By Dickens, this is just how the author would enjoy it
Dickens fans have backed an innovative new film version of A Christmas Carol, saying the Portsmouth-born author would have approved.
Charles Dickens' ever-popular novella has been adapted more than 80 times for stage and screen since it was published in 1843.
And the cautionary tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly visits is once again on the big screen, this time as stop-capture animation with the rubber-faced actor Jim Carrey.
The actor's individual performances and facial movements are digitally recorded in real time, then rendered in computer animation like in The Polar Express and Beowulf.
This allows Carrey to not only play Ebenezer but also the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Christmas Yet To Come in the 105m Disney film which is earning positive reviews.
And local members of the Dickens Fellowship say the author born in Old Commercial Road, Buckland, would be pleased with the new version.
Professor Tony Pointon, chairman of the University of Portsmouth's branch of the fellowship, said: 'Dickens constantly adapted his works. His aim was to get his works seen by as many people as possible.
'He had no objection to changing his works to fit the situation. I would have thought he would have been delighted.'
Prof Pointon also believes the new film will point people back to the novella.
He said: 'Whenever there's a new film based on a book the sales of the book will leap because people want to see how the book differs, or it encourages people to go back to it.'
And it's not just A Christmas Carol which has proved enduringly popularity after 150 years, as there have been numerous films, musicals and plays based on some of Dickens' other novels such as Oliver Twist, Great Expectations and Bleak House.
Prof Pointon said: 'His characters are wonderful. Everybody knows Magwitch, Pip, Miss Havisham and Tiny Tim.'
A Christmas Carol is in cinemas now.
VARIATIONS ON A THEME
A Christmas Carol has had a few unusual adaptations over the years – here are a few favourites:
- The Muppet Christmas Carol saw Michael Caine as Scrooge with Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit and Gonzo the Great appearing as Charles Dickens the narrator.
- A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994), animated adaptation featuring Fred Flintstone as 'Eboneezer Scrooge', Barney as 'Bob Cragit' and Mr. Slate as 'Jacob Marbley'.
- Blackadder's Christmas Carol with Rowan Atkinson as Ebenezer Blackadder and Robbie Coltrane as the Spirit of Christmas. In a twist on the story, Blackadder is the 'kindest and loveliest' man in England. But his kindness is constantly taken advantage of and the Spirit of Christmas shows he must be scheming and mean.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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