12 Reviews of Christmas - The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

        Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, it's Christmas Eve, which means we're at the end of 12 Reviews of Christmas. And, of course, that means we'll be taking a look at yet another adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. And this year, we'll be looking at the version loved by most every 90's kid: 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol. 

          Now, of course the story of this movie is exactly the same as every other version of A Christmas Carol. So, in lieu of summarizing the plot, as we've done that already, let's talk about certain details that make this version stand out. Mostly the fact that many of the supporting cast are Muppets. With Kermit the Frog as Bob Crachit, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, Miss Piggy as Mrs. Crachit, and Gonzo providing narration as Charles Dickens. We also have Sam the Eagle as the Headmaster of Scrooge's childhood school, and Statler and Waldorf as brothers Jacob and Robert Marley. But what interests me the most is how the three spirits, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come are original designs exclusive to this particular Muppet film. 

           As for the live-action cast, the main focus is on Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. Caine is absolutely fantastic as Scrooge, and is honestly one of the best on-screen versions of the character. Heck, even to this day, Michael Caine sees it as one of the more fun projects he's been involved with. Other live-action cast members include the likes of Steven Mackintosh, Meredith Braun, and Robin Weaver, all of whom are really good in this movie. 

          The set design, however, is what I want to focus on here. The sets were designed to accommodate both humans and Muppets, designed in such a way as to make it seem like both live in this world equally. It really gives this movie a unique visual aesthetic. 

         Lastly, there's the music. The songs in this movie are definitely really good, with three of my favorite being "Marley & Marley,$ It Feels Like Christmas," and "Thankful Heart." Paul Williams, who also wrote the songs for The Muppet Movie years prior, definitely wrote some truly iconic songs for this movie. 

         Overall, The Muppet Christmas Carol is one of the more memorable adaptations of the Charles Dickens classic, and it's definitely one I happily watch every holiday season. I give the movie a rating of 5/5. Well, that'll wrap up this year's 12 Reviews of Christmas. Join me next Wednesday for my Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2021. Until then, this is Chuck signing off, and wishing you all a Merry Christmas. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review - The Thundermans Return (2024)

        Hey guys, Chuck here. Last night, I watched the new movie The Thundermans Return on Nickelodeon, and I have a few thoughts on it. For those who don't know what The Thundermans was, it was a Nickelodeon sitcom that ran from 2013 through 2018, and focused on a family of superheroes known as, well, the Thundermans. The show was okay, at least the episodes I happened to catch when it was on, but after seeing a lot of the advertising for this movie, I was genuinely tempted to check it out. So, here's my review of the new Nickelodeon movie The Thundermans Return.           So, the movie starts off with the Thunderman family, who since the end of the series have moved to the city of Metroburg, and are fighting crime as the superhero team the T-Force. And, something worth noting is that the family has aged in real time, so we see that Phoebe and Max are now adults, Nora and Billy are high schoolers, and Chloe is a middle schooler. Unfortunately, after a mission gone awry due to
Read more

Review - Ocean's Eleven (2001)

       Hey guys, Chuck here. Back in the 1960's, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and the rest of the Rat Pack teamed up and made a movie called Ocean's 11 , which told the story of a military veteran named Danny Ocean, who teams up with his fellow squad members to rob a number of casinos in Las Vegas. It was definitely a product of the time, and is actually a really fun movie. Seeing Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and the Rat Pack on screen together is just genuinely fun.        In 2001, producer Jerry Weintraub and director Steven Soderbergh would bring together a fantastic cast to tell a more modern version of the Rat Pack classic, and that's the movie we're talking about today. This is my review of the 2001 Steven Soderbergh film Ocean's Eleven starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts, along with the likes of Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, Eddie Jemison, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Elliot Gould, Carl Reiner, and
Read more

Review - Night at the Museum (2006-2014)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and after reviewing Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon, I needed something of a pallette cleanser. And, thus, I'm taking a look at the Night at the Museum trilogy, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ben Stiller, Rami Malek, Mizuo Peck, Ricky Gervais, Patrick Gallagher, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, and Robin Williams, with additional cast members throughout the series including the likes of Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Carla Gugino, Bill Cobbs, Charlie Murphy, Jake Cherry, Amy Adams, Bill Hader, Hank Azaria, Jon Bernthal, Christopher Guest, the Jonas Brothers, Dan Stevens, Skyler Gisondo, Rebel Wilson, and Ben Kingsley.          So, the first Night at the Museum was released in 2006, and focuses on struggling entrepreneur Larry Daley, who ends up getting a job as the new overnight security guard at the Museum of Natural History, taking over for the older guards Cecil, Reginald, and Gus. Larry also befriends one of the daytime staff, Rebecca, and has a few r
Read more