A Christmas Carol

Rating:
Summary: Good but falls short of Stewart's original vision
Review: My review won't make any sense unless you have heard Patrick Stewart's one man performance of "A Christmas Carol." Stewart, in the performance of his career, does every voice: women, children, even sound effects. It's one of my favorite things to listen to at the holidays.

Oddly enough, the Ebenezer Scrooge Stewart plays in this TV movie is really "off" compared to the one he played on stage.

This Scrooge is cocky and self-assured, interviewing Jacob Marley rather than cowering before him. There are other times when he just doesn't "get" the character, especially when compared with his brilliant Scrooge on stage. I really can't explain it. Mind you, his performance here is wonderful as well, but it just isn't nearly as memorable or as compelling as on the stage.

Other than that (not a small thing), the rest of the film is highly enjoyable. Richard E. Grant is superb as Bob Cratchit. Joel Grey did wear a bit thin for me, but the rest of the cast is wonderful. The atmopshere and production values are among the best ever used in retelling Dickens' classic (the most retold work of literature outside of the Bible). The Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Come did look like an overgrown Jawa with light bulbs for eyes, but that was one of few missteps here.

So enjoy this film, but I highly recommend buying the CD of Stewart's one-man show. It is far superior. Even though the performance is "just the words," Stewart brings life to them like no one since Dickens ever has.

Rating:
Summary: A "Christmas Carol" for the 21st Century.
Review: Given the enormous potential for failure, it takes either a lot of guts or a big ego to remake a classic and step into a pair of shoes worn so well by the likes of George C. Scott and Alastair Sim - you don't have to have grown up in an English speaking country to take those two names and their portrayal of Dickens's miserly anti-hero for granted as part of your Christmas experience. And I suspect a good part of both guts and ego was at play in this production; but let's face it: after years of bringing Scrooge to the stage in a much-acclaimed one man show and after also having recorded the audio book version of "A Christmas Carol," a movie adaptation starring Patrick Stewart was probably due to come out sooner or later. Yet, while it does sometimes have the feel of another huge star vehicle for Stewart (even without the self-congratulatory trailer and brief "behind the scenes" features included on the DVD), his experience and insight into the character of Scrooge allow him to pull off a remarkable performance, and to make the role his own without letting us forget who originally wrote the tale. From a "humbug" growled out from the very depth of his disdain and his audible desire to boil "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips" with his own pudding and bury them with a stake of holly through their heart, to the "splendid" and "most illustrious ... father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs," coughed up and spit out after years of having been out of practice, this is the Scrooge that Dickens described; and Stewart obviously has the time of his life playing him.

This made-for-TV production is sometimes criticized for its use of special effects; I don't find those overly disturbing, though - in fact, they're rather low-key and for the most part used to show nothing more than what Dickens actually described. (This *is* a ghost story, remember?) Scrooge really does see Marley's face in his door knocker; we all know that Marley's ghost does indeed walk through Scrooge's doubly locked door ... and last but not least Dickens himself describes the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come as "shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand." (Granted, no gleaming lights for eyes, though.) The script could have spared a modernism here and there, but again, mostly the lines are exactly those that Dickens himself wrote. Even where the characters don't actually speak them, they are part of their reflections - such as Marley being buried and "dead as a door-nail" (which, after all, is the tale's all-important premise) and Scrooge's rather funny musings how the Ghost of Christmas Past might be deterred from taking him for a flight (where citing neither the weather nor the hour nor a head cold nor his inadequate dress would do). Richard E. Grant, known to TV audiences as Sir Percy Blakeney in the recent adaptations of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," moves to the opposite end of the social spectrum in his portrayal of gaunt, downtrodden Bob Cratchit; and he is a very credible caring father and husband, albeit a bit too well-educated - unlike the rest of his family, who speak and come across as decidedly more cockney. Joel Grey, whose Master of Ceremonies in "Cabaret" stands out as one of those "one of a kind" performances that are few and far between in film history, is almost perfectly cast as the Ghost of Christmas Past, combining the spirit's wisdom of an old man with his child-like innocence, frail stature and luminous appearance. A great supporting cast and solid cinematographic and directorial work round out an overall very well done production.

