Customer Reviews

A Christmas Carol

5 star:		(130)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

For years Patrick Stewart has done a one person stage version of "Christmas Carol" playing all the parts. Twice he has taken it to New York where he received rave reviews. Those of us who could not get to New York had to be satisfied with an audio tape version. Then someone had the brilliant idea of doing the video. Naturally it was expanded to have a full cast and sets. Because of his years of doing the stage version Mr. Stewart fits so easily into the role that he is not playing a part, he IS Scrooge. There are other fine versions of the story, notably the wonderful George C. Scott production, but none can compare with Mr. Stewart. The adaptation of the story to film is so true to Dickens, he must have sat on the script writers shoulder as it was written. I taped it from the TV broadcast and now can not wait for the DVD to be released. Anyone who makes "Christmas Carol" part of their holiday or just loves magnificent acting should definitely add this version to their library.

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.

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.

Also recommended:
A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings (Penguin Classics)
A Christmas Carol (Reissue)
A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)(B/W & Color)
Classic Ghost Stories
The Charles Dickens Collection (Oliver Twist / Martin Chuzzlewit / Bleak House / Hard Times / Great Expectations / Our Mutual Friend)
The Charles Dickens Collection, Vol. 2 (David Copperfield / The Pickwick Papers / The Old Curiosity Shop / Dombey and Son)

I have read Dicken's A Christmas Carol and this movie is the closest to the book that I have ever seen. Patrick Stewart is an awesome actor and brings power to every performance he does.I think that is why he's the only actor from the Star Trek worlds not type cast. When I see anything he's in I don't think Captain Picard but whatever role he's playing. Now I'm not saying other actors have never been as good as Scrooge, but Steward and Alister Sim in his version are the only two who could make me hate Scrooge but at the same time feel sorry for him, because he is a doomed man, doomed to spend his life in his own misery. Sterward's performance at the end warms your heart also as a man who realizes something wonderful has happened to him, he has a second chance to save himself. Because there are so many versions of this story on film I think people judge them all the same, especially the new ones, but don't pass this one by, it has become a new Christmas tradition in my home.

If you're interested, this is one of the better renditions of A Christmas Carol. Patrick Stewart, known for his shakespearian resonance embodies just the right overtones to play Ebenezer Scrooge and was perfectly cast. We may be used to seeing him in a different light, but he fills Scrooge's shoes and walks a mile! You will definately be surprised by a faux frightened Patrick -er- Scrooge when encountered by the ghosts, and even amused when he visits Christmas past and dances a little jig when he encounters his younger self. Definately worth viewing!You will be absolutely surprised and I think you will enjoy Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. Take a little trip back to the time of Tiny Tim and let Scrooge be your tour guide. He will make sure the ride is far from boring!

This version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is, without a doubt, my favorite. Patrick Stewart spent a good deal of his early post-Picard life performing a one-man rendition of Dickens' holiday classic. All that work pays off big-time in this wonderful movie version (with a full cast) made by the folks at TNT.

Stewart is the star here. His scrooge is a far cry from the usual curmudgeon we've been given by the likes of George C. Scott, Lionel Berrymore, and Albert Finney. Stewart's Scrooge is much more human--and as a result much less wooden.

The four ghosts are excellent as well. Part of this may well be advances in special effects. Yet bearing even that in mind, the first three ghosts (especially Joel Grey as the ghost of Christmas Past) turn in spectacular performances; while not saying much (as usual) the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come broods nicely.

Interwoven throughout the movie is the outstanding job done by the various actors who play the Cratchit family. Richard Grant is the best Bob Cratchit I have ever seen. The rest of the family is just as remarkable.

More than anything else however, this TNT version gets more to the meaning of Christmas than most earlier versions. We have so much more here than empty, fuzzy-warm sentiment. When the redeemed Scrooge takes action, he also runs to sing songs of joy and worship to the God that has made it all possible.

Everything about this movie version is spot-on. The pacing is superb, each phase of Scrooge's journey is given enough time to truly blossom--nothing gets shortchanged. This makes for the best ending sequence to the piece ever filmed.

I cannot express my enthusiasm for this film enough. This is the best movie of A Christmas Carol yet made (my previous Scrooge of choice was Bill Murray's Scrooged, which I still greatly appreciate). I give this movie my highest recommendation.

It is always good to know that a script writer has at least read a book before attempting to write a script for a movie version.
This version contains text from the 1st stave of the classic that many other versions have left out almost entirely. In A Christmas Carol, stave one verses 1 & 2 Dickens leaves his story momentarily to discuss the phrase "dead as a doornail" as follows:

Old Marley was as dead as a doornail.
Mind! I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a doornail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile, and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a doornail.
In this version Scrooge answers Mr. Crump by saying "Nail, Knob, or Knocker Jacob's gone, there's an end to it."
Now the writer of the script honored the writings of Dickens by seamlessly adding this text to the dialog between Scrooge and the others with him in the scene. It added authenticity to the movie in my opinion and was charming.
On a side note, I also enjoyed the movie because Joel Grey portrayed the Ghost of Christmas Past. For those of you have watched a nice little flick entitled "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins", Joel Grey plays the part of Chiun in that movie, and it was an excellent show of his acting abilities and how diverse he can be.
Although this version will not replace George C. Scott's portrayal as my favorite, it will be kept among my favorite Christmas time movies and watched frequently during te holidays.

Finally, someone has taken the time to actually read Charles Dickens Christmas book and bring it to the film industry in a faithful manner. This year I took the time to watch all the versions available. Some are fun, some are creative, some have very famous people in them. But this is the only one that is true to the book, scene by scene. Patrick Stewart does a fine job of portraying Ebenezer Scrooge, without being over dramatic or sappy. The supporting cast is fantastic and very believable. The loud streets of London are heard from the inside of Scrooge's counting house; not just the carolers, but the coaches and children, the venders selling their wares. Each ghost is portrayed faithfully to the book, from the Ghost of Christmas Past with his cap under hand, to the travels of Ghost of Christmas Present all the way to the sea and beyond. For those who think the ghost of Christmas Future looks like a Jawa; read the description in the book. "Tall and stately...shrouded in black, draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along the ground." Along with being true to the book, the soundtrack is absolutely haunting...and wonderful! I encourage all people who love this classic to please read the book and then watch the various versions. I believe you will enjoy this one the most, because it is the most accurate and enjoyable! Merry Christmas!

There are so many verisons of the venerable Dickens tale afloat that it is hard to say which is the best. For many years, my wife and I favored the George C. Scott version, which has an astonishing supporting cast (for instance, David Warner as Bob Crachitt), awesome sets, anauthentic soundtrack, and a commanding actor in the lead.

Thus, it was with some trepidation that we decided to order the Patrick Stewart version; but we are glad we did, for it is a very watchable and intriguing counterpoint. The sets and soundtrack also ring of authenticity, and most of the key lines and scenes are still there. A few added scenes, as when the Christmas spirit visits prison, coal mines, and ships at sea, are truly brilliant.

Patrick Stewart, of course, is brilliant as Scrooge. He plays a tortured and angry man, unlike the George C. Scott version, who revels in his parsimony.

If you want a darker, more introspective version of the classic, this is it. And it shouldn't be either-or. Get and enjoy both those I have recommended. We watch them both every year!

Forgive a few anachronisms like Scrooge disparaging "British beef" or Mrs. Fezziwig being "on a diet" and go with the flow--a few scenes will break your heart, and others will warm it. The timidity of the redeemed Scrooge is very touching, as well!

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 miser 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!