A Christmas Carol (2019)

Watchseries; I liked this retelling of 'A Christmas Carol'. It brings a unique look at it, as opposed to following the same footsteps as Charles Dickens'. Guy Pearce is excellent as Ebenezer Scrooge.

I liked this retelling of 'A Christmas Carol'. It brings a unique look at it, as opposed to following the same footsteps as Charles Dickens'. Guy Pearce is excellent as Ebenezer Scrooge.

A Christmas Carol watchseries. The famous Dickens story is essential viewing for me, every single Christmas. The 1951 Alastair Sim version will never be bettered but hats off to the makers of this 3 part TV adaptation. Although still set in Victorian England it must be viewed as a modern reworking, forget comparing it with previous incarnations. Guy Pearce is an interesting choice for Scrooge, perhaps a little too handsome and young for the part, but then I shouldn't be comparing him to previous actors in said role! He is a great actor, in fact the whole cast are superb. As are the sets and many special effects. Very spooky and atmospheric, it is a ghost story after all. This came with a parental warning, consider that before watching it!

Writing this after reviewing the 3rd Episode of "Dracula" and "War Of The Worlds" earlier in the year, you might have it in mind that I hate all the BBC's adaptations of classic novels.... Well I don't, and I really liked this version of "A Christmas Carol" - that was recognisable as the Dickins novel, but different enough to justify its own existence.

Penny pinching financial investor Ebenezer Scrooge (Guy Pearce) does not believe that Yuletide is a time of joy and, amongst other refusals to concede, does not allow his clerk, Bob Cratchit (Joe Alwyn) to leave early on Christmas Eve. That evening he's visited by the spirit of Jacob Marley (Stephen Graham) his former business partner, who warns Scrooge that he must change his ways to avoid damning both their souls. To that end, three ghosts will visit him across the night, to encourage a change of heart.

Strong performances across the board from an all-star cast here, and a production to match - which makes sense, given it's from the people behind "Peaky Blinders". I can imagine that a lot of people in the reviews have bristled against the changes to the story, but I think that a lot of them worked for this version. Scrooges additionally added reasons for particularly hating Christmas time make sense, and do, sadly, fit the historic truth of boarding schools for long after Dickens time. At the conclusion, I love the fact that Scrooge accepts that he's done too much to genuinely be worthy of anyone's forgiveness, after all, people are really dead because of his wilful negligence, no amount of "plump Christmas Goose" is going to make up for that. Also, and though it's a dark take on the story, it's also pretty funny.

But it's not perfect, it could have done with a fourth episode perhaps and provided a whole show for each ghost. As a result, the ghost of Christmas past gets a whole show, (which perhaps reflects the fact he's played by Andy Serkis) whereas present and future have to make to do with half each, and the resolution too, which feels a little rushed. Also, I didn't care for the final moment of 4th wall breaking. One more failing, I felt the ghost of Christmas future was a bit of an anti-climax, relative to the others. I can't have been the only person hoping for another Tom Hardy turn (although I understand from the Trivia section that Rutger Hauer was due to play the role, prior to his death).

Different takes on a classical novel don't detract from either the source or alternative adaptations and in the right hands can provide a valid exploration. This is one such case.

Terrible. What a crock of poop.

The original story is, in my opinion, the best book ever written. The story is perfection. A mirror of humanity. A examination of how we become attached to material items, then toss aside love, compassion and understanding for others.

This show attempts to be something different but it sacrifices the perfection of the original story.

I can see it now. Some idiot punk director or screen writer said "why do the same story over and over again? Boring! Let's change things up a bit"

Well you certainly did that, but you lost the meaning of the original story.

Sad day in Britain when they ruined the best story ever told.

This new Christmas carol takes a dark spin on the classic, adding details and depth to why Scrooge is so dark hearted. The acting was great, the storyline compelling, and the whole experience well executed. I was captivated. Guy Pearce does an amazing job as Scrooge. My only fault would be that cinematography is too dark.

It had to happen. With the success (the baffling success) of 'Peaky Blinders' we were always going to get 'Peak Blinders' esque takes on other things.

So we end up with this dark and at times sweary version of Dickens classic novel, which people may very well say is in keeping of the ghost story, but lets face it, it's rubbish.

Where is the magic of Christmas? Where is the comedy that Dickens managed to find in even his darker work?

Unless Kermit the frog and Michael Caine pop up at the end of this version nothing can save it.