New version of "A Christmas Carol"

[EnlightenedGrinch]

I was at the theater today and saw a preview for the upcoming theatrical version of "A Christmas Carol" in 3-D. It looked really well done and I'm anxious to see it. Has a lot of really cool visual effects. I think it comes out in November.
It looks like its done in the same kind of animation as "The Polar Express" where the actors were filmed and then kind of transformed into a computer animated version of themselves. So it looks almost real, but not quite real.
It's done by Robert Zemeckis (same director as Polar Express) and Jim Carrey plays Ebenezer Scrooge.

[Sickie Ickie]

Jim Carey. I have such a love hate relationship with him.

[theedwin]

We have a standee for this movie and I was planning on "Enhancing" it with some snow, a tree and a lamp post. The trailer is really neat too, especially if you can see it in 3-D!!

[chris]

I did not see this. Where can i see previews?

[putrid]

Totally cool! Stoked about a new version of 'A Christmas Carol' but bummed at the same time. I CAN'T watch 3D. Grrrrrr. Only see well out of one eye. Why don't they make 3D or cyclopses? LOL

[Just Whisper]

Sounds wonderful. I want to see it.

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Yea, it looked really cool in 3-D. I had taken my 7 yr. old son to see "G-Force" in 3-D.
I've always liked Jim Carrey. My wife can't stand him, though.
Edwin, you could probably use some of your Harry Potter props for enhancing the standee also.
Putrid, have you been to one of the recent 3-D movies to try it? It's not like the old RED/BLUE glasses anymore. The effect may just work for you.

[Olga]

Good morning everyone. This is the official trailer of the movie..


YouTube - Jim Carreys A Christmas Carol Official Trailer

It will be released on 24th of December, in my country... I love the day!!!

:deer:

[noelle_loves_christmas]

i want to see that movie so bad! it looks really cool. i wonder how jim carrey will do in the role of scrooge?

[chris]

Yes me and the family are going to see it next month!

[Sickie Ickie]

I think Holly already went to see it. She said the effects were AWESOME!

[IluvChristmas]

Already saw it, great movie. Not for for preschoolers or kids who scare really easy. Jim Carey did a great job and I'm not that much of a fan of his!

[cindylouwho]

I really want to see this. Maybe I'll go later tonight after doing some christmas shopping.

[EnlightenedGrinch]

I saw it last Sunday in 3-D with my daughter and I LOVED it.
It really gives a great sense of what the town and the townspeople would have looked like back in Dicken's day. The special effects are awesome, too!
I think Jim Carrey did an excellent job. If you didn't know it was him already playing Scrooge (and other characters), you probably wouldn't even guess it was him.
I thought it kind of funny he's played both "The Grinch" and "Scrooge" in the movies. LOL

[SPX]

I went and saw it tonight. IMAX 3D. The whole deal.

I walk away with both positives and negatives flooding my mind, though overall I thought it was quite good and would recommend it. I'd give it an 8/10.

A bit of analysis:

Pros

1. Zemeckis more or less stays true to the book. Some of the dialogue is a bit updated, while a lot of it is straight from the text. As a whole though, both the dialogue and the storyline remains pretty close to Dickens' intentions.

2. London is recreated beautifully. There are plenty of very colorful and detailed visuals that I really liked.

3. Zemeckis really takes advantage of the medium of animation. There's a lot of creativity here and we don't merely get a conventional film with animated characters, but rather we get an animated film that really uses the benefits of animation to show us things that can't be done with live action. For those of you who have seen it, I think the scene where the Ghost of Christmas Present's time expires is a perfect example of this.

4. Jim Carrey and the rest of the crew do a great job with their mocap/voice acting. What a talented bunch!


Cons

1. The 3D is rather weak. Keep in mind that I saw this at IMAX which has superior 3D technology to the RealD that is used in conventional theaters and I still feel this way. My primary point of comparison is Beowulf, which I also saw in IMAX 3D, and honestly I felt that the 3D experience for that film was more impressive. There were a lot more elements that really jumped off the screen at you!

2. I feel like the movie was about the right length, but oddly enough the film seems rushed. It seems like the visits of the ghosts go by much too quickly. Other film versions of the story--and the book--seem to linger a little more on the events that take place with the ghosts, but this one really seems to get through it at lightning speed. I'm not sure exactly why this is the case, but it is. My friend who was with me agreed.

