A Christmas Carol

Loved this. I don't understand reviews that criticise it for being dark and bleak. Dickens was dark and bleak, and very angry at the state of England. It is a mistake to see his stuff as romantic and cosy Christmas fare. From the very opening scene of a boy pissing on Marley's grave, we are alerted that this adaptation is close to the bone. It is visceral acting that shines a light on the human condition, and brings this story into the 21st century. I don't have a problem with the swearing, and do not find the language out of place, as some have argued. Dickens wrote for the common man, the man on the street - literally, as his stories were read out in instalments to groups that gathered round to hear. They were often working class, whose language was vernacular, earthy and very like we hear here. This is A Christmas Carol revivified, made fresh for today's audience. Lenny Rush as Tiny Tim is a revelation, gorgeously acted. There is a tragic beauty to his scenes that takes one's breath away, contrasting with the schmaltz of earlier productions. Guy Pearce gives a rather sexy (dare I say it?) edge to Scrooge, who I always thought of a musty old codger. Here, he is lean and austerely elegant and has a whole philosophy of life that has the ring of truth to it. The age-old problems of profit at any cost is brought home in a series of apocalyptic images, to the haunting Welsh lullaby 'Suo Gân'. It isn't only Scrooge who is brought to his knees. Go on, dim the lights and settle down to be horrified, intrigued, mesmerised. And, yes, moved. Everything a good ghost tale should be.

Kept my on the edge of my seat for al 3 hours. It was a darker Christmas Carol and well worth it.

If you're expecting something middle of the Road, and dare I say it, along the same lines as War of the worlds, you'll be disappointed, this is a very different, relevant and gritty.

I would say it improves as it progresses, the first twenty minutes or so are very slow, but once you get into the core of the story it becomes excellent.

Very gothic, very bleak, it's dark, it even looks dark, memories of Jamaica Inn.

Terrific acting, Pearce is the standout as Ebeneezer, others also impressed, Charlotte Riley and Stephen Graham were great.

I thought it was very impressive. 8/10

This is a BRILLIANT version of A Christmas Carol. It is dark, and it is adult in nature. Not for children. It is the very first movie to focus on the part of the story that MUST be understood and highlighted to understand Scrooge's transformation. In my 1996 book, In my book, Transforming Scrooge (which has been just released as a Kindle edition on 11/7/21), I discussed, in depth. The need to understand his boarding school hallucination, brought on by familial abandonment and abuse. This movie lavishes, in depth, time on this part of the story. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with this gritty and honest version of the story. It is Dickens for the 21st Century. Highly recommended.

All reviews I read were fairly negative. I watched this movie anyway and really liked it. This movie presents a more authentic depiction of mid-19th century London than past versions and it certainly isn't candy-coated. The acting is excellent and there is a very clear message about greed and its effects. The plot follows the basic structure of the story - the important components are the same but it is a very loose adaptation.The important thing is that it succeeds in transmitting the intended message. If you are looking for a faithful, by-the-book adaptation, this is not the movie for you. I recommend watching it with an open mind.