I have to express a bit of disappointment in the new Patrick Stewart version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." While the story holds up fairly well, I got the feeling Stewart (who is one of my favorite personalities and actors) was trying too hard to come up with a different kind of Scrooge--one that would put his signature on the role. In the process, he looks very uncomfortable. His words seem strained and his interaction with the other characters, unnatural.
For one thing, he is so fit, so athletic looking. I don't necessarily need a doddering old Scrooge, but he should have some vulnerability to him. His emotions are too controlled--he exposes no melancholy--he doesn't have the sad, pleading eyes of Alastair Sim. I guess I never really felt sympathy for him, especially in the scenes where he sees his sister and his one time love. Somehow the Cratchett family also suffers a lack of depth. Tiny Tim's death doesn't have the usual impact. The scenes after Scrooge's death are much less horrifying than in other movies. I generally choke up at the scene where Scrooge shows up at his nephew's house and ask for forgiveness. I didn't this time. All in all, if you have a choice, go with Sim or George C. Scott. The movie is nice to look at but needs more soul. Even a bit of nastiness would have helped.
For one thing, he is so fit, so athletic looking. I don't necessarily need a doddering old Scrooge, but he should have some vulnerability to him. His emotions are too controlled--he exposes no melancholy--he doesn't have the sad, pleading eyes of Alastair Sim. I guess I never really felt sympathy for him, especially in the scenes where he sees his sister and his one time love. Somehow the Cratchett family also suffers a lack of depth. Tiny Tim's death doesn't have the usual impact. The scenes after Scrooge's death are much less horrifying than in other movies. I generally choke up at the scene where Scrooge shows up at his nephew's house and ask for forgiveness. I didn't this time. All in all, if you have a choice, go with Sim or George C. Scott. The movie is nice to look at but needs more soul. Even a bit of nastiness would have helped.