On first watch it's definitely dark and unsettling but as Scrooge himself says ' it explains him' and subsequent viewing has (for me) made this the best and most watchable version of the story. It's not perfect but is VERY highly recommended.

Why not just add story lines that Dickens never intended to create possibilities of what made Scrooge, well Scrooge? So disappointed that a fine actor like Guy Pearce would take on this dark alternative interpretation. Too much artistic license.

A darker version of a great story. Deep, venomous, and dynamic story telling gives this version a muddy but enjoyable feeling. Not everyone's cup of christmas cheer but a darker richer adaptation of a evolution of Ebenezer Scrooge. I truly enjoyed this version.

I understand if you're expecting the usual unicorn and glitter Christmas classic , that you most likely didn't care for this adaptation. We don't like to see truth. This version is outstanding ! If it doesn't pierce your heart or make you take stock in how we treat one another …….I guess nothing will! Incredible ! Well done !

A new way to tell my favorite christmas story. Eventhough its quite a bit darker than the original, this might be my new favorite

Amazing telling of an old classic. Acting was beyond words. Love, love, loved it!

The director of this movie needs to go to therapy. Because he has a twisted soul. There are plenty of negative reviews to showcase a more vulgar adaptation of this movie hasn't existed , and maybe I don't even need to add my two cents. But this movie upset me so much I just felt like I had to warn people, Do Not Watch this abomination of Dickens's great book. Andy Serkis is a great actor and I'm not going to trash his performance. The acting, the music, the darker nature is not what kills this movie. It is the complete ruination of redemption that was the whole damn point of Dickens book! I've never seen an adaptation completely destroy and gut the entire goal of the plot. Not only do they unnecessarily throw foul, filthy moments in there that don't really belong in a Christmas film, Ebenezer Scrooge a thorough scumbag and a rapist, they deny even the chance of him trying to undo the damage. There's no joy in this world, no hope, Fezziwig and every bright moment in Scrooge's life is removed. Your left wondering what is wrong with the director that he thought this was a movie we needed to see. Especially in a world where we need some Joy. Fans of the Christmas classic need to stay away from this one butchered filth.

I'll admit one of my weaknesses during the season is the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge... Even if it seems bosses/supervisors today have forgotten the message of the story. "Profits over people," is the message of the day... but, Rather than make this a post about the cautionary tale we've seen SO many times, yet haven't learned from, I'll stick to the review... THIS IS NOT the family-friendly tale that you know. One minor change to the story created a significant impact on the tone, maybe for the worst. Admittedly, I can appreciate any project primarily focused on digging a little deeper into the charm of the Victorian-era, choosing to showcase the desolate nature of the common man, to which the desaturated, heavily vignetted imagery lends itself perfectly. The project is merely dripping with atmosphere, with a moody score and pitch perfect acting, it truly conveys a man haunted by his past decisions, consistently framing him in cold, isolated locales. Interesting take...

I really enjoyed this dark retelling, however dark it was, it really shone a light onto why Scrooge is the way he is, why he has such a distain for Christmas and people, like no other retelling I've seen. It was a complex and intriguing watch

A bold, challenging, inspiring retelling of the famous Dickens tale. This version rewards adult viewers with full three-dimensional characters and a script that explores the backgrounds and motivations of characters that render them relatable adults who happily exceed predictions and expectations. This quality of the movie is also what seems to put people off; it dares to veer from the usual. However, it does so with wisdom, insight, and faithfulness to the spirit of Dickens' original. This film recalls the alarm, the spookiness, the moral and intellectual challenge that Dickens' tale presented its Victorian origins. These have been lost to contemporary audiences in the many pleasantly predictable iterations of the Carol. Nothing wrong there, no criticism. It is just to point out that this version is purposely different. And wonderfully so. It drew my tears and my cheers, sure enough, and it did so be surprising me as the most intellectually satisfying presentation of the story I've ever found. Taken on its own, as based upon but not representing Dickens' tale, this movie soars. It is a cinematic novel based on the Dickens novella. Leave your demands and expectations aside. Just because the title is familiar, know that this movie is thoroughly original. It's a great movie.

While Stuart Brennan is great in his portrayal of Scrooge, I found that this rendition of Dicken's classic tale dragged a lot towards the end. The ending they DID come up with, though we generally know what happens, is quite bizarre in it's execution.

Personally, I welcome the far harsher tone this adaptation has and Guy Pearce turns in a career-highlight performance yet the second half of this 3 hour character study struggles landing the iconic character arc we've all seen 100 times.

I think it's content is profoundly true to gospel pinions of humanity and the evolution of our selves, soul in heart and mind. Choices in production values powerfully, dare I say beautifully, reflects the story that is told. I can perfectly enjoy my cultural mulled wine while watching it a second and third time to give me a tastiest and fatter Christmas feast. Contrary to most reviews and ratings, I know. I disagree with them. That said, may I add good wishes for blessings of the season to you all.

Dickens Christmas Carol was one of my favorite stories as a child. A story of redemption of a man bent on greed. It was dark, morose, and nothing of the original story told by Dickens. . It used language that was not used at the time for the sake of just having obsenities. It wasn't needed to tell the story, nor was the hint to child molestation and the twisted humiliation of Mrs. Cratchett. You couldn't have perverted the story much more. I felt it was a waste of time to watch and a depressing sad reflection of the mind of the director. I give it two thumbs down and I ask for the three hours of my life back.

I watched this with such high expectations when it premiered and, like most of the reviewers here, was seriously underwhelmed and disappointed. I just rewatched it as part of my annual "A Christmas Carol" marathon and, I have to say, it's not quite as bad on a 2nd viewing. I think I can confidently blame this production's issues on the fact that, at 3 hours, it's just TOO LONG (reminder that the source book is only about 100 pages in length). In comparison, the 1951 film version which is often ranked as the best (and is my favorite) runs a mere 90min in length. Another case in point is the 1970 musical version which uses song-n-dance numbers to stretch it to 2hrs, some of which get a bit repetitious (and boring imo). SPOILERS AHEAD: There were a handful of strong scenes that made me take notice on my first viewing -- his sister rescuing him from the abusive school, Mrs. Cratchit screaming "get out of my house," the ceiling turning into the ice pond, and his "spare that child's life" moment of redemption. These scenes still impressed me on my 2nd watch but, unfortunately, due to the lengthy runtime these scenes aren't enough to carry the rest of the film. And had this been a 2hr or even 90min film we probably wouldn't have been so darned bored to the point where we were distracted by its many flaws like the abrupt and, thus, unsatisfying conclusion. So, I'm bumping my rating up from one star to three, still not on my list of holiday favorites, but perhaps worthy of revisiting when you want a break from all the other usual holiday film marathons.

Love the creepy, dark tone to this telling of A Christmas Carol. It feels like a true ghost story. The cast is uniformly excellent, particularly Guy Pearce as Ebenezer Scrooge, Andy Serkis as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Vinette Robinson as Mary Cratchit.

Set in Scotland. As my UK wife states ''they are cheap.' Not one of the better modern ones.

Any Joy by the end of the traditional story is missing from dreary exercise of a movie. There is little of real