It is the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is near, which means it is time to drink a cup of cocoa and watch some Christmas movies!
If you are like me, A Christmas Carol, which is based on the book by Charles Dickens, must be watched at least once in the lead up To Christmas. However, if you start to get bored by it, then we have the perfect alternative adaptations for you!
Firstly, let’s break down what the story is all about.
Ebenezer Scrooge is a businessman who hates Christmas. Seven years after his business partner, Jacob Marley, died, he gets visited by his ghost after he refused a dinner invitation from his nephew, turned down donating to the poor, and denies his clerk, Bob Cratchit, to have Christmas off to be with his family. Marley’s ghost warns Scrooge to not be selfish anymore, because he suffers from it in the afterlife. To avoid it, he will be visited by three ghosts of Christmas the night before Christmas – past, present, and future – who show him how his Christmases have been, are, and will be. The ghosts also show him how his behaviour affects those people around him and what kind of fates lie behind closed doors. If he does not change, he will end up alone and people will not remember him at all.
The story ends with Scrooge changing from the bitter man into a lovely person who, from now on, will make up for all his mistakes and bring joy to those who aren’t so lucky.
The most popular adaptation is Scrooged (1988) with Bill Murray portraying the main character.
If you don’t feel like watching a real-life adaptation or plan to watch an adaptation more suitable for children there are plenty to choose from! Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) in which Scrooge McDuck hates Christmas. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) is the fourth movie with the beloved puppets, in which Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge.
The 3D animation movie A Christmas Carol (2009) starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge, with Gary Oldman and Colin Firth lending their voices amongst others. The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol (2011) also did their interpretation of the famous classic as well.
My personal favourite adaptation is the one with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge (1999). For me, it is the adaptation which stays true to the book the most.
We cannot forget about the romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, and Michael Douglas. The womaniser Connor (McConaughey) attends his brothers wedding with his childhood friend Jenny (Garner), who was the only girl who he ever truly loved but messed up their relationship. After giving a speech at the rehearsal dinner, he sees his dead Uncle Wayne (Douglas) ghost. Uncle Wayne, who was the one who has taught Connor everything about becoming a womaniser, has shown himself to tell Connor that he will be visited by three ghosts who will show him his romantic past, present, and future.
A different adaptation is The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) which shows us the man behind the story, Charles Dickens himself. Dickens (played by Dan Stevens) is desperate to write a new book which hopefully will become a success. The movie shows how Dickens was inspired by his father (played by Jonathan Pryce) to create Scrooge (played by Christopher Plummer).
We hope you will spend a cosy December afternoon or evening with your loved one no matter which adaption or adaptions you choose to watch.
