Do you like modern versions of " A Christmas Carol"

[The Mermaid]

Or are they a sort of blasphemy?

Just finished watching Vanessa Williams in a "A very Diva Christmas" on VH1 and I'm not ashamed to say I liked it. Bring on the glurge. Can I have some egg nog with that?


I can't wait for this season's versions on all of your favorite sit-coms.

What is your favorite version? For me it was the animated one with Mr Magoo in the late 60's.

Winter was warm, summer soft that year, the winter was warm without a sign of frost, like winter lost its way that year. It seems as I recall, no blossoms fell that fall, they didn't leave at all. or did love paint an illusion

[Eve]

I love "Black Adder's Christmas Carol," and intend to watch it with friends this year.

[rundogrun]

Tradition dictates that the first Christmas show/movie we watch every year is A Christmas Carol.

Ummm...that actually would be The Muppet's Christmas Carol. We've done this for the past 7 or 8 years.

[The Mermaid]

No no no if it's Muppets you want, nothing beats Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas.

I especially like the "bad group" The Riverbottom Nightmare Band? Maybe?

[Nutty Bunny]

I prefer Mr. MaGoo's 'A Christmas Carol', myself. Oddly enough, it was a musical. Mr. Magoo (aka Thurston Howell III) sang and everything! "I'm all Alone in the World" always made me very sad. I haven't seen it in years.

BTW, What are razzleberries?

Mermaid, I LOVE Emmett Otter!!

[The Tof]

Originally posted by The Mermaid
No no no if it's Muppets you want, nothing beats Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas.

I especially like the "bad group" The Riverbottom Nightmare Band? Maybe?

Dang.. I thought I was the only person who remembered emmett Otter! Thats awesome. He's coming out on DVD soon, if he hasn't already.

[Johnny L.A.]

I haven't seen the Bla'dder one, so...

The teevee version with George C. Scott as Scrooge is my favourite. It made Scrooge less of a charicature to be hated, and more of a victim of life to be pitied. But that didn't lessen his glee when he said, "If I could work my will, every idiot who went around with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips woud be boiled in his own pudding... and buried! With a stake of holly through his heart!" I think that Scott portrays the most realistic Scrooge. Better than the evil-for-no-reason Scrooges of the old films, and more likeable (even when he's being a total prick) than Patrick Stewart's.

I'd call this one the best.

[Doctor Jackson]

There was a version of A Christmas Carol a few years ago - I think it was a 'made for TBS' movie - which I really enjoyed. It was set in the Old West and Scrooge was a poker cheatin' saloon owner played by Jack Palance. Jack is the ulimate Scrooge.

[Rayne Man]

The best ever version is the one starring Alister Sim and made in the UK in 1951. After seeing this version all others seem second rate. Try to see the original black and white version and not the "colourised" one. Called "Scrooge" in the UK and " A Christmas Carol" in the US

[rundogrun]

Originally posted by The Mermaid
No no no if it's Muppets you want, nothing beats Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas.

I especially like the "bad group" The Riverbottom Nightmare Band? Maybe?

Off to the video store, I am.

Thank goodness I have kids to justify this silliness!

[Johnny L.A.]

The best ever version is the one starring Alister Sim and made in the UK in 1951.

Well, I'll have to say that that was a very good one. I could go so far as to say that it was the best... until [i]Scott[/b]'s version. I think Scott brought Scrooge to life better than anyone.

BTW: Was the Alistair Sim version the one where Tiny Tim wanted to stroke the goose? (My gawd, that'd make a good euphamism!)

[Johnny L.A.]

Erm, that should be Scott's version. Trying to call attention to him,

[Crunchy Frog]

Nope. I don't like the modren versions. I don't think it's a blasphemy, it's just tired. It's the same thing every year: the sitcoms do their little versions of it because God forbid the writers come up with something original, a made-for-TV movie version or theatrical version is released. It's done to death. I don't mind if they can add something new to the story, but it's rarely done.

[Johnny L.A.]

Okay, let me try this again...

I wanted to bold Scott's name to draw attention to that version. I was asking about Tiny Tim "stroking the goose" in the Alistair Sim version. (Geez, it's hard to work and keep up with the boards sometimes!)
quote]Nope. I don't like the modren versions. I don't think it's a blasphemy, it's just tired. It's the same thing every year: the sitcoms do their little versions of it because God forbid the writers come up with something original, a made-for-TV movie version or theatrical version is released. It's done to death. I don't mind if they can add something new to the story, but it's rarely done.[/quote]
I think the OP is referring to remakes, not "Fonzie discovers Christmas". As for the made-for-TV/theatrical version, Scott's version was made for TV and Stewart's version was adapted for television from his play.

It seems you're saying that you don't like the modern versions because you already know the story. But if they dicked around with the story, people would be outraged that the filmmakers had the temerity to change a Classic.

[Crunchy Frog]

[quote]Originally posted by Johnny L.A.
[b]

I think the OP is referring to remakes, not "Fonzie discovers Christmas". As for the made-for-TV/theatrical version, Scott's version was made for TV and Stewart's version was adapted for television from his play.

