Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte

Zunächst der größte (und der wahrscheinlich einzige grundsätzliche) Kritikpunkt: Robert Zemeckis hat die Freiheit der digitalen Welt, in der er sich nach Herzenslust austoben kann, für meinen Geschmack zu sehr genossen. Wegen des wilden Herumfliegens, das die Zuschauer*innen beeindrucken soll, geht in Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte manchmal die schöne Dickens-Stimmung verloren, die das größte Plus ist. Ja. Viele Szenen sind wirklich total stimmungsvoll (der Besuch von Marleys Geist, die Erinnerungen an Scrooges Kindheit, der dritte Geist) und manche ausgesprochen horrormäßig. Die Animation wirkt deutlich besser und lebendiger als in Die Legende von Beowulf (eine so perfekte Illusion der Realität wie z. B. in Die Abenteuer von Tim und Struppi - Das Geheimnis der 'Einhorn' ist es aber natürlich nicht), Ebenezer Scrooge ist dank der Mimik von Jim Carey, der ausgezeichnet spielt, eine dramatische und glaubhafte Figur, die manchmal abstoßend und manchmal wiederum rührend ist und unmittelbar danach unterhaltsam schimpft… Das alles, die vernünftige Laufzeit und Silvestris Musik haben dazu beigetragen, dass Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte eine der besten Versionen der schönen klassischen Geschichte ist. Ihr Vorteil besteht darin, dass sie klassisch ist. Niemand regt sich also darüber auf, wie einfach und vorhersehbar sie ist. Das wäre doch schade. (17.12.2011)

This is a typical example that money and technology in the world of film don't mean everything. Zemeckis was enchanted by the special effects options and especially the technology of 3D filmmaking, so he paid more attention to bombastic visual effects than to the characters and story, and the touching Christmas story turned into a jet ride over the rooftops of Victorian London. There is a substantially more civilized, less elaborate, but emotionally stronger version called A Christmas Carol, which captures Dickens' original better. This film is more enjoyable for viewers who prefer an action-packed and popcorn-style film. The casting of Jim Carrey, moreover, with excessive makeup, shifted Zemeckis' version much closer to comedy than Dickens ever intended. Overall impression: 60%. (31.12.2012)

I watched A Christmas Carol once in the summer and the second time at Christmas. Already back then I said that the spirit of Christmas could work wonders for the film, and after watching the film during Christmas time, I have to apologize to all the Christmas films that I didn’t see at Christmas, because I must have been unfair to them. Just like it happened with this movie. It is not ordinary, quite the opposite. It’s scary, perhaps even scarier for children than the last Harry Potter, but as a result it dishes out a big lesson that each of us should remember at least during the Christmas holidays, when the spirit of Christmas is most intense. (24.12.2012)

Zemeckis may no longer be revolutionizing the film world overnight, but at this pace, I may find a new favorite genre in his animated tribute. While Beowulf was so intoxicated by its grandeur that it forgot about the viewer, there is no such risk with Ebenezer. Perhaps it is the unstoppable Jim Carrey, the improved longevity of the characters, or the captivating third-dimensional effect, but the three spirits have unexpectedly brought me a strong Christmas-winter magic, which was last achieved perhaps only six years earlier with Love Actually. (11.12.2009)

At first, it has the most Dickensian atmosphere I have ever encountered on screen. It is therefore a crying shame that ultimately the whole thing falls flat from lack of atmosphere. Because of all the running around, the atmosphere gradually disappears until it vanishes completely. Where the original leaves the right Christmas mood in the reader even long after reading, Zemeckis merely leaves excellent impressions of the almost unreal fidelity to the illustrations in the original edition and perhaps even better impressions as they are “pulled" into three dimensions. There’s just no trace of Christmas spirit. Unlike the original, this will not become a Christmas classic beloved by many generations, but hopefully it will make at least one Christmas more pleasant for you. Assuming you have a 3-D IMAX in your area. (23.11.2009)