A Christmas Carol

November 5, 2009
by
2 mins read

by Rick Grant
A Rated PG 96 min
The narration and dialogue in this Disney animated telling of Charles Dickens’ classic is faithful to the original text, while simultaneously taking creative liberty with the special effects. The result is a mind blowing animated masterpiece that re-energizes the original story with amazingly real CGI characters, fantastic FX, and in-your-face 3D.
Jim Carrey’s comedic body language is cleverly animated into the character of the miserly old coot, Ebenezer Scrooge, who made making money as his only reason for being. He was determined to rise above his poor childhood at the expense of his emotional well-being. In the end, he was a miserable, lonely old man.
The timeless story comes at an opportune time as Americans struggle to crawl out of the Great Recession. There are many Scrooges on Wall Street–heads of major corporations who accumulate vast wealth while their companies fail. Thus, this well written parable makes sense to a whole new generation of young people.
Scrooge has one employee, Bob Cratchit (Gary Oldman) who slaves away making a meager wage in a freezing cold office. (Scrooge is too cheap to turn on the heat). But, Cratchit is glad to have a job. Many people in his town are working in the poor house or are in debtors prison. One day, Cratchit has the temerity to ask him for one day off on Christmas day. Scrooge balks, but begrudgingly relents and gives the day off. “But be here early the next morning,” Scrooge says to Cratchit.
There is no joy in Scrooge’s life. He refuses to give money to the poor. He goes home and eats cold porridge because he’s too cheap to buy real food. He sits in a cold dark house counting his money. Yes, things change drastically when Scrooge is visited by ghosts of his past, present, and future.
The far-out spirits take Scrooge on a magical mystery tour of his life and what will happen if he doesn’t change his ways. This is where the Disney animators used their creative energy by staging the spectacular special effects as the spirits whisk Scrooge around like a rag doll in tow.
With the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge sees his past as a young man, who fell in love and married a nice young woman. But he drove her away with his obsession with making money. Scrooge is forced to face his painful decisions that led him down the wrong path to old age and unhappiness.
The Ghost of Christmas Present is a jolly big guy who laughs at Scrooge and shows him what his is missing. Still, Scrooge mutters humbug under his breath at people having such a great time wasting their money on Christmas.
In this wild Disney verison of A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a menacing dark shadow who shakes Scrooge to the core by showing him his bleak future. This spirit really gives Scrooge the business and scares him straight.
Disney has taken this classic tale and rejuvenated it with an awesome visual trip into the future of animation. The CGI realism is astonishing right down to the hair on present spirit’s chest. And in 3D, it snows in the audience.
Of course, Jim Carrey has added his spin on the character of Scrooge, making him bent over and mean. When Carrey’s Scrooge returns home from his mind altering travels with the spirits, he does a little jig, which is classic Jim Carrey’s physical comedy.
Even if one has seen A Christmas Carol many times before, one hasn’t experienced it like this. Disney’s animators forged a new higher standard in CGI animation with this film. It could be scary to children 5 or under, but will be an instant classic for generations to come.

Folio is your guide to entertainment and culture around and near Jacksonville, Florida. We cover events, concerts, restaurants, theatre, sports, art, happenings, and all things about living and visiting Jax. Folio serves more than two million readers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, The Beaches, and Fernandina.

Current Issue

Recent Posts

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

Welcome to Rockville 2025
SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
omaha-steaks-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Previous Story

The Jock

Next Story

Sherwood's Q U

Latest from Movies

Theater, Dance and Film

Through May 4 “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” Theatre Jacksonville theatrejax.com  “How to $ucceed in Business Without Really Trying” Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach ameliamusicalplayhouse.com May 2 “Our Town” St. Francis-in-the-Field, St. Augustine apextheatrejax.com May 2-11 “The Foreigner” Center for Spiritual Healing, St. Augustine aclassictheatre.org May

Monthly Movie Wrap-Up

Words by Wavery Loyd                                                                                             

April Theater, Dance and Film

April 1-6 “Les Miserables” Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org April 3 “A Year With Frog and Toad” Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org April 3-11 “Beautiful: The Carole King Story” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com April 3-13 “Oklahoma!” Artist Connection Theatre artistconnectiontheatre.org April 4 “The Great Gatsby:

Cartoons Are For Kids

Animation is cool Words by Waverly Loyd I asked someone their favorite animated movie, and they said, “I’m an adult. I don’t watch kid’s movies.” And I thought, “Wow, you must be so fun to be around.” (derogatory) Apart from the fact that watching animated movies is good for

Good Girls Go to Heaven, Groupies Go Backstage

The Rise and Fall of Groupies Words by Ambar Ramirez The show begins like any other. Overhead lights dim, stage lights flare and the crowd roars. Backstage, a woman adjusts her smudged eyeliner and pulls her fur-lined coat tight as she watches the band take the stage. She’s not
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

The Avett Brothers

November 15 The Avett Brothers St. Augustine Amphitheatre (904) 471-1965

Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone “Twitter is the postcards in my head.” It’s