12/22/2023
Synopsis: Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits on the eve of Christmas.
The Good: This is the most literal and well performed of the versions I’ve seen. Patrick Stewart was made for dramatic acting and it’s good to see him get his chance on screen. Very enjoyable.
The Bad: It does feel more stage play than film but whether that is a bad thing is up to the viewer.
Best Line: There is more gravy than grave about you…Jacob.’
Fun Fact: The word “humbug” is misunderstood by many people, which is a pity since the word provides a key insight into Scrooge’s hatred of Christmas. The word “humbug” describes deceitful efforts to fool people by pretending to a fake loftiness or false sincerity. So when Scrooge calls Christmas a humbug, he is claiming that people only pretend to charity and kindness in a scoundrel effort to delude him, each other, and themselves. In Scrooge’s eyes, he is the one man honest enough to admit that no one really cares about anyone else, so for him, every wish for a Merry Christmas is one more deceitful effort to fool him and take advantage of him. This is a man who has turned to profit because he honestly believes everyone else will someday betray him or abandon him the moment he trusts them.
Verdict:
Technical: 7
Entertainment Value: 7.5
Genre Rating: 7.25
IMDb Score: 7.4
Total: 7.25
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