Disney Releases First Still Image From 'A Christmas Carol'

[disneytim]

Clearly trying to stir up interest in a story that's been filmed a bajillion times before, Disney has officially released one--and only one--still image from the upcoming "A Christmas Carol," featuring a performance captured Jim Carrey as Scrooge.

The official word from Disney:

JIM CARREY stars as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL, a multi-sensory film re-envisioned by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis. Capturing the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking 3D motion picture event, DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL opens in theaters around the world in November 2009. Early footage from the film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2009.

[ALIASd]

It's Christmas in Cannes as Disney previews 'Carol'

Carrey is awed by the digital process, saying it frees filmmakers from the constraints of physical reality — and combines science and art. "It's like the left and right hemispheres (of the brain) coming together in an explosion," he says.

Viewers were wowed. Bob Tourtellotte, entertainment editor for Reuters, says the film was "heads and tails above what Zemeckis had done before in terms of photo realism. It's not perfectly real, but it's getting there."

full story at:
It's Christmas in Cannes as Disney previews 'Carol' - USATODAY.com

[disneytim]

Publicity shots from the Carlton Hotel in Cannes:

"Christmas Carol" stars Jim Carrey, Robin Wright Penn and Colin Firth


Carrey with his significant other, Jenny McCarthy


Producer Jack Rapke, director Robert Zemeckis, Wright Penn, Carrey, producer Steve Starkey and Firth

[Dustysage]

I've got to admit that the publicity for this film actually has me interested. The train tour thing is clever and they are starting their blitz well before the Christmas season. But I think that is will work for them.

I just hope Jim Carrey doesn't screw up the film the way he did with A Series of Unfortunate Events

[daragez]

that's nice!...looks interesting!...

[sailerm]

I hope they have figured out how to not give them dead eyes. It creeped me out in Beauwolf and Polar Express

[Chernabog]

I think that noise you hear is a collective yawn from the moviegoing public. Do we really need ANOTHER remake of this moldy old story?

And Jim Carrey has f***ed up every movie he's been in. With the exception of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, where he was moderately tolerable.

[MarkTwain]

This actually looks really great! This movie sounds like a good fit for Jim Carrey.

[Wendygirl]

I may go see it just for Colin Firth!

[disneytim]

I've got to admit that the publicity for this film actually has me interested.

That's actually what has me concerned. This much arm-waving for a holiday release, this early? We're not talking Harry Potter or Batman here, were talking a 166-year old Dickens story that's been adapted for stage, screen and television countless times. Even Disney's done it before as a Mickey Mouse cartoon. All this splashy buildup with Cannes photo-ops and cross country trains feels more like empty hype for a shopworn story than publicity for an innovative theater experience. As much as I love the story, "A Christmas Carol" has been done to death. There's nothing new you can show me.

Not that Robert Zemeckis isn't going to try. "Christmas Carol's" performance capture animation is supposed to be a quantum leap from "Polar Express," but that's just it. The buzz is all about how fantastic the film looks, not how heartwarming the tale is. Compare that to how Pixar promotes its films. As beautiful and technically dazzling as they are, they're always about story first. That's where "Christmas Carol" may be in trouble. Zemeckis is a talented technical director, but not a particularly gifted storyteller. When his films emphasize visual effects, the stories almost always suffer for it (See: "Forrest Gump," "Polar Express," and, yes, "Roger Rabbit").

I want to believe Disney is really on to something by how enthusiastically they're getting behind "Christmas Carol." I'm more inclined to think that the emperor--in this case, Scrooge--has no clothes. We'll see.

[sailerm]

Given that most treatments seem to miss the point of the story, an allegory for repentance, all versions suffer at the hands of the Alistair Sims version, of all the versions I've seen, Alistair Sims, is the only performance that shows a true conversion from empty hearted miser to a warm and compassionate individual.

It's a tough act to follow, Sims version came out in 1951

[disneytim]

The correct name of the actor who played Scrooge is Alastair Sim.

Coverage of today's "Train Tour" press event in Los Angeles:

http://micechat.com/forums/industry-...post1055349876

[ALIASd]

The studio is hosting some Christmas in June private sneak previews of some of the film's footage next week. Very interested in seeing more, the train tour stop was a nice starter, but this will be in 3D in an IMAX theatre. More to follow.

[Disneymike]

My wife and I went to see the Disney train today in Sacramento. The train itself is pretty much what you would expect from Disney. As you enter the train you see pre-production art as well as portraits of Jim Carrey as Scrooge at different times in his life. The second car contains some maquettes of Jim Carrey and Gary Oldman (who plays Bob Cratchit) as well as some models of buildings used for the movie. The next car is set up like the motion capture sound stage they used with motion capture cameras all over the place. Next car has TONS of workstations where you can take your picture and morph it into one of the characters from the movie. The last car is set up as a dinner setting complete with animated fireplace. What is really cool is behind the dinner setting which is a fully animated snowing street scene in the victorian era - picture opp!!! Then you are sent to a temporary theater where you get to see scenes from the movie. The 3D is spectacular and the characters motion and facial features are pretty incredible. I am looking forward to the movie coming out in Nov. If you get the chance to check out the train by all means do so - I was very impressed.

[ALIASd]

The studio is hosting some Christmas in June private sneak previews of some of the film's footage next week. Very interested in seeing more, the train tour stop was a nice starter, but this will be in 3D in an IMAX theatre. More to follow.

Yesterday afternoon I attended the sneak preview event at the AMC IMAX theatre at Universal CityWalk of scenes from 'A Christmas Carol'. There was a fun Christmas in June spread of holiday treats including hot apple cider, hot chocolate, green and red sugar cookies, warm caramel corn, brownies, and fresh sliced apples for dipping in warm caramel. Plus Christmas carols playing and a tiny holiday tree. Perfect pre-IMAX fare!

We were shown full scenes the first featuring Jim Carrey as Scrooge, Colin Firth as his nephew and Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit in Scrooge's office. Another was the momentous meeting between Scrooge and the first ghost of the evening, his former business partner, Jacob Marley. The presentation concluded with a montage of scenes from various points in the film and finally the premiere of the film's teaser trailer, it'll be attached to the new 'Ice Age' 3D sequel that hits theatres on July 1st.

First things first, yes the motion capture is better and more real-seeming than in Robert Zemeckis' previous works including 'Beowulf: An IMAX 3D Experience' and 'The Polar Express'. Even more humanity is visible through and in the performances, even while the actual physical bodies of the actors are altered for size and aging. The ghost images are very impressive (particularly Marley, as Bob Z. couldn't help but throw a little of his old 'Tales From The Crypt' horror/humor into him) as are the stunts which the medium now thrusts into the eye-popping wonder range. The story does lend itself to the 3D technology quite impressively well.