“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” is a fantastic and true to the book, animated film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella. Everyone should own a copy. The novella was originally titled A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. It is an ingenious read, full of charm, curiosities, and wit. It’s rumored he completed the novella within a couple of months! The DVD is available on Amazon.
Preface of A Christmas Carol
As Charles Dickens himself prefaced in his book: “I endeavour in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it!” A perfect preface to his fascinating masterpiece.
Disney’s A Christmas Carol and book
Firstly, stave (chapter) 1 of the book begins with “Marley was dead,” and so does the movie, except it does so in present prose, “Marley is dead,” if that at all matters.
The protagonist of the story is Ebenezer Scrooge (played by actor Jim Carrey). Scrooge is a grumpy and ruthless old man that “No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he…” (pg. 11). In addition, on top of being a coldhearted penny-pincher, Scrooge hated Christmas and everything about it. Even with his nephew’s failed attempts to convince him otherwise.
Moreover, there was nothing merry about Christmas, other than getting older and paying bills with money one didn’t have indicated Scrooge, rather dry and resolutely. Scrooge seemed to hate everything and everyone.
Jacob Marley’s apparation
However, later in the story things begin to change. One day, his longtime partner Jacob Marley, who had been dead for seven years, pays Scrooge a ghostly visit, but not before making a raucously loud, bell ringing, chain clanking, and bright candlelight appearance in Scrooge’s room. In addition, this wasn’t the first time the transparent Marley had visited Scrooge in the last seven years, but it was the first apparition and interpersonal interaction.
Furthermore, Jacob Marley shared his unfortunate situation—being cursed and doomed for eternity (“No rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse.”) to wander through the world dragging a chain (who he himself pieced together), due to living a greedy and self-serving life. Marley attempts to save Scrooge from having the same fate as he by warning Scrooge that three spirits will pay him a haunting visit. One spirit for the next three nights. Check out this great Scrooge and Marley Christmas tree ornament.
The three spirits pay a haunting visit
Consequently, it happens, despite Scrooges protest. Scrooge wakes up at midnight and the first spirit appears; it’s named the Ghost of Christmas Past. Its presence is a strange child-like candle figure that morphs to and from an old-man like figure. And incidentally, through magic, wonder, and colorful creativity, the peculiar candle-spirit escorts Scrooge to his unremarkable past and previous Christmases to observe the many terrible mistakes he graciously committed. Surprisingly, Scrooge regrets certain unscrupulous acts, particularly his love for money and avaricious dealings. Miraculously, he’s moved and sheds a tear.
The second spirit visitation is named Ghost of Christmas Present. Its presence, a spirited man wearing a single green robe or mantle, bordered with white fur; also had a scabbard but no sword. He takes Scrooge through London and shows him how Christmas will unfold in the days to come.
Scrooge watches the inordinately large Cratchit family celebrate Christmas with an inadequately sized feast in their little more than rudimentary home. The spirit then takes Scrooge to witness his nephew’s Christmas party, but you’ll have to watch the movie or read the book to see what happens next!
The third and final spirit
The last of the spirits to visit Scrooge is named the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, also known as the Ghost of the Future. “The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached….for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand” (pg. 84).
By this point as Dickens so perfectly said in the novella, “Although well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it” (pg. 85). Towards the end of the dark phantom’s visit, Scrooge appears at a churchyard’s grave. The dark spirit points towards a headstone. Scrooge reads the engraved name upon the headstone, falls to his knees before it, and cries, begging for a second chance.
A spectacular animated film and book
A Christmas Carol the incredible novella by Charles Dickens and “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” the animated film adaptation are in my opinion, unequivocal classics. Like previously mentioned, Disney did an incredible job with the movie and stayed true as much as they could to the book.
Jim Carrey did a phenomenal job playing Scrooge and the three spirits in “Disney’s A Christmas Carol”. It is an animated movie, but he did have to act out the scenes so a computer could then generate his acting and voice into animation.
In conclusion, “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” is a phenomenal movie for the entire family, but be warned. The movie is dark and can be scary, even for an adult. One can learn a lot from Scrooge. Sometimes, you must spend the money you have while you still can.
You can stream Disney’s a Christmas Carol on Prime Video. What do you think of the movie or book? Comment below!
Visit our other article and maybe you can find Charles Dickens’ novella for free. Hint. One of many Kindle versions below. You can watch the movie on Disney+ or stream it on Prime Video.
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