Many actors are remembered either for one career-making role or for a certain type they have cast. No doubt Patrick Stewart, who as a teenager had to face an ultimatum between a steady job and the theater and chose the latter, will go into film history as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Treck's "Next Generation." But I would not be surprised if the other major role he will always be remembered for will be that of Ebenezer Scrooge - on stage, in audio recordings *and* in this movie adaptation, which successfully brings Dickens's timeless tale of bitterness, sorrow, redemption and the true meaning of Christmas to the 21st century, and which before long, I think, will attain the status of a classic in its own right. I know that I, for one, will be watching it again with renewed pleasure next Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: See Patrick Stewart as one of the best Scrooges!
Review: I will probably get a lot of unhelpful votes from fans of the George C. Scott version who hate the Patrick Stewart version but even though I like George C. Scott and think he is a terrific actor and his Christmas Carol and his Scrooge were good I personally like Patrick Stewart's movie more and think he was awesome and he is one of those actors who can make you forget other characters he has played in the past, even a popular Star Trek character like Picard and that's what he did I watched the movie and I enjoyed it and to me he was Scrooge not Picard even though I thought he looked kind of too young and could have been made to look like an old man with a little theatrical makeup like the other movie versions, yeah, the laugh at the end was kind of forced and over the top but it was fun and it's a terrific movie anyway. I just think it's so sad that some people don't want to or can't see Patrick Stewart as anything but captain Picard, if you have a good imagination you can see an actor playing any roll and forget about their others and if you have an opened mind you can like more than one version of A Christmas Carol!

Rating:
Summary: Why Do You Doubt Your Senses?
Review: The latest film adaptation of author Charles Dickens classic tale, A Christmas,Carol benefits from high production values and solid performances. Brought to you by the same producing team also responsible for Moby Dick and Merlin, this version is pretty faithful to the book on which it is based. Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge is very effective as the man who needs a bit of holiday cheer. Many folks like to compare and contrast the past performances of others, who have played Scrooge over the years, that is not what I intend to do. I would rather focus on this particular version and let the others stand or fall on their own. Alastair Sim, Albert Finney, Bill Murray and George C. Scott, each brought something unique to the character, and since the story has been told and re-told, it's very hard to fail with the premise intact.

As you may know, Patrick Stewart had been doing a one man stage version of the story, he then adapted that performance for an audio presentation before doing the film, therefore, he is very comfortable in the role as Scrooge and its characters. His acting is just great here. Because of his many years of acting in "Star Trek", he is very used to working around special effects and that helps as well. Thankfully, director David Jones, does not allow those effects to overtake the story. Stewart knows how to show a more human side to Scrooge that never seems forced or fake. Actor Joel Grey gives a magnificent turn as "the ghost of Christmas past", as does Bernard Lloyd playing Jacob Marley. The fact that the film was shot on location in England, also enhances this version, and gives it a sense of "heritage" that you couldn't get in tinstletown. Is the film perfect? No, some of the acting can be a bit hammy at times, but when you think of how the book was witten, I think there was a certain amount of that in the text anyway. Each version has its share of that and can be overlooked

The DVD contains no extra features which would have been nice. I still recommend this version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL., as well as any of the other versions of the film, as part of any holiday tradition

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Addition to A Christmas Carol Collection!
Review: After reading all of the negative reviews I thought I wouldn't like this movie and that I might have wasted money buying this DVD but I liked it and thought it was very good and it's now among my favorite adaptaions of A Chistmas Carol along with the Alastair Sim and George C. Scott adaptations and also the adaptations of Reginald Owen, Albert Finney and Seymour Hicks! Patrick Stewart gave an excellent performance and I liked how he was able to do such a convincing job of conveying Scrooge's fear at certain scary moments for him like the door knocker, etc, it's one thing to scream or make a fearful face but Patrick Stewart gave a believable performance that really impressed me! I also liked how they showed things from the books not in any of the other movie adaptaions like Marley's funeral, the ghost of Christmas present showing him people celebrating Christmas in a light house, on a ship, in a prison, etc, I also thought the special effects were very good and I highly recommend this DVD to anyone who loves A Christmas Carol and likes to collect all the different movie adaptations! One weird thing in this movie is the two skinny dirty ragged kids called Ignorance and Want who were under the Ghost of Christmas Present's robe, this is the first movie that I have ever heard them growling like wild animals.

