FX's new version of "A Christmas Carol" Oh. My. God.

[hedrap]

I think this was made for me. I love anything Victorian that has shades of life in Whitechapel.

Outside Magoo, I can't recall another version I liked. Maybe Stewart's.

If I was shown George C Scott's version one more time, I'd beat someone with Scrooge's cane.

I would argue that Scrooge is miserable, precisely because he doesn't care for his fellow man.

He's reminded of a time when he did care for others and how that brought him true joy. Whereas now he THINKS he's happy with his wealth and greed, but it's not true fulfillment.

That was Dickens exact point.

[palitoy]

I think we all tend to have this romanticized view of Victorian England when in reality it was an veritable hell scape for the poor and working class. As gross as it sounds I can see someone of that era relieving themselves on a cruel man's grave as well as the language and other horrors. Life for most was absolutely miserable and the greedy and cruel rarely if ever reformed or were punished.

There is a really great UK series called "Year of the Rabbit" which is about a detective in Victorian London, it's a comedy but it especially revels in how gross it really was.

[Werewolf]

it's a comedy but it especially revels in how gross it really was.

Yeah, on average, I really don't think people realize how horrific it really was. Aside from the relative opulence of the upper class, the majority lived in poverty with little food. Cities were a crowded, crime ridden, unsanitary nightmare of illness, pollution, stench and despair. At times the smoke billowing out from the factories would have looked like it was blocking out the sun. It would have seemed like an actual hell on earth.

[powersthatbe]

My favorite Scrooge take was Albert Finney's. This version sounds horrid and repulsive but I agree that is was most likely a ugly time to live in.

[Mikey]

My fav versions of A Christmas Carol is THANK YOU VERY MUCH and Mr Magoo

All other versions are BORING

[Earth 2 Chris]

I had a coworker send me the trailer, and I instantly thought this was just blasphemous and ill-intended. Dickens almost single-handedly revived Christmas through his works, (not just Scrooge's story), and was definitely trying to show that the better aspects of mankind could and should be on display during the season. I haven't watched this, but whoever made it is literally ****ing all over Dickens' original intent as well.

Solid pass for me. I've already watched the Muppets version and Magoo, I'm going to watch Sim's (my favorite) and Finney's (my #2) this weekend.

Chris

[Falstaff13]

When I heard about this, I had high hopes. I've just finished it, and it really was a slog to get through. They seemed to want a Gothic look, but even then it was dimly lit and lacked a real punch other than getting away with some F-bombs and being deliberately outre.

[JediJaida]

I took one look at the trailer and it was an instant pass for me.

I much prefer Alistair Sim, Albert Finney, Mr. Magoo and yes, even George C. Scott over this dreck.

[Werewolf]

Mickey's Christmas Carol is my favorite. I mean come on, it's got Scrooge McDuck as Scrooge. It's brilliant.

[PNGwynne]

Sometimes I think these newer productions are just trying too hard to be "new", thinking that edgier is somehow better.

I'm reminded of the execrable 2006 British tv version of Dracula. Starring David Suchet whom I usually enjoy, it focused on family drama and STDs over textual fidelity and vampirism. Awful.

I won't be wasting my time with this Christmas Carol.

[Hedji]

Patrick Stewart's version is often overlooked. It's a bit... 90s TNT, but still very good.

The most overlooked is Richard Williams' and Chuck Jones' animated version, which is just brilliant.

I have no need for what is described here. Thanks for the avoidance warning.

[powersthatbe]

any fans of Bill Murray's Scrooged? (which I've never seen; just thought of.)

[PNGwynne]

Andy, as always thanks for the referral--I was only famliar with the 1969 animated adaptation, which I saw many times as a child. It was my first exposure to Dicken's story.

[Nostalgiabuff]

any fans of Bill Murray's Scrooged? (which I've never seen; just thought of.)

love Scrooged. classic film.

[Spawn67]

I saw it randomly and thought it was dreadful. I see it as a modern take on a classic but doesn’t do it for me.
I then put on the George C Scott version which I like a lot.