A Christmas Carol

Well this was a Christmas Eve surprise. We just put this on for something in the background as it was a cheap rental for a new release, but ended up glued to it. Fast paced throughout. Well acted by most characters and very well directed. Low budget but there are some stunning shots of castles and landscapes. Well worth a watch this Christmas especially for the bakery scene. Up go the thumbs.

I normally try to watch all versions of a Christmas Carol and at one time my family collected any version that was on VHS or DVD and if it wasn't available we could always record it, as my late mother was really into it. I even had made up a list of every version that came out so we could collect them and bought her the book a duplicate of Dickens original book. I've only come across one version I thought was worth (one revolving around trailer park trash) This just doesn't do it. It's trying to be a darker version with trying to use some of the original lines, it just doesn't work. If they changed the writing, settings, and the terrible acting maybe it would it work as this doesn't.

First: I am completely bias when it comes to this story. So I often give any rendition a lot of benefit/room. There are so many incomplete moments. And, they did the best they could with what had to have a very restricted budget!!! So I am glad I watched it. Why write this? Because the music is delightful. It cute, gentle, and it is present for the entire film. I looked up the composer here and it's Roger Taylor who is the drummer from QUEEN. I knew this is the work of an accomplished muscian. He really did a wonderful job with it bringing together what is a fragmented why of telling this very well known story. Also, I had the BEST "winter" vacation in Scotland this past August!

Scrooge needed to see a barber immediately! The worse was using the same lines as the old movies did. It's supposed to be in England. Jacob Marley was supposed to show in his car, not on the way home. Once the driver stopped Scrooge came flying out yelling & screaming at something ONLY he could see & hear. No one understands why Mrs. Crotchet is called Bob & her husband is Tim. The scene in the bakery was funny. Firing & rehiring Mrs. Crotchet at a better pay was great. Rehiring the couple he fired for being late was good. I'm not saying it has to be the exact same. Changing too much not good.

For years I've searched for satisfactory modern-day versions of this movie.

I was fearful that maybe this movie wouldn't make the jump to modern day as such things like debtor's prison are a thing of the past.

But, glad to say this movie was really, really enjoyable as a modern-day version of A Christmas Carol.