Rating:
Summary: This is a wonderful rendition
Review: I cannot believe that so many people can look at Patrick Stewart and not see what a great Scrooge he is! He is so human, and his transformation is so believable, we were moved to tears many times. And -- we are not Star Trek aficionados at all. (In fact -- I usually feel embarrassed for Mr. Stewart when I catch an episode while surfing -- because he is so much greater than his material). It's nice to see him in a role that he deserves. The special effects are very nice (not overwhelming), and all of the supporting actors are very good (not at all saccharin).

Rating:
Summary: Patrick Stewart Is Amazing and Talented As This Classic!
Review: SCROOGE (TNT-Patrick Stewart) is a magical mystical look at this old but true Charles Dickens story. Patrick Stewart (Excalibur, Star Trek: The Next Generation) gives a grand performance of this world-renowned character. Patrick is energetic and passionate and often extremely visual in his physicality about the characters Scrooge.

Directed by David Hugh Jones (Is There Life Out There, Time To Say Goodbye) the film fills in a lot of the blanks in certain areas and still maintains the true text of the original classic. The special effects and the appearances of the ghost are impressively creepy which adds to the whole ambiance of the film. It takes an almost narrative approach and makes you, the audience, become involved with what is the sole of Ebinezer Scrooge.

Great performances can be seen by everyone:
Scarry is Bernard Lloyd (Brotherhood) as Jacob Marley - Scrooge's deceased old partner with a hint of deviousness in his voice.
Enchanting is the performance by Joel Grey (The Player, Remo Willians) as the Ghost Of Christmas Past and what an amazing calmness he projects to Scrooge.
The Ghost of Christmas Present is magically played by Desmond Barrit (Oliver Twist, A Midsummer Nights Dream).
Some standout performances are given by the young Ebenezer Scrooge played by Kenny Doughty (Crush, Elizabeth) and by Mr. Fezziwig himself cheerfully portrayed by Ian McNeice (Town & Country, The Final Curtain).
The second most standout performances behind Stewarts is that of Bob Crachet played ever so delicately by Richard E. Grant (Victoria's Secrets, Spice World)

The DVD extras include a great behind the scene short featuring Patrick himself and another featuring the director. I would have love to have seen outtakes, commentary and even more cast and crew interviews on this one. On a side note - for over 10 years Patrick Stewart did a one-man show of A Christmas Carol on and off-broadway. He really knows this part!

Fun for the whole family and certainly should be on everyone's screen during the Holiday Season. Buy it! (12-22-02)

Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: This is a very poor adaptation of the great Dickens classic. The 1984 " A Christmas Carol" starring George C. Scott is by far the best version availble on VHS.

Rating:
Summary: Bah humbug!
Review: If you like Patrick Stewart, you'll probably love this version of "A Christmas Carol" and you won't be happy with this review. If you don't care for Patrick Stewart, you probably wont' like this movie (but you might like the review;)).

It is probably unfair for me to review this movie simply because I'm not a Patrick Stewart fan, But I feel that Mr Stewart did not make Ebeneezer Scrooge a real person to me. I didn't feel the emotions that Alistair Sims or George C. Scott brought to the surface with this role. I expected to see Data or Worf show up as one of the Christmas ghosts.

Some went on about the special effects, but I didn't feel they were that impressive. The ghosts weren't weren't shadowy enough or perhaps I was put off by Joel Grey being a ghost. It just didn't work for me.

I'd advise the George C. Scott version or the Alistair Sims version over this particular version.

Rating:
Summary: A bad rendition
Review: This would have been a good attempt on stage but the action and directing leave much to be desired for a movie format. Falls tragically short when compared to the George C. Scott rendition.