Scrooge Review

Another tradition here at our house is the annual viewing of the Dickens’ Christmas Carol movies.  There are several out there, and so far this year we’ve seen five of them.

First we watched one of the latest ones – the computer-animated motion capture version (similar to The Polar Express) from 2009 with Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge.  This was probably my least favorite of the movies.  I think I would have liked it better had it been done live and not by computer animation.  The actors involved also voiced several of the characters.  After a while they not only sounded the same, but the characters all looked the same to me. It received similar criticism from its reviewers – they liked the special effects but found it bizarre and would rather have seen live faces.

Next we watched an old favorite from 1970.  We call it the “singing Scrooge”.  It’s the musical version with Albert Finney. I was 11 when this movie was made, and I remember watching it with my Mom every year.  We both enjoyed it. Yes, it is rather silly, but the songs are catchy and you find yourself singing along or singing them out loud later. Albert Finney was only 34 when he played this part, and he is very believable as a crotchety old man. This is the only live action Scrooge to earn any Academy Award nominations – it received four. Finney did win a Golden Globe for the part. This is my personal favorite version.

We also saw one of Eric’s favorites – the 1984 made-for-television version with George C. Scott as Scrooge.  This is the only “fat” Scrooge.  Although Scott is a great actor, I had a hard time seeing a fatter man as a miser or someone who was stingy.  Scrooge didn’t seem to indulge at anything and certainly not with food.  Scott was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal. Edward Woodward’s portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Present is my favorite portrayal of that character, but then I always liked Edward Woodward. This version is classed as “the most beloved adaptation”.

Next up was another television film adaptation - Patrick Stewart’s version from 1999.  Stewart is also a great actor, but I have seen him as Captain Picard for so many years I kept waiting for him to say, “Engage”.  There was also something a little weird about that bald head sticking up out of a high-collared frock coat.  His clothing looked too fine to me.  Everything he wore looked expensive and brand new.  It didn’t fit the character.  Scrooge didn’t spend a lot of money, and he wore things until they wore out.  Everything Stewart had on looked like designer clothing. The part towards the end where he starts laughing was just weird.  He starts choking and gasping, and it turns out he’s just laughing. I am assuming he was trying to portray that Scrooge was out of practice with laughter.

The latest one we watched is Bill Murray’s 1988 Scrooged. This was a bizarre version and was the biggest departure from the real story line.  There is no Ebenezer Scrooge in his version although Murray is Scrooge-like.  There is no Tiny Tim although his secretary’s son is small and mute (instead of lame). I remember thinking it was funny when it was first out, but Murray was also at the height of his popularity in the 80’s.  It’s not quite as funny today; it’s just a little odd.

An interesting trivia fact – the actress who played Mrs. Dilber (Scrooge’s housekeeper) in the Patrick Stewart version was also Mrs. Dilber in the George C. Scott version.  This actress was Liz Smith. She also played Grandma Georgina in Charlie and Chocolate Factory in 2005.

There are more Scrooge movies out there, but I'm not sure I can get the boys to sit through any more of them this year!

SOURCES:

http://www.cedmagic.com/featured/christmas-carol/1999-xmas-thieves.html

http://www.cedmagic.com/featured/christmas-carol/1984-xmas-thieves.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol_(2009_film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066344/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol_(1984_film)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol_(1999_film)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrooged

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The Weather Channel says it’s 31 and feels like 27.  AccuWeather says it’s 33 and feels like 24.  It looks like it will be a white Christmas after all here in Rochester.  

My back yard this morning

The roads are mostly clear, but there are some icy spots on the side streets.  Eric, of course, found those with the Buick this morning when he did a “donut” in the parking lot beside his big truck when I dropped him off for work.  He heads out early Sunday morning and should be back sometime on Christmas Eve (tomorrow).

There were icy spots on the front steps and walk this morning, too, so I took care of those when I got back by spreading some salt around.  As I tossed salt out, beside me on the lawn, Seraphina sat happily munching on her Critter Crunch. The birds were happy, too. I put out some old hotdog rolls all crumbled up last evening.  This morning I put out some seed left over from our inside finch and lovebird.  Then I went out and added some wild birdfood to the feeders.  Everyone is busy filling their tummies as I write.

Seraphina Burying Food for Later

I love Winter, but it’s a hard life for little critters. I can’t imagine being a little bird or a squirrel and trying to stay warm in a storm. Some of my critters don’t seem to mind, though.  I have to practically beg Chase to come inside from the garage.  He loves to sit in the back doorway and watch the backyard birds through the screen.  I think he only comes in for the tooties (cat treats) he gets. 

Chase "working" the back door

So, as we wind on down to Christmas, stay warm, everyone.  Keep those you love close. Enjoy the snow, and don’t eat too many tooties.  

Twenty-three Years and Counting ...

Twenty-three years ago today I married my best friend.  We got married on November 11^th (11-11) because he had trouble remembering dates.  11-11 is kind-of hard to forget, and it’s also Veteran’s day.  I picked November because my parents were married in November and because I don’t like warm weather. I couldn’t see myself sweating in a wedding gown on a hot, humid day and I certainly didn’t want to pass out in the heat.

The day we wed in 1989 was cold, a little windy and rainy.  We went north for our honeymoon instead of some place exotic.  Neither one of us are sun-worshippers, nor could we afford a big trip.  The first night we spent in Niagara Falls and the rest of the week we spent in Toronto.  It snowed while we were in Toronto.  We had fun anyway, walking around and seeing the sights.  He had never been to some of the places we went, and I had fun showing him around the town.

Our first apartment was a two bedroom apartment at Norton Village.  We spent 4 years there, and we welcomed our first son, Matt in 1990.  We moved to our house in Gates when Matt was 3.  We moved because we wanted to grow our family, and we also did not want our son to attend Rochester City schools. We bought our house in North Gates in 1993. Our second son, Alex came along in 1995.

Our first "home" - 2139 Norton Street

Our house in Gates

We have had our trials and tribulations over the past 23 years.  We have lost parents and other loved ones.  We have dealt with ADHD, Autism, Diabetes, Celiac disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  We have dealt with job losses several times and the financial hardships that always followed.  We have lived with a long distance relationship for several years now and only see each other on weekends. We don’t see any end to the separation any time soon, but we also believe that has made our relationship stronger.

So Happy Anniversary, honey.  I can’t believe it’s been 23 years already.  I can’t say that every second of it has easy, but having you by my side has made the tough times easier to bear.  I feel we can get through anything together.

Oh, and Happy Veterans’ Day!

SOURCES:  http://www.toronto.ca/attractions/attraction_highlights.htm