Kisses
    (August 2010)
    Christa Banister
    Though many independent films favor an equally bleak canvas for telling such a sad story, Kisses...
  • Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Should've Gone Straight to Video
    (July 2010)
    Christa Banister
    Aside from Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me, kids have really gotten the short end of the...
  • Charlie St. Cloud is More Creepy Than Weepy
    (July 2010)
    Christa Banister
    The trouble with Charlie St. Cloud is that the screenplay tries to be so many things (part Field...
  • Sexual Jokes Coarsen Dinner for Schmucks
    (July 2010)
    Christian Hamaker
    Dinner for Schmucks, a remake of the French farce The Dinner Game, expands on the original...
  • Dad Steals the Show in Sister Story Ramona and Beezus
    (July 2010)
    Christian Hamaker
    The latest adaptation from Walden Media of a beloved series of children's books is unobjectionable G-rated...

Page   1  2  3  4  5  >

Technology Shackles the Heart of "Disney's A Christmas...
AVERAGE RATING
RATE THIS ARTICLE
Technology Shackles the Heart of "Disney's A Christmas Carol"
Christa Banister
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
(November 2009)

Release Date:  November 6, 2009

Rating:  PG (for scary images and sequences)

Genre:  Drama/Fantasy/Christmas

Run Time:  96 min.

Director:  Robert Zemeckis

Actors/Voices:  Jim Carrey, Steve Valentine, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Gary Oldman Sage Ryan, Daryl Sabara, Ryan Ochoa, Bobbi Page, Sammi Hanratty

No doubt about it, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a timeless story with plenty of relevance, particularly in light of our nation's still-fragile economic situation where many people have been forced to reevaluate what's really important in life. 

Advertisement
Click Here!

And for those who haven't had to give that reality much thought, well, a plea for soul-searching and generosity always gets a better response at Christmas, right? Hence the power of the story of Scrooge and his eventual transformation from miserly curmudgeon to a caring member of the community…

But considering that the familiar tale has even made its way into a Matthew McConaughey rom-com this year, namely Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, there needed to be something, anything that made A Christmas Carol worth revisiting yet again—classic or not—because it's really all been done before. 

However, with the casting of rubber-faced comedian Jim Carrey, not to mention the innovative technological wizardry that director Robert Zemeckis brought to The Polar Express and Beowulf, there was definitely a glimmer of promise. Surely, with a funny guy like Carrey on board to play Scrooge (not to mention seven other characters, including all three ghosts), there was the potential for an alternate take, whether it was satirical or something new altogether.

 

Unfortunately, that glimmer quickly flickers out as Carrey is stripped of all his charm and usual hair-brained antics. By forcing him to play it straight, it doesn't do the film any favors, no matter how hard Carrey tries. Simply put, it's a mostly humorless affair that fails to stir up those Christmasy feelings of family, hope and nostalgia that are essential for a flick like this to have staying power for years to come.

Instead, all viewers are left with is a familiar story with little discernable heartbeat. See, it seems any shred of inventiveness was saved exclusively for the visuals, which are gloriously thrilling at moments and as impersonal as an action sequence from your average video game the next. 

While's it's quickly apparent that Zemeckis' favorite technological gimmick, the art of motion capture, has rendered the characters more lifelike than his previous efforts, the aesthetic still doesn't do much to support the actual storyline. Sure, it may look cool on occasion, but that's where its effectiveness ends.

Content Provided by: http://www.crosswalk.com

Page   1  2

COMMENTS
  • churchsinger 12/1/2009 4:09 PM
    I went to see this in 3D Saturday, and I enjoyed myself. I didn't see anything wrong with the movie. I was waiting for the scarey parts and dark themes. Real young kids wouldn't like it, but late elementary should be fine.

    The special effects were good. I liked the 3D. I've never watched a movie in 3D before. The ghosts were a little wierd, but they were ghosts.

    I thought Jim Carey did a great job as Scrooge. Everyone makes a stink about all the crude movies he does. For once he does a serious and heartfelt character and he still get criticized. Gary Oldman does a terrific job as well.

    I haven't seen the Christmas Carol in many years. It was great to revisit the themes of second chances and good will toward men. Go and see it.
  • marteemar 11/9/2009 12:09 PM
    I just saw this last night and I left with a creepy, unsettling feeling. All i can remember saying throughout the movie was "Disney?" The trailer for this movie is deceptive and NOT at all for children. It was very dark but I will say that the animation was very good just not expected. This is not a family movie by all means!!!!
  • RexLovestheShow 11/8/2009 3:24 AM
    I think the movie was great. You say in your article that Jim Carrey played it straight, yes and that is the way it should be with this movie! Mr. Carrey had more latitude with 'The Grinch' movie he last played because the storyline was never defined too narrow so he showed us his brilliance in filling out the detail gags, laughs and humor! 'A Christmas Carol' is to be seen as a movie with a more narrow look at passion into the ugly side and his passion in his eventual good side, speaking of Mr. Scrooge's personality, of course. The movie was plenty funny and good natured that definitely pulled at the heart-strings for all to se and feel. Hooray for Mr. Carrey for giving us, or rather showing us, thru his talent, Mr. Scrooge's bah-humbug personality that we come to the movies to see!!! Extra note, in 3-D it was wonderful!!

Page   1  2  

  • CCMmagazine.com (Salem All-Pass) registration.
    With your free membership, you will be able to add your reviews to alums, comment on articles, and more! Join today.
    Salem Forums Users: You do not need to register for a new account; your forums account is part of the "Salem All-Pass."
    Required fields marked with *
    *Username:
    *Password:
    *Confirm Password:
    *E-mail Address:
    FREE NEWSLETTERS
    Terms of Use / Privacy Policy
Rewards Zone
FREE CHRISTIAN MUSIC NEWSLETTER
 In Tune
CCM magazine.com - Christ Community Music
CCMmagazine.com is a proud member of the Salem Publishing family of sites providing content and resources such as :
& the Salem Communications family of sites including: