The latest iteration of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, was released in both IMAX 3D and Disney Digital 3D. I caught the 3D version, but not IMAX.
The 3D Setup and Previews
As with all of the recent 3D flicks I’ve attended, I received a pair of RealD 3D glasses for the show. It seems like every time I go to the movies, they improve on the quality of these glasses. This was the sturdiest pair of RealD 3D glasses that I’ve had yet.
Before I get into the meat of the movie, I’ll also point out that there were some great 3D previews shown as well. Toy Story 3 had a long full 3D trailer, as did How to Train Your Dragon. You can tell that Hollywood is really set on 3D being a big deal in 2010 and beyond. The animation and 3D effects just keep getting smoother and smoother.
How the Story Went
Now, the story isn’t any secret of course. We’ve all seen many takes on Charles Dickens’ story. From Muppets to musicals, there are so many variations, and each one has its own fans and critics. Jim Carrey’s Scrooge story will be no different.
Jim Carrey knocked it out of the park with his acting. Every time I see a Jim Carrey movie, he just gets better and better. He absolutely makes this movie and shines through all the special effects, animation and any other distractions within.
I would consider Carrey’s Scrooge story to be one of the darker versions of the tale. Some of the encounters with the ghosts are definitely scarier than what you experience from the Muppets’ story or Albert Finney’s musical version. That said, the story was well told overall and it was a fun movie-going experience for families. I would caution parents with younger children to consider their own kids’ tolerance for strong thematic elements.
3D and Special Effects
The 3D animation did not disappoint. Although, at some points in the film, I felt like it came to a bit of a stall so the creators could show off their amazing special effects. While the effects were stunning for the most part, as we neared the end of the film, I began to wonder just how many more “flying” or chase sequences could be thrown in. The effects were almost pushed over the edge at these times to a point where the tail wagged the dog.
As for the 3D effects in general, Disney nailed it again with an almost seamless display of 3D theater. The snow was spectacular, particularly in some of the solemn and still life sequences. It really looked like it was snowing inside the theater.
The 3D effects gave a depth to the entire movie that I really haven’t appreciated before. When I saw Disney’s UP in 3D, I thought it was the best 3D translation I had ever seen. I have to put Disney’s A Christmas Carol right up there with it, if not a notch above.
Looking into some of the rooms or outside of windows in scenes produced an immersing experience. It felt like A Christmas Carol was truly striving for a 3D experience from the story board to the big screen. In UP 3D, the 3D experience seemed more subtle and passive. In A Christmas Carol 3D, you are pushed into the scenes with the characters. It makes you want to reach out and capture a snowflake before it landed on the seat in front of you.
Disney’s A Christmas Carol 3D Review Conclusion
The effects were stunning, no doubt. Unfortunately, it felt like the effects were pushed too far in some sequences, creating a “just for show” feel. Disney’s A Christmas Carol is certainly worth seeing in Disney Digital 3D; however, the movie doesn’t have that “timeless classic” feel to it that should have been the case because Jim Carrey’s acting was spectacular. Additionally, the darker scenes may keep it from being a children’s favorite, and parents should definitely take a pre-screening of the film before turning your children loose to watch it at will.
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