Step 1: Hold onto your mug of warm apple cider. This newest, action-packed version of A Christmas Carol could get a little bumpy.
Step 2: Imagine Ebenezer Scrooge as a reluctant action hero. Charles Dickens might be turning over in his grave, but director Robert Zemeckis sure thinks old Scrooge (Jim Carrey) can take a licking and keep on ticking. The classic story remains the same, with the miserly man being taught a lesson or two from the pesky Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. But in this high-tech, RealD 3D adaptation, his adventures turn into a thrill ride. In all the many action sequences, Scrooge gets bounced around like a rag doll; I mean, that old coot is TOUGH. Of course, all of this should appeal to the young video-gaming age, who, I guess, needs this kind of stimulation to make it through what they might otherwise think is another boring old story. But with the very young, they might get scared out of their little wits by some of the scary images being thrown at them in incredibly crisp 3D.
Step 3: Hire Jim Carrey to play the original Grinch. Really, who else could play Scrooge, as well as the three Ghosts, in an animated, motion-captured performance? He is definitely the right choice, with a face he can turn into any kind of caricature that he wants. But with everyone else, I have the same problem with the technology I’ve had since The Polar Express. The other humans – such as Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit or Colin Firth as Scrooge’s nephew Fred – just look weird and unreal. Like talking mannequins or something. It throws me off, takes me out of the emotions of the story.
Step 4: Tell a tale told (too?) many times before. Even with all its machinations and amazing visuals, ultimately, it’s still Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which has been done and done. The defense for this is that it’s for a new generation of kids who might not know the timeless Christmas story. My question is, do they really care? They might, but if not, at least with this Christmas Carol, there is some exciting action.
Level of difficulty in watching A Christmas Carol: Pretty easy. If you’re under 5, it might be rough, but for everyone else, it’s an enjoyable Christmas-y adrenaline rush.
OK, I’ve decided to jump on the “It’s October, so let’s talk about scary movies!” band wagon that everyone seems to be on. Throughout the month, I’ll highlight those movies that scared the bejeezus out of me, in one way or another … starting with The Wizard of Oz. 
