If you're bringing A Christmas Carol to the screen, again, for what seems like the millionth time, having Patrick Stewart, Dominic West and Richard E. Grant in your cast is a good place to start. The actors attack the material like they're putting on a Shakespearian play.
The beginning is unique, as we start at Jacob Marley's funeral. The rest of the script follows the book closely. We have a thoroughly miserable Scrooge here, who threatens to beat a carol singer who braves his door. You really get the impression that Ebenezer is someone to be avoided.
The ghosts aren't as memorable as in some adaptations (the GOCPast is perhaps a little too camp) and some of the acting (see: Bob's family) is a little wooden.
The ending is good because Stewart doesn't overplay the change. The added scenes (such as greeting the passers by and singing in church) add something extra to the proceedings. Very good. See it for Stewart and Make it Snow!
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DIRECTED BY: David Hugh Jones. SCREENPLAY BY: Peter Barnes. RUNNING TIME: 95 mins. CERTIFICATE: PG. USA.
