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Christmas, as one of the world’s favorite holiday seasons, is a time for families and friends to gather and enjoy the remaining days of the year with joy. No matter how many times it is told, classic Christmas stories never fail to add a certain charm to the fun times you spend with your family. A Christmas Carol (2009) is a cinematic retelling of one of the classic Christmas stories that has been passed down from generation to generation.
The film, Christmas Carol, was directed by Robert Zemicks, the same mastermind behind other classic films; Back to the future, retelling the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the three Christmas ghosts. The film is primarily based on motion capture, which perfectly captures the incredible performances of some of the best actors in the field such as Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, and Colin Firth. Having a fairly bleak outlook and dealing with certain mature themes, many would not assume that this hidden gem is actually a Disney film.
The film’s plot is adapted from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” according to director Zemicks. Set in Victorian-era London, a lonely loan shark named Ebenezer Scrooge, who has no “Christmas spirit”, lives a life of greed without the slightest empathy for others. But he questions his ways, one strange Christmas Eve, where he is visited by three Christmas ghosts; the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present, and the ghost of Christmas future. The three ghosts show Scrooge a different perspective on Christmas which gives rise to an internal struggle within him about his current way of life. But it is completely up to him to decide whether to repent and change his attitude or remain the same.
The film makes careful use of motion capture technology, to create a somewhat bleak yet fantastical depiction of 19th century London, with special character designs that reveal their nature by their appearance. At first it may not be the wholesome Christmas movie that everyone hopes to see, but gradually a warmer Christmas atmosphere is created as the character of the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, develops. The film features some of the most stunning visuals created digitally along with powerful physical and vocal performances from its actors. Considering this film was released in the early 2000s, the use of digital technology is quite surprising when compared to modern mainstream CGI films. Even with 3D animation, the animators are able to capture the deep emotions of the characters in a very realistic way. While some may find the visuals a bit off-putting, it’s worth paying attention to the detailed characterization and accurate world-building.
Having good ratings from some of the industry’s leading critics, the film grossed more than 325 million US dollars worldwide. The film was also nominated for various awards, including Jim Carrey winning the 2010 Kids’ Choice award.
To add not only the essence of Christmas, but also a thrilling sense of adventure and fantasy to this year’s Christmas celebrations, A Christmas Carol (2009) is a quality film that can be enjoyed by anyone.
