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.
