Vincent Fegan stars as Ebenezer Scrooge; Laurence Foster, as Charles Dickens; and
Bryan Murray, as Jacob Marley.
On a scale of the Don Ho version (the worst version I have ever seen) to the Muppets' version, which some people regard as the best, I give this a Three. I give it one point for apparently being filmed in England or Ireland; a second point for looking realistic, as far as the settings, language, and costumes; and a third point for the clarity of the dialogue and cinematography. The settings reminded me of those I personally saw in Europe when the Berlin Wall was falling. One of the chairs reminds me of one I own, which I keep because it reminds me of A Christmas Carol.
It fails to be spectacular because it lacks the kind of special effects and ingenious creativity found in the Jim Carrey and Muppets' versions (2009 and 1992, respectively). Jim Carrey's version has nap-of-the-earth views and sequences that might cause you to fall if you were standing unsupported while watching them. The Muppets' version contains creative, original song and dialogue, which I find myself watching again and again, over the years, as well as the Maxine, Mickey Mouse, and Mr. Magoo versions (2000, 1983, and 1962, respectively).
The dialogue and narration in this version are an abridged version of the novel, and, at least once, I noticed that dialogue was removed in a way which made the remaining dialogue seem censored and awkward.
There are no language or subtitle options, or bonus features, except the trailers. At least there is a link to its chapters.
The overall look and feel of this version reminds me of a government project one might expect to see on P.B.S. [the Public Broadcasting Service] or the B.B.C. [British Broadcasting Corporation], where money was no object in producing it, to hire talented actors, artists, and musicians; reserve appropriate locations; and provide adequate wardrobes, hair-styling, and make-up, but it couldn't begin to hold the candle of the Ghost of Christmas Past to the magic of Disney. I didn't even finish watching this version because I found it so unbearable! It is, to me, a ghost I will not revisit this Christmas Present or Future. I recommend it only to avid collectors, such a myself, who also don't mind having the Don Ho version in their collection, if only for the sake of completeness and comparison.
A trailer is available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go0H3LtNu7E
It is available for purchase at:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ESLZ84K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Film review by William Mortensen Vaughan
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