A Christmas Carol
‘A Christmas Carol’ is a 3D animation film, written and
directed by Robert Zemeckis. It was originally published as a novella by
Charles Dickens with the same characters in the movie version.
Zemeckis used a process of motion capture, a technology he
had used to his previous films, ‘The Polar Express’ (2004) and Beowulf (2007).
The film revolves around Ebenezer Scrooge who was played by
Jim Carrey, a Golden Globe Award winner. Scrooge was a cold-hearted, alone, and
actually a lonely man who hates Christmas, even the mere idea and thought of
it. He despises Christmas, refuses to dine with his nephew and he won’t allow
his underpaid and loyal employee to have a break on holidays. On the Christmas Eve of 1843, he began to
feel something unusual on his home. The bells are clanking, his door is squeaking,
and there is an unusual sound on his mansion. And Alas! The ghost of Jacob
Marley visited him. Marley was a co-worker and same as Scrooge, he’s also an
odious and horrible man. He warned Scrooge that if he won’t change his ways, he
will suffer as Marley suffers at the present, or even worse than his condition.
Marley said that he will be visited by three ghosts.
Ghost of Christmas Past
The second ghost who came was the Christmas Ghost of Past. It
was a bizarre, childlike spirit with glowing fire on his head; the ghost was
possessed with a cone where he used to cover the fire on his head whenever he
feels like. The first spirit gave Scrooge the power to fly, and then in an
instant, they flew to a place where Scrooge is totally familiar with, the
countryside where he was bred. From there, it was shown the young Ebenezer; he
was alone on that Christmas Eve. And many Christmas eves the ghost had shown
him, from a little boy to a young man. In the past, he was cheerful and he
shared the same feeling of happiness as anyone else when holiday season came
in. But it came to the point where the woman he loved had gone tired with
Scrooge’s love for money and that’s the time she left. There he was leaved
behind with such pride and greed his wife cannot stand with. The scene was made
for better understanding of Scrooge’s personality and personal hatred for
Christmas.
The Christmas Ghost of Past symbolizes memory. The fire on
the spirit’s head represents the power of mind. The ghost showed the youthful
Ebenezer and his ability to love and to care for fellow human beings. The old
Scrooge watched himself from a jovial boy to a man who covetously embraced
money. From the way he reacted, he was disappointed and clearly he’s guilty.
Ghost of Christmas Present
The third who came was the spirit whose illustration was
similar to Christmas Father from local folklore. The ghost of Christmas Present
was huge and cheery, possessed of curly brown hair and he’s wearing a fur robe.
Scrooge noticed that he bears a scabbard
without a sword on it, and the spirit exclaimed that it was a depiction of peace
on Earth and good will toward men. The third spirit showed Scrooge how the people
around him cared for him. The scene showed his nephew, Fred, and how he wanted
his uncle to attend the Christmas Eve dinner, to which Scrooge refused. Next shown
was his employee, Bob Cratchit and how poor his family is. The scene centered
for Cratchit’s son, Tiny Tim, and his struggle for living even he’s crippled. The
family suffers from poverty due to little salary Scrooge had provided them. So there
Scrooge again, thwarted by his own greed.
The Ghost of Christmas Present was the central symbol of
Christmas. He depicted peace, goodwill, and generosity. It is an allegory that
Christmas is a time of sharing, no matter what you give; money, clothes, food.
Ghost of Christmas Future
Also known as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the last
spirit to haunt Scrooge. That ghost was the most terrifying spirit of all. The spirit
described as the Phantom, wearing black hooded robe and had a blood red eyes.
The fourth ghost was intended to be dark and mysterious for it represents
future, to which anyone is innocent with. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
showed Scrooge’s death, and how people laugh at him now that he’s dead. He asks
the fourth spirit to show him who was the people who really cared for him, but
to his dismay, there’s no one actually concerned. Instead, the ghost showed the family of
Crachit and how they mourn for Tiny Tim. Tim’s illness was incurable, and
Crachit’s income was not enough for his daily treatment, leading to his death. At
that point, Scrooge totally changed and swears to embrace the essence of
Christmas.
What are the moral lessons in the film?
Be generous. Money can’t buy happiness and it is the root of
all evil. So share it.
Learn from other people's mistakes.
And last but not the least, let go of the past. There’s a
chance it will destroy the future of your own and to others. It will not give
anything but harm.
To watch the trailer:
Sources:
Note: The pictures and videos are not mine. The production of the materials are made possible by Walt Disney Pictures.
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