After long last I have assembled a list of the various cinematic renderings of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Please use this list to guide your personal tastes. Thank you.
- I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.Their faithful Friend and Servant,
C. D.
December, 1843.
1. Mickey's Christmas Carol (animated, 1983)
Effing brilliant. Perfect length. Perfect combination of merry and spooky. Gravitas is there, but it's not beating you over the head. 10/10
2. A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott's version, 1984)
This is good. Definitely solid. And Robin Colcord is Cousin Fred. Also, the Ghost of Christmas Present deserves top billing, IMHO. 7/10
3. Disney's Christmas Carol (digital animation (or whatever), 2009)
This is not very good. Jim Carrey is Ebenezer Scrooge and he seems to have over-prepared for the role. This Disney version includes the often neglected scene where Ebenezer attended school, and that's well-done. 4/10
4. A Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001)
This is awful. I saw it twice, wondering if I saw it in some kind of pre-menstrual stupor the first time. No. It's awful. Also, there's a song in this film that will get stuck in your head and torment you for weeks. Avoid at all costs. 1/10
5. Old School A Christmas Carol (1938)
Have only seen bits of this version. It looks decent, but too affected. Either way, it's old, so that equals automatic cred. 5/10
6. The Guthrie Theater's annual staging of A Christmas Carol (perennial)
Always brilliant. Always. One year Scrooge was played by the same guy who played Annie's fiance Brian's father in Father of the Bride. Pretty much made my year. He was excellent, BTW. 9.99/10
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