Great acting from Patrick. His Scrooge is a real mean old bugger. Some of the others show him to be pathetic and comedic, but Patricks Scrooge was an impossing man. A side I had never seen before. I thought that made his transformation all the more powerful at the end. I loved the scene with his brother and his wife. Very well played by all. Great, great movie!
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It is a brilliant remake, agreed!!
It makes one think: What if we all got visited by 3 ghosts: Would our life, when played back for us, be as we think it is? Have our hearts grown harder, if not as hard as Scrooge's, but sadder than we ever thought??
This is one of my all-time favorite stories, EVER! It makes you smile....and then think.
"That's bearing false witness, my friend."
-The Darkling
Love this version -- Stewart is eminently watchable in anything he does. The scene where he laughs for the first time is priceless.
tay-15, too true! I rewind and watch that scene every time I watch this movie. His creaky laughter makes me get all teary-eyed.
shareThe two scenes that *always* pull at my heart-strings are 1) when Scrooge remembers being at Fezziwig's party (one of the only times he's ever been happy), saying something like, "looking back, perhaps things seemed better than they really were... but no, it was *just like this*". and 2) Scrooge, hat in hand, asking to spend Christmas as his nephew's home.
Ugh, I can't wait until this version is on again - it has quickly become a yearly tradition in our house.
...Oh, and I also love how the newly reformed Scrooge absolutely scares the crap out of Cratchit at first! :D
Let me preface my comments by saying that I am a Patrick Stewart fan. I love just about everything he does. BUT, sorry, his portrayal of Scrooge is quite average compared to others. The scene with Marley is just plain unbelievable. The "assistance" he renders the ghost with his jaw is stupid, and his delivery of the "speak comfort to me Jacob" line is ridiculous. Sorry folks, but the Alistair Sim version is vastly superior.
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I agree partially with that. In my mind, when it comes to Scrooge, there is Alistair Sim...and then everyone else.
But Stewart does a tremendous job with this role. Despite being a less physically imposing actor than say, George C. Scott, who also played Scrooge, I don't think I've ever seen a more physically intimidating portrayal of Old Ebenezer.
One area where this version far exceeds Sim's is the Cratchits. In Sim's version, the Cratchits seem somewhat comfortable, but in this one, they're broke. Like "Good Times" broke. Much more true to the image that Dickens created.
It's not that you had it bad, but that you're that pissed that so many others had it good.
In my mind, when it comes to Scrooge, there is Alistair Sim...and then everyone else.
I agree with you ssbass. The jaw-thing was weird...but I think he made a lot of poor or strange acting decision throughout the film.
share I agree. This was a very well done version of the Dickens tale. Stewart did a great job as Scrooge. I was getting tired of an old decrepit Scrooge. Also the wardrobe department really did their homework. As a living historian of that time period I can tell you it was an outstanding job.
I agree this is one of the best Versions of "A Christmas Carol" and Stewart does a Fantastic Job as Scrooge. Caught this today early in the Morning before I went to work and I finaly got into the Christmas Mood.
Alstar Sims also has a fanstasic Version of Scrooge
But up there in the top 10 is also Mr Magoo's Scrooge just because its a great Musical Version of the Story.
One more thing about this version that always pops into the back of my head I love this film but...
I half expect for Data to show up as one of the ghost and for an emergency to screw up the Holodeck and Picard try to save the Universe and or the Enterprise with the help of the story of A Christmas Carol.. That being said did they ever have the story of "A Christmas Carol" as one of the Holodeck Programs even just for a Short Moment???? I know they did the Sherlock Holmes Program a few times with my Favorite Holodeck Screwup "A Ship in a Bottle"
"That being said did they ever have the story of "A Christmas Carol" as one of the Holodeck Programs even just for a Short Moment?"
Yes, as a matter of fact they did. In the beginning of the 4th season episode of TNG "Devil's Due" Data is playing Scrooge on the Holodeck in the scene with Marley's ghost and Picard is there watching him.
007 [Regarding Max Zorin] - We played bridge together...He lost. (Everything or Nothing)
Thanks I had a vision of Scrooge on Star Trek at one time. Devil's Due is a good Story one of the better ones. Thanks again
It's class.. Ashame so few people have seen it... well that's life i guess..
shareGod bless us, every one!
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Best version by far, bar none. My favorite.
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