A Christmas Carol

As Christmas fast-approaches (or slow-approaches...I can't believe how long December days can feel while waiting for Santa!!), I find myself immersed in holiday movies and TV specials. Before last night, I had already watched Elf, Home Alone, Four Christmases, and part of "The Grinch". (I know. It's only half-an-hour long, with commercials, and I still fell asleep before it was over. Pathetic!)

I thought I was well on my way. Until I started counting the shows and movies I still have to watch. Still on the to-do list are:

• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
• The Family Stone
• Its a Wonderful Life
• Miracle on 34th Street
• Eight Crazy Nights
• The Santa Clause
• and all my fave tv shows, such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman", "Shrek the Halls", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "A Charlie Brown Christmas", "Mickey's Christmas Carol", "A Garfield Christmas"

...and I should probably watch "The Grinch" again since I missed most of it the first time!

But there's one story that always seems to be told, in many different ways, around this time of year. And that is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol is the beloved story that tells the tale of the cruel and miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge, who is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley. Marley informs Scrooge that before morning, he will be visited by three spirits. Sure enough, throughout the night, Scrooge is shown scenes from his past, present, and future by three different spirits, and sees that if he continues in the way he has conducted his life thus far, he will end up dying all alone. By morning, Scrooge has a new outlook on life, and he shocks his family, friends, neighbours, and especially his employee, Bob Cratchit, with a new cheery, generous attitude.

A quick Google Search of A Christmas Carol brings up many different adaptations over the years, in literature, theatre, film, and television. I'm sure we all have our favourites. My own personal favourite is "Mickey's Christmas Carol", when the Disney gang, including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and of course, Scrooge McDuck, join together to create an animated version of the story.

I know a few people around here who are big fans of the Muppets' take on the classic story.

Last night, I finally got a chance to sit down with Luke & Amanda and watch the most recent version released, which my friend Sara let me borrow. Another adaptation by Disney, starring Jim Carrey in a life-like animation of the story, which was just released last year.

It was wonderful! I can only begin to imagine how much more thrilling it would have been to see in theatres last year in 3D. But since I usually only watch the Mickey version of the story, I was surprised at how scary it could be! I jumped - more than once. The spirits are...well, they're kind of creepy. Especially the ghost of Marley. I think that scene might have been better suited in a Halloween movie!

But overall? I loved it. It has instantly become one of my favourites. I recommend it - but just not for young children.

What's your favourite version of A Christmas Carol? Is there one particular show or movie that you make sure to view every year?