Rating: 
Summary: Patrick Stewart as the thinking man's version of Scrooge
Review: Nobody ever prepared for playing Ebenezer Scrooge as much as Patrick Stewart, who for years did a one-man recitation of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens during the Holiday season. Eventually his mesmerizing performance was made available as an audiotape, which was certainly better than nothing, but it was difficult not to be disappointed that Stewart's performance was not captured on video. In 1999 this situation was somewhat rectified when Hallmark put together this made for television version of the classic Dickens tale. The story begins with the funeral of Jacob Marley, who died on a Christmas Eve, and Ebenezer Scrooge musing on why doornails are particularly to be regarded as "dead." If there is one thing that distinguishes Stewart's performance it is emphasis on how Scrooge was responsible for his own sorry state. This time around there is less of an idea that the fates were not kind to Scrooge than there is that he made choices that he refuses to regret. His disdain for Christmas and its attendant joys and practices comes not so much from anger as it does from a sense of superiority, taking a rather perverse pride in putting the two gentlemen who make the mistake of coming to Scoorge & Marley for funds in their place. The most insightful scene into the character of this Scrooge is when Marley's Ghost (Bernard Lloyd) appears. Scrooge returns to eating while doing the "more gravy than grave" speech and his inquiries about the meaning of spirits coming to visit him comes across as utterly reasonable, the product of intellectual curiosity more so than fear and trembling, and Marley replies in kind. Scrooge cannot understand why Marley is suffering given how good of a businessman he was in life. Of course, in due time, Marley and the other spirits will educated Scrooge accordingly. I find the cover shot for the DVD/VHS of this film to be quite appropriate because I believe it represents the moment when Scrooge goes too far and provokes the visit from Marley's ghost and the rest of the spirits. A young boy, obviously symbolic of Tiny Tim, has the nerve to stand in front of Scoorge & Marley singing a Christmas carol ("Good King Wencelas"). Scrooge can endure only a single verse before he opens the door and threatens the child with a raised cane. The boy quickly flees, but the moment stays with us, a new affront in the litany of Scrooge's crimes against Christmas that we know so well. I have to admit, I was sure the young actor (Leagh Conwell) playing the caroller would return at the end as the boy Scrooge sends to fetch the big turkey in the window, but that is not what takes palce. The spirit of rethinking roles extends to the ghosts as well, with Joel Grey as a somewhat menacing Ghost of Christmas Past and Desmond Barrit as a rather melancholy Ghost of Christmas Present. This production is also unusual in that the supporting cast does not show a lot of recognizable names. The exception would be Joel Grey, but the rule would be veteran character actors like Elizabeth Spriggs ("Sense and Sensibility") as Mrs. Riggs. The special effects are a hit and miss proposition, and while you want to take into account that this is "just" a television movie and not a theatrical film, it is more to the point to remember that this particular production was undertaken to get Patrick Stewart in front of the camera playing Ebenezer Scrooge. Alastair Sim in the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" remains the definitive Scrooge, but Stewart is a most reasonable second choice.
Rating:
Summary: Just as Good as The Alastair Sim Version!
Review: The Alastair Sim version has been my favorite Christmas Carol movie for years but since seeing this Patrick Stewart version I think it's just as good and is now at a tie with the Sim version for my favorite version of A Christmas Carol and Patrick Stewart is just as good as that old skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge as Alastair Sim was. I also suggest the George C. Scott Christmas Carol movie which is another fine version. I own all three movies on DVD and I think each version is worthy!
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Effort, But Not Nearly As Good As Alastair Sim's
Review: Although this version is probably a better remake than most of the other ones out there, Patrick Stewart, like many others, fails to even come close to hitting the character of Scrooge like Alastair Sim did in the 1951 classic. Maybe it's because the Sim's film is a classic and once you see such a great performance you tend to take away from newer versions of the same film. This movie keeps Scrooge angry even when Marley appears before him and does not show Scrooge's fear or even come close to the "joyful/crazy dance" at the end of the movie like Sim's version. Without a doubt, Stewart showed an excellent effort but like many others, he failed to portray Scrooge's character brilliantly like Sim. This movie deserves 2 stars, but I give it 3 for effort. Buy the 1951 version on DVD instead. It's a classic and you'll be able to preserve it
Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Christmas Carol
Review: A true best buy. Patrick Stewart brings scrooge to life like never before. This film is a must for the hole family. Now Im going buy the book version. A++++++
Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Performance from Patrick Stewart
Review: 160 years ago (1843), Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote one of his most beloved short stories, "A Christmas Carol". After the advent of film early in the twentieth century, several different directors have attempted to capture Charles Dickens' story, and various actors have portrayed the story's protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge. Such was the case in 1999 when director David Hugh Jones directed an updated version of the classic story for television, which stared the venerable Shakespearean-trained actor Patrick Stewart. (Patrick Stewart was also one of the film's executive producers.) Patrick Stewart, who is well known for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the 7-year TV-series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and 4 "Star Trek" feature films (as well as many other roles), has always used his Shakespearean training to create a very realistic performance in most anything that he does, and his portrayal of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge was no different. Though some viewers have commented that the 1999 version of "A Christmas Carol" is joyless and that they haven't enjoyed it, the reality is that that more closely resembles the environment of Charles Dickens' original story. Hence, Patrick Stewart created a very realistic embodiment of what Charles Dickens envisioned for Ebenezer Scrooge: a joyless miser who has completely forgotten what it means to live and to love. Also, these same viewers neglect the amount of detail present in this rendition of the film that has often been absent in previous big-screen film versions, such as young Ebenezer's (Kenny Doughty) work for his first employer Mr. Albert Fezziwig (Ian McNeice) and the old women (played by Liz Smith and Elizabeth Spriggs) fighting over a deceased man's belongings. Other memorable performances in the film include Jacob Marley (Bernard Lloyd), Bob Cratchit (Richard E. Grant), Mrs. Cratchit (Saskia Reeves), Tiny Tim Cratchit (Ben Tibber), Ebenezer's nephew Fred (Dominic West), Ebenezer's sister Fran (Rosie Wiggins), Mrs. Fezziwig (Annette Badland), the Ghost of Christmas Past (Joel Grey), the Ghost of Christmas Present (Desmond Barrit), The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Tim Potter) and Belle (Laura Fraser). Of the many actors who have portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge over the past century (George C. Scott in 1984, Albert Finney in 1970, Alastair Sim in 1951, and Reginald Owen in 1938 to name a few), I am glad to see Patrick Stewart numbered among them. Overall, I rate the 1999 version of "A Christmas Carol" with 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it. Sadly, since the film was produced for television, it was not filmed in widescreen format (which is my only complaint about the film), but that does not take away from this film's splendid portrayal of Charles Dickens' classic short story.
