REVIEW: A CHRISTMAS CAROL
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CHARLES Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PG) has been adapted for the screen more times than you've had hot turkey dinners.
It's been modernised, Muppet-ised, musical-ised and even Bill Murray-ised, so what's left to do?
If you're director Robert Zemeckis, the answer is to turn it into yet another computer animated film. After helming The Polar Express and Beowulf, he's become a one-man publicity machine for hi-tech cinema but it's debatable if the process adds anything new to the classic tale.
In truth it's a fairly traditional take on the story. Zemeckis keeps the original setting and the classic dialogue but spices things up with his usual visual flourishes as the free-flowing camera flies through a snow-covered Dickensian London.
The animation is fantastic although the characters move like wooden puppets at times. Still, the 3D (yes, it's another 3D movie) is effective while walking special effect Jim Carrey is solid as Scrooge (he also plays the three ghosts) and reins in his over-the-top goofiness.
It's fine festive fare but a warning: Zemeckis ramps up the scares and Jacob Marley's dangling jaw and the spirit of Christmas Yet To Come may be too much for delicate tots. - JUSTIN MATLOCK
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