From the OP:

Just finished watching Vanessa Williams in a "A very Diva Christmas" on VH1 and I'm not ashamed to say I liked it. Bring on the glurge. Can I have some egg nog with that?

I can't wait for this season's versions on all of your favorite sit-coms.

I was under the impression that the OP was talking about the story set in modern times from these lines. Now I'm not saying the new versions can't be done well or that they need something new to make them better, it just so rarely happens anymore that I don't really care for the modern versions.

The Scott version was nearly 20 years ago, is one of my favorite versions of the story (I also kinda like the Muppet version, never seen Stewart's version), and I don't think of it as a "modern" version because it was set in the Victorian Era. Maybe we need a better definition of what the OP means by a "modern" version of the story.

[Crunchy Frog]

Dammit Johnny, your coding errors are contagious!

[Kathline B. Hapy today]

It's no longer that "modern", but I really like the Mickey Mouse version that plays every year.

[RealityChuck]

You can't top Alistair Sim. In fact, there have been so many "modern" third-rate versions of "A Christmas Carol" that I find the story impossible to watch (other than Sim, who makes it seem fresh).

Every lousy situation comedy seems to have a version of the story. "We can't think of a script for the Christmas show, so let's do a quick Dickens knockoff." Even "Quantum Leap" managed to join the bandwagon.

Of course, now when they're stuck, they do a third-rate version of "It's a Wonderful Life."

[Snooooopy]

I enjoyed the episode of the "Ghostbusters" cartoon where the guys go back in time and accidentally trap the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Then they return to modern times and discover that Christmas has been replaced by a bah-humbug kind of holiday to celebrate Scrooge's victory over the ghosts.

[Myrnalene]

I also like the George C. Scott version best. Oh, and "Scrooged" with Bill Murray! Buster Poindexter just didn't make enough movies in his brief but shining career. (Actually, upon reflection maybe it wasn't that great a film. But I dug it when I was eight.)

I saw a particularly bad one just recently. It was an animated version with Tim Curry as Scrooge. The artwork was foul, the writing completely unispired, and there were some craptacular songs as well. So why even make the damn thing? It's OK, people, we have enough of them. No, really.

[Kaitlyn]

Favorite all time: Alistair Sim.
Favorite modern (post 1980): Patrick Stewart.

In both cases, Scrooge is prior to the visitations, a viscious prick, which is one of the strengths of the performances. It gives more weight to the Christmas past and The next day sections.

It's kinda like Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady". To be truly effective, she has to be utterly convincing as a guttersnipe and as an elegant lady. Scrooge must be completely effective as an uncaring miser and as a generous benefactor. IMO, Sim and Stewart do this the best.

[LorieSmurf]

Every year i have to watch "Scrooged" with Bill Murray. I guess it's my favorite modern version. But i really dig the Muppet Christmas Carol. Rizzo the Rat just kills me!

[Johnny L.A.]

Scrooge must be completely effective as an uncaring miser and as a generous benefactor.

I still think George C. Scott played it better because it gave the audience a reason why he was the way he was.

[rowrrbazzle]

I like the b&w Sim version best. Scott's version had three rather glaring flaws that ruined it for me.

1. Scott laughed on the "stake of holly" line. Scrooge does have a sense of humor - see his line "there's more of gravy than the grave" to Marley. But explicitly showing it this early is just wrong. I think Dickens intended Scrooge to be almost a caricature. As Dickens gradually reveals Scrooge's vulnerabilities, they have more effect on us.

2. That buzzsaw-like sound effect for the GoCPast was way too loud and obtrusive.

3. Tiny Tim looked like he had already died and returned from the grave as a zombie, rather than just weak and not long for this world.

I had never seen the Sim version until I was in my 20s. Before that I liked the Reginald Owen version. When I saw it again I thought it was okay. Leo G. Carroll as Marley was very good. But that scene with the Cratchit kids and the toy carousel at the end just didn't fit.

I saw the Mr. Magoo version when I was a kid, and I still have a soft spot for it.

[rowrrbazzle]

Argh. Change that "GoCPast" in my previous post to "GoC Yet To Come".

Originally posted by Johnny L.A.
I still think George C. Scott played it better because it gave the audience a reason why he was the way he was.

I don't understand. That's what Dickens did with the GoCPast. Doing it earlier simply reduces the dramatic tension. Not the best idea (IMO, of course).

[Mofo Rising]

Scrooged is the only version of A Christmas Carol I can stand. That includes the original. So in answer to the OP, I like modern versions, but just one of them.

I'll also second the Mr. Magoo version, but that's more of a Mr. Magoo thing than a Christmas Carol thing.

[Kaitlyn]

Johnny, I was going to respond, but rowrrbazzle beat me to it. What he said.

[Ferggie]

Modernized versions I can generally take or leave. Being my mother's daughter, I cannot end a holiday season without one more viewing of the musical with Albert Finney ... and I don't even celebrate Christmas.

[Sweet 'Sota Girl]

My two favorites have been covered...

Muppets and Mickey Mouse. =)