3. I don't know if it's fact that the characters on screen are obviously not real or what, but this version does seem to lack the emotional core of other versions. Same story, great acting, great effects, great visuals . . . but there is something inhuman about it. Perhaps this should be expected though under the circumstances.

Anyway, that's my analysis! Do not be swayed by my cons, though! It's just that nothing is perfect. I did like the film and I recommend it! Go to see it and you'll enjoy it!

[Rybcon]

I believe a 3D movie would be much much better if they didn't put in awkward unnecessary scenes for the sake of using the 3D.

Make a movie in 3D. Don't make a 3D movie.

[SPX]

I believe a 3D movie would be much much better if they didn't put in awkward unnecessary scenes for the sake of using the 3D.

Make a movie in 3D. Don't make a 3D movie.

I think I both agree and disagree. I think that if the effects take precedent over a compelling story, then yes, something has gone awry. But if you're going to make a movie that you know is going to be projected in 3D then you should definitely work hard to include a lot of special elements that will really take advantage of the technology that you otherwise wouldn't have if the movie was going to be exclusively 2D.

[markgbarba1987]

I saw the trailer and it looks nice. I think I am for gonna like it when I see it. It has some nice graphics as well. hope you guys enjoy the movie.

[theedwin]

SPX, I have to ask... What kind of IMAX did you watch it in? Was it the GIANT 6 story tall IMAX? or was it one of the new smaller imax's?

We have a Giant screen at the Theatre I work at, but it is not IMAX. It is 3D, and it is much bigger than the new imax's they are building these days. I watched this movie sitting in the front section of the theatre and was blown away when they were flying over London! I really enjoyed the movie!

I also enjoyed Beuwolf! Found myself ducking when the rocks were flying at you!

[SPX]

SPX, I have to ask... What kind of IMAX did you watch it in? Was it the GIANT 6 story tall IMAX? or was it one of the new smaller imax's?

We have a Giant screen at the Theatre I work at, but it is not IMAX. It is 3D, and it is much bigger than the new imax's they are building these days. I watched this movie sitting in the front section of the theatre and was blown away when they were flying over London! I really enjoyed the movie!

I also enjoyed Beuwolf! Found myself ducking when the rocks were flying at you!

Must've been a smaller IMAX because it certainly wasn't 6 stories tall!

I think it's possible that I may have actually benefited from sitting closer. I was relatively far back. I can't remember where I sat when I saw Beowulf, but I definitely felt like the 3D effects were better and more effective in that film. Like you say, I actually ducked a time or two!

[Olga]

When is it coming on dvd?

I heard it will be out on in November. Is that true? :(

[Just Whisper]

I have it reserved on NetFlix, and it doesn't have a release date. I have had it on reserve since last Jan. I can't wait to see it since I missed it in the theater.

[theedwin]

that is very strange that it isn't out yet.... Very strange, but that's Disney for ya! (they will probably try to re-release in Theatres this year as well.... but who knows)

[EnlightenedGrinch]

My daughter showed me some advertisement where it's supposed to be out on DVD in November.
It's just marketing. They figure nobody would buy or want to watch anything Christmas themed until around Thanksgiving.
I hope they release it in 3-D with the glasses. I wish it was out already too!

[cougar1217]

They will probably release the regular version in November and then the 3D version the day after Thanksgiving. Marketing for sure.

[SPX]

that is very strange that it isn't out yet.... Very strange, but that's Disney for ya! (they will probably try to re-release in Theatres this year as well.... but who knows)

It's really not strange at all. Holiday films are typically released on home video the following holiday season. After all, there aren't a lot of people who are thinking about buying a Christmas film in the middle of May. It's makes sense that they wait until people are in the Christmas mood again.

[Just Whisper]

And I am still waiting for it on NetFlix. Oh well. I will look forward to seeing it this christmas.

[Giles]

I just saw a poster for it at Walmart and it is coming out on DVD November 16, 2010. I didn't get to see it in the theater so I'm excited by this.

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Too bad you missed it in the theater. It was awesome in 3-D.
I don't really care for the 3-D DVDs, though. Sitting for a couple of hours with those ill-fitting cardboard glasses doesn't cut it with me.

[Giles]

I don't think the DVD version is in 3D. That is fine with me as I'm like you and don't enjoy wearing the glasses sitting in the house. It just ain't the same.

[SPX]

I agree, Giles and Grinch. I don't even mess with home 3-D versions of any film. I buy the 2D-only version and am perfectly happy with that.