MOVIE NEWS: Disney’s A Christmas Carol

Wait, wasn’t Halloween last weekend? I think it was. In any case, Christmas movies are already hitting movie theatres, and there’s pretty much nothing we can do about it. So bring ’em on!

Case in point: I saw a sneak preview of Disney’s A Christmas Carol this week, and I’m here to share my thoughts. For those who don’t know, the movie is about a miserly, unhappy man named Ebeneezer Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey) who gets a second chance at life thanks to three equally spooky spirits: the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.

Sound familiar? The movie is based on a classic tale by Charles Dickens that has already been translated to film several times. Some past versions include Scrooge, A Flintstones Christmas Carol, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Disney’s other Christmas Carol (starring Mickey Mouse and Scrooge McDuck). So you might have caught it on TV once or twice (or 100 times) over the holiday season.

Here are three observations on the new movie:

1) It’s pretty scary. I mean, it’s a movie featuring multiple ghosts and it comes out the weekend after Halloween, so that shouldn’t come as a surprise. But just so we’re clear on this: the filmmakers are definitely playing up the scare factor here, particularly the scene involving the ghost of Scrooge’s old partner, Jacob Marley, and his super-long, green-glowing chains. In 3-D, those chains feel like they’re falling right in your lap. Yikes!

2) It’s techno-rific. The movie was filmed using motion-capture technology, which you will remember if you saw The Polar Express. A bit of background: motion capture is the process of recording live movement and turning it into digital images. Like this. It’s often used for video games and creates an effect somewhere in between live action and animation. Interesting? Eerie? You be the judge.

3) It’s action-packed. You know those scenes in Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince in which the Death Eaters fly super-fast through downtown London? Well, if you liked those scenes, you’ll love this movie! There’s a lot of flying here. Flying through the city in a house with a see-through floor, flying into the stratosphere in pajamas, etc. If you’re afraid of heights, beware!

Overall, I thought this movie was pretty good. The story is [still] wonderful, and Jim Carrey is great as Scrooge.

But, like I said before, it’s got a hefty scare factor partly because the motion-capture technique makes it feel more real than other animated movies. Also, those who get motion sick easily will probably want to skip the 3-D version or wait for the DVD. The flying scenes are a roller coaster ride!

That’s it for me, guys! If you see the movie come on back here and let me know what you think.

Talk to you next week.

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com