A Christmas Carol, a Holiday Ghost Story in 3D!

While downing the last of my fun-size Kit Kat bars from Halloween, I lamented the change of seasons from cold to. . . even colder here in New York. What do I have to look forward to? Aah yes. Pretty soon stores will be stocking up on Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, Butterfinger Bells, and Snickers Santas. (Can you tell I track the holidays by my sweet tooth?) It's one of the best sure-fire signs that the holidays are coming. Another sign? The release of Disney's new 3D digital movie A Christmas Carol (rated PG) based on the classic Charles Dickens novel. Opening today, a mere 48 days before Christmas, this movie stars Jim Carrey, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Sammi Hanratty, and more. 

Now, I've seen a lot of versions of A Christmas Carol, but I've never seen one like this! Although I haven't seen the movie yet, the previews look very cool. First of all, it's in 3D. So get your 3D glasses ready! Second, it's all done by digital motion capture. Little dots of light all over the actors' faces and bodies highlight their motions, which the cameras capture (yep, that's why it's called MOTION CAPTURE), and then the animators connect the dots to create the animated characters in the movie. So the characters kind of look like themselves, but they can also look like and actually PLAY other characters. Hence, Jim Carrey plays:

1. Ebenezer Scrooge
2. the Ghost of Christmas Past
3. the Ghost of Christmas Present
4. the Ghost of Christmas Future

Likewise, 13-year-old actress, Sammi Hanratty plays a young Cratchit girl, a beggar boy, and Belle's daughter. Sammi came to the Scholastic headquarters herself to give us an EXCLUSIVE scoop on what it was like to film it. Check out this video where she talks about being painted with dots, having her teeth molded, working with 350 cameras (!!) and wearing a bald cap on set with Jim Carrey!

For those of you who haven't read the book, here's a quick recap: Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly old businessman who hates Christmas, as well as just about everything else (except money). He treats his employee Bob Cratchit badly, and refuses his nephew's invitation for a Christmas party one night, coining the infamous phrase, "Bah Humbug!" when expressing his disgust for all things Christmas related. That night he is visited by three ghosts — the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come. Unless he reforms and changes his ways, he will be condemned to wander the earth shackled in chains like his old business partner Jacob Marley, and then . . . death.

A Christmas Carol was directed by Robert Zemeckis, the filmmaker behind Polar Express and Back to the Future, so let's just say the guy is a pro, and knows what he's doing! 

The film is total visual eye candy. Every Jim Carrey movie I see, I'm amazed at his facial gestures, but in this movie they take it to the extreme because of the digital animation. And I'll bet it would be really cool to see in IMAX. Have you guys read the book, or will you see the movie? Let me know in the Comments! Also, feel free to drop a line with any new seasonal candy suggestions.

— Ratha, STACKS Writer

Images from Disney's "A Christmas Carol" © ImageMovers Digital LLC.

Comments

[Comment #1]

I've watched every jim carry you know from Ace Ventora to the green mask movie you name it its just that jim cary gets my attention.

[Comment #2]

I'm looking foward to watching that movie i think its going to be AWESOME!

[Comment #3]

Well, actually, I already saw it, because my friend gets these sneak-peek movie passes in the mail, and she invited me along. SO COOL. Quite scary, actually. For half the movie, my friend couldn't look and I had to say what was going on. During these parts, the two six-year-olds with us were laughing hysterically and didn't seem to find it scary at all.

[Comment #4]

I geting that movie it sounds FUN!!!!

[Comment #5]

AHHHH!Gary Oldman!He played Sirius Black from the HPs right?

[Comment #6]

omg!!! shes 13?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?1/!/1 everyones 13!!!!but me!!!!im in the 7th grade but i have to wait till next yr.!!!

[Comment #7]

p.s. how can she be 13!?!?!?she's too small!!!

[Comment #8]

LOL!!!!I Like Jim Carrey Alot!!!

[Comment #9]

I've seen it. It's as amazing as you're guessing it to be.

[Comment #10]

i really really want to see it. i love jim carrey's movies and i'm sure this one will be just as good as all the others. last year my language arts class did a whole segment on "A Christmas Carol". I'm sure this movie will be as awesome as the older movie!!! :}

[Comment #11]

Sounds like a great movie.

[Comment #12]

i rly w4nt to c dis movi3 i h34rd from my b3st b3sti3 it w4sz 4lrit3 but kind4 of l4m3rsz typ3 of movi3 but i h4v3 to c mys3lf.

[Comment #13]

I LOVE THAT MOVIE I LOVE IT

[Comment #14]

the christmas carol stinks

[Comment #15]

omg!!! i was going to see that movie!!!! (did you know they have a club penguin version???)

[Comment #16]

cool is it bye

[Comment #17]

ahhhhh...i saw this mivie and it is really really really good u should all see it u will <3 it

[Comment #18]

this sutch a good move me and my aunt an uncle want to see it was so funny!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #19]

I'm hoping to go see this with my dad; he loves Jim Carrie. I also saw the play of this and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie in 3D to see if they are similar or different.

[Comment #20]

I want to see that movie badly!!

[Comment #21]

I so want to see this movie so bad but i have to wait till December 1 cuz my mom says it's a tradition to watch chrismas things on chrismas

[Comment #22]

CHRISTMAS IZ AWSOME!!! i dont wanna c this movie its 4 6 year olds!!! my 5 year old bro doesnt wanna c it thats how bad it is!!!

[Comment #23]

yea aiden u no lexi (my 5 year old sister) she was going 2 c it 4 her bffs bday but she didnt want 2 si then no1 else did so they saw the blond side btw that movie was AMAZING!!!!!!

[Comment #24]

inr!! we saw it 2gether!!

[Comment #25]

i saw it n it was sad! wut is every1s fave movies??