Product Details

• Actors: Simon Callow, Kate Winslet, Nicolas Cage, Jane Horrocks, Michael Gambon
• Directors: Jimmy T. Murakami
• Writers: Robert Llewellyn, Charles Dickens, Piet Kroon
• Producers: Iain Harvey, Michael Algar, Nik Powell, Rainer Mockert
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: October 7, 2003
• Run Time: 77 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000AM6I1
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,505 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #51 in

  Movies & TV > Action & Adventure > Action Stars > Nicolas Cage

• For more information about "Christmas Carol - The Movie" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This animated adaptation of Charles Dickens's Christmas classic retains the essence of the timeless tale while introducing some fresh interpretations. A celebrity cast provides voices for the roles of Scrooge (Simon Callow), Marley (Nicolas Cage), and Belle (Kate Winslet), yet the beauty of the film flows from its artistic usage of CG technology, such as the "painted" scenery of Scrooge's thoughts during his journey through Christmases Past, Present, and Future. The script honors the original story while proving that it is indeed possible to be moved to tears by a group of animated characters. Dickens purists may argue that few movie versions of A Christmas Carol can compete with Alastair Sim's 1951 rendition, or George C. Scott's 1984 remake, yet this film does not need to supplant, but rather complement, such predecessors. It is an especially good choice for young viewers who may find the black-and-white version too scary. (Ages 5 and older) --Lynn Gibson

Product Description

Capture the spirit of Christmas with this delightful animated classic! Based on one of the most beloved holiday tales of all time and featuring the voices of some of today's brightest stars, this enchanting, heartwarming film is a very merry treat the whole family can enjoy! "Bah humbug,"says Ebenezer Scrooge, the grumpy miser who would rather count his money than celebrate Christmas. But as Yuletide cheer spreads through all of London and two friendly mice try to change Scrooge's ill-tempered ways, Scrooge receives three unexpected visitorsthe Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Futurewho take him on a wild and wonderful journey and help him discover the true meaning of Christmas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Voice Cast, Great Kate Winslet's Song & Poor Animation, November 5, 2004

By	Tsuyoshi (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas Carol - The Movie [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Yet another 'Carol' has traditional 2-D animations with great voice cast -- Simon Callow, Kate Winslet, Jane Horrocks, Nicholas Cage, Rhys Ifans, Micheal Gambon, and Juliet Stevenson. You also have a chance to listen to Kate's sister Beth Wislet's voice (who can be seen in a film 'Bodywork') and plus, you hear beautiful songs by Welsh singer Charlotte Church and Kate Winslet herself! And Ms Winslet is very good at that.

So, you ask, why 2 stars? OK, listen up, please. The story is a famous one, so you don't need my summery. And Scrooge is anyway going to be a good guy. But the process is the point, or the life of the story, and the film misses it very wide.

In fact, Scrooge (Simon Callow) in the first act is totally a bad guy here, feeding a mice, giving a chunk of cheese. After showing another side of him, the film is very slow in establishing his character, which should be more simple. To make it worse, Scrooge. out of the window, throws a jug of cold water (and it's winter) upon the chorus group on the street singing, among which you see the face of Tiny Tim, poor boy, drenched to the skin. And ... sorry if I'm wrong, but -- Did Dickens write that way?

There are many, many, unnecessary addtions and changes, which I do not introduce here. The real problem is, however, the animation itself. Jimmy T. Murakami is best known for 'When the Wind Blows' a quiet but very unnerving animated film about two elderly man and wife, who too innocently follows the government guidance to make a handmade shelter for the coming nuclear war. His 2-D animatiton worked at that time, but after about 14 years, it is no longer possible to grab our attention with that technique without good storyteling, character, or original designs. This 'Christmas Carol' has none of them, just making itself look like a Cliff Note of animation.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but as to this eternal classc, there are better choices out there, Alastair Simm or the Muppets (with Michael Caine, and the film is good), so why not them? The only good thing I could find about this version is Kate Winslet's wonderful yuletide song, which deserves more attention.

[VHS VERSION] lacks the opening and ending live-action sections in which Simon Callow plays Charles Dickens himself, touring in Boston, America, in 1867 (Dickens's celebrated reading performance in mind). If you want to see everything of this film, DVD is a better choice.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Passable Version But Flawed, November 9, 2003

By A Customer

This could have been an excellent animated version of "Christmas Carol" except the character design is seriously flawed. The backgrounds are beautiful, the story well told with some humerous additions, yet, in this day of CGI animation, the characters are FLAT. There is no shading of the characters, no folds in the clothing, even printed comic books have more dimention than these characters. This leads to a rather boring watching experience.

On the disc's special features, the original live opening and closing are shown. They really are wonderful sequences and there is no explanation of why they were cut for the DVD version. They explain why the two mice are used throughout the film. They are a delightful addition to the story.

There is a motivation as to why Scrooge becomes the unpleasant character he is concerning his loss of Belle in early life. She becomes a major character in this version and the idea works well even if it is not strictly Dickens.

This is a decent version of the classic that could have been really wonderful if the animators had fully used the CGI shadings that the characters really need.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful film, April 17, 2006

By	W. R. Nichols Jr. - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just watched this version of the classic tale, and I am moved to tears. Forget what others here have said commenting on the animation, and pay attention to the story. The animation was superb with great use of shading and cg blends.

More importantly, this film has heart. It emotes. It conveys with power the ideals Dickens intended in his tale. Honor Christmas everyday. Keep its meaning and joy in your heart.

The only other animated film I have ever seen that comes close to this level of stroy telling and emotion is Grave of the Fireflies.

Buy this one. You will not be dissapointed. Share it with the family. Watch it on Christmas Eve. Watch it in July. Watch it whenever.

~William Nichols~