— by CAM SMITH —
It’s been almost 10 years since Robert Zemeckis directed a film with flesh-and-blood actors in front the camera and I don’t really see this as a particularly stellar accomplishment.
His first two experimentations with motion-capture animation — “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf” — were mediocre, mostly bloodless, creative endeavours hiding behind shiny, pixelated bells and whistles.
Now, with his third attempt, “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” in theatres in both 3D and 2D digital, there are six clips allowing for a peak of Jim Carrey’s energetic misadventures as miserly old Christmas-hater Ebenezer Scrooge.
There’s a definite feeling of atmosphere in these clips — especially in the first one featuring the chain-rattling ghost of Jacob Marley — but the animation still feels regrettably sterile and superficial, like a great looking PS3 cut-scene. Plus, those glassy, dead-eyed stares aren’t exactly making it easy for the audience to build an emotional connection.
Still, there’s some genuinely nice artistry on display, so I thoroughly encourage that you check them out for yourself and figure out which side of the argument you stand on with the ongoing Zemeckis/Mo-cap debate.
“A Christmas Carol,” the umpteenth adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, stars Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright-Penn, Bob Hoskins and Cary Elwes.
And click here for the trailer.
Follow Cam Smith on Twitter at http://twitter.com/camspcepisodes.
I just think the story has been done a few times too many. I remember when it was practically a rule that TV sitcoms had to do a Christmas special that was a variation on either this story or “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It just got to be too much.
Very Cool, Cam.
That movie wasn’t playing near me on Christmas day. Opening it a week after Halloween was a failure.