Christmas Carol Movies Past, Present and Future

A Christmas Carol is Charles Dicken's classic novel about a curmudgeon who learns the Christmas spirit after three spirits visit him while he tries to sleep. After writing off Jacob Marley's appearance as indigestion, he goes on the journey of his life as he sees the life that he has led and the future that it leads to.

This November, Jim Carrey does an all-new version of the timeless classic rendered in beautiful CGI similar to The Polar Express. This is not the first time A Christmas Carol has been made into a film. Here are some other favorites in chronological order.

George C. Scott is my favorite actor to ever play Scrooge. He has just the right amount of cynicism and subtle facial expressions to pull off the perfectly natural Uncle Scrooge. His ranting about a bad piece of meat is my favorite scene of his. It was originally a made for TV movie that should have been good enough to be shown on the big screen.

America's favorite mouse plays Bob Cratchit in Mickey's Christmas Carol. Scrooge is here too who needs to learn a lesson Disney-style.

Bill Murray got Scrooged in 1988 in his hilarious take on a modern retelling. All of his brothers joined in the fun as he gets dragged through past, present, and future as TV executive Frank Cross who must learn his lesson before it's too late. Bill Murray is the only actor I can think of who can pull off a scene when they are trying to determine if a woman's breasts are appropriate for a Christmas television special.

The Muppet Christmas Carol is a funny muppetized rendition with Michael Caine as Scrooge. Rizzo the Rat and Gonzo, along with Miss Piggy and Kermit's children in the film steal the show.

Patrick Stewart plays Scrooge in 1999's made for television jaunt that was somber and played to Patrick Stewart's strengths and was based upon his one-man show on the stage.

Jim Carrey stars as multiple characters in Disney's upcoming A Christmas Carol story due in theaters November 6^th. Carrey plays Scrooge and all three ghosts of Christmas. Not only will psychologists have a field day with Jim Carrey talking to himself through the pivotal moments of the film, but director Robert Zemeckis I'm sure will infuse his own brand of humor on the matter.

What I'm looking forward to in the Disney adaptation is more the supporting cast. I love Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Gary Oldman, and Robin Wright Penn who all put forth the best effort in whatever characters they play on film whether they are voice acting or regular film acting. Hopefully Zemeckis will sneak in a reference to The Princess Bride, also a film with Penn and Elwes. Gary Oldman also has multiple roles as Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, and Tiny Tim.

Hopefully this movie will live up to the hype and the actors who are in it. I look forward to seeing it and taking my kids to see the beautiful landscape that Disney will paint with the film.