Rating:
Summary: Patrick at his best.
Review: Although he has done parts that are stupid and ridiculous, this is a sure winner for Jean Luc Picard. He has done so much in the one man show with the part, it was only a matter of time that he showed his mastery in a movie. It was fun and easy to see him as the old sninflint. Do yourself a favor and add this to your holiday movie archive.
Rating:
Summary: Patrick Stewart makes a wonderful Scrooge
Review: Patrick Stewart gives a great performance as Scrooge. Stewart has the ability to pull off the mean looks and actions of Scrooge, and you can't help but dislike him early in the film. The flashbacks are well done, making you feel sorry for what happened to Scrooge as a child. When he finally comes around at the end, Stewart's humble portrayal of Scrooge with his family makes you feel that he really converted from bad to good. This is one of my favorite holiday films, and I'm thrilled to find it on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been better
Review: Patrick Stewart is a good actor but he really doesn't bring anything to the role other than the usual fare.
Rating:
Summary: Modernized Dialogue- Powerful Scrooge
Review: Patrick Stewart portrays a powerful, dynamic Scrooge, true to teh heart of Dickens. The dialogue has been modernized, so if you are sensitive to the original Dickens wording, this can be jarring. However, I think it is a wonderful version for introducing the story and characters to modern audiences, especially ones that tend to watch the movie before reading the book, or find Dickens' language to be archaic. The modernized language is clear, and Stewart makes some of the inuendos of Dickens more obvious. However, I miss the scene of Belle's marriage, which is so pivotal to teh message of the original novelette; and the red eyes int eh Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come are cheesy- I wonder why they decided to do that? The ending of the cemetery scene is a little odd, too, but I think added for the shock value. Overall, an interesting adaptation.
Rating:
Summary: A Worthy Effort
Review: Sometimes, in reading reviews on the various film adaptations of "A Christmas Carol," it feels like I am watching some sort of feud. "The Alisdair Sim" version is better! The "George C. Scott" version is better! The "Scrooge McDuck" version is better! Which brings me to this version. The role of the repentant humbug is taken up by Patrick Stewart. Stewart brings a profound understanding of Scrooge and it shows in his performance. This version of "A Christmas Carol" tracks the original Dickens classic rather closely. The characters are played rather nicely and have a fullness and believability to them. Those characters build up sentimentality to the point where once Scrooge has been redeemed, we are crying tears of joy and beaming with big smiles. But the version is not perfect. It would have been had it not been for certain unfortunate editing miscues. First, why the need to change the name of Scrooge's sister from "Fan" to "FRAN?" Second, there is a seriously disjointed sequence at the end of Joel Grey's Ghost of Christmas Past visit. In the book, the Ghost shows Scrooge breaking up with Belle and then shows Belle happily married years later with her husband talking about the sad lonely figure that was Scrooge and then Scrooge forces the cap over the Ghost. In the movie, The Ghost shows Scrooge breaking up with Belle with Scrooge imploring his young shadow to "say something" and to chase after her. When the young shadow does nothing, Scrooge is dejected. Then we immediately cut to the scene where Scrooge is on the stair - calm at first but then becoming immediately agitated and without Grey's Ghost saying a word, forces the cap over the Ghost's head. Now, I would surmise that either some dialogue that built up some emotion was cut here or that they shot the scene of older Belle discussing poor old sad and lonely Scrooge and deleted it. In my opinion this sequence suffered as a result. Third, the performance of the ghost of Christmas past was a bit uneven. He started off very shaky to begin with but improved later. Generally speaking, when he was chiding Scrooge, this Ghost was outstanding and when he wasn't, he was shaky and uneven. The tornado thing that takes the Ghost and Scrooge around to "Christmas all over" was just plain goofy and should have been done away with in favor of something less obtrusive. Finally, the choice not to include Scrooge not making amends with the gentlemen who were collecting for charity (the recipients of the "Are there no prisons, are there no workhouses?" speech was unfortunate. It would not have cost much scene time and it seemed necessary for Scrooge to make amends given the fact his words to these gentlemen were an indictment on his bad character and were often repeated by the ghost of christmas present. This movie was a worthy adaptation of the Dickens classic. Perhaps, "A Christmas Carol" should be adapted every twenty years or so - to remind us to be good to one another on Christmas. Also for those involved in the polemical debate of "Alisdair Sim version" versus "George C. Scott version," in many ways, THIS version represents the synthesis of those two - the sentimentality of the Sim version with the darkness and realism of the George C. Scott version.
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