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June 22, 2009
A Christmas Carol
There was a little preview effort today for Bob Zemeckis' Disney's A Christmas Carol in 3D on IMAX... and all I can say is, "Wow."
11 minutes of footage covering two scenes, a clip reel, and the trailer that will land on July 1.
Carrey, playing four roles and Gary Oldman playing three, dominate the action we saw... with a little Colin Furth thrown in.
The faces still look animated, not too far from Beowulf. But the detail work is often breathtaking, from hairs on the nose to the bony fingers of Scrooge. And the huge advantage for Zemeckis here is that he has a nearly foolproof story to work with. The film looks dark and tough and thrilling, likely to become The version of the film that a generation (or more) thinks of when they think of this story.
I still make sure to DVR Scrooge with Albert Finney every year. But ironically, this Disney version looks to be the scariest version yet, not unlike the creepy Alice in Wonderland that the recently Burton pictures suggest.
Posted by dpoland at June 22, 2009 11:17 PM
Comments
Clearly A Muppet Christmas Carol is the best version and will remain so FOREVER! I know Leydon's on my side, right?
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 22, 2009 11:35 PM
don't know about smokin' joe dimaggio but i'll second that, 'muppet christmas' - legend!
Posted by: leahnz at June 23, 2009 12:03 AM
Kids movies suck, kids are fucking annoying, and Christmas is a BULLSHIT HOLIDAY for FUCKING IDIOTS. If this world never had a single other FAMILY FILM for FAT BUFFALOS AND THEIR RETARD CHILDREN, this world would be a happier fucking place.
They should BAN CHRISTMAS, BAN FAMILIES, BAN RELIGION, AND STERILIZE EVERY MAN ON THIS FUCKING PLANET.
Posted by: LexG at June 23, 2009 12:09 AM
"If this world never had a single other FAMILY FILM for FAT BUFFALOS AND THEIR RETARD CHILDREN, this world would be a happier fucking place."
Awe, Lex, but then what would you and your mommy watch?
Posted by: Wrecktum at June 23, 2009 12:16 AM
On topic, Beowulf was kinda cool.
People gripe that they wish Zemeckis would drop this "creepy" semi-animation and go back to being the AAA Spielberg, but I dunno. Seems like the nicest guy in the world and I really liked his anarchic first run of late 70s/early 80s stuff like Used Cars, but I've always thought of him more as just a technical wiz than a auteurist maestro.
Just TRY to defend the OPENING CREDITS MUSIC of ROMANCING THE STONE, or the entirety of Death Becomes Her, aka the most profoundly gay movie in the American cinematic canon.
Posted by: LexG at June 23, 2009 12:23 AM
What's the problem with that?
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at June 23, 2009 03:42 AM
Amen to the Muppet Christmas Carol. Faithful to be book, Caine on top form (and he sings!) and howlingly funny: "How would the tellers like to be suddenly UNEMPLOYED?" "Heatwave! This is my island in the sun!"
Posted by: Hunter Tremayne at June 23, 2009 04:58 AM
As I have said countless times before -- hell, as I've told Caine to his face -- Michael Caine's portrayal of Scrooge in Muppet Christmas Carol ranks with the finest work of his career, and is the very best Scrooge in the history of movies. Most actors in Muppet movies act like they're being good sports. Not Caine: He was a good actor. You could take that performance out of the movie, digitally insert it into a movie with all human co-stars -- and it would still work beautifully.
Posted by: Joe Leydon at June 23, 2009 05:42 AM
Joe,
Couldn't agree more. I rented the muppet Christmas Carol years out of my muppet phase mostly for nostalgic reasons. About a third of the way through I realized I was blown away by it. The genius of Caine's performance is that he plays it straight. He acts with Kermit the same way as he would opposite Nicholson.
That is the genius of Caine and this underrated film. I finally purchased a copy this year.
That said I also love the Finney version and can't wait for Zemeckis'.
Posted by: Nicol D at June 23, 2009 06:10 AM
The George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol is the best.
Posted by: mysteryperfecta at June 23, 2009 06:36 AM
'aka the most profoundly gay movie in the American cinematic canon.'
You must have never seen Thoughly Modern Millie.
Posted by: hcat at June 23, 2009 06:44 AM
You know, I haven't seen the Finney version in years -- actually, not since its first theatrical release -- and, frankly, even tough Finney is one of my faves (I'm still waiting for Charlie Bubbles to be released on DVD, dammit) I don't remember much about it. I do know, though, that many people have fond memories of it. Which strikes me as ironic because in its time... Well, go back and read the contemporary reviews. Many, if not most, were scathing. Most of the vitriol was directed at songwriter Leslie Bricusse (remember, this was after the disaster of Doctor Doolittle) but the movie itself also got caught in the backlash against overstuffed, underperforming musicals of the era. I might want to take another look at it. Heaven knows I was pleasantly surprised when I viewed a restored version of 1776 a couple years back.
Posted by: Joe Leydon at June 23, 2009 06:50 AM
Yes, the Finney version is not generally considered to be a great film and was pretty trashed at the time. But when I saw it for the first time a few years ago, it is quite well done.
Especially the widescreen composition. One of the best I have seen. Guiness is a bit dated as Marley but for the most part, it is very solid.
Posted by: Nicol D at June 23, 2009 07:50 AM
Wow, Ebert just unloaded on Transformers. I was hoping he might be the one guy to see through the Bay hate and judge the movie on how fun it is. Apparently it's no fun.
This could get interesting, the first has it's detractors (looking at everyone here except Lex) but at the end of the day it was passable. If this is really offensively bad 1)Will it's core audience know or acknowledge it? 2) What will it mean for the numbers?
I have to think 300 million domestic is a foregone conclusion at this point, that number has to be a green light for the team to begin a 3rd one, no? We may have to wait for the third film to see the effects ala Matrix and Pirates 2.
Posted by: MDOC at June 23, 2009 08:44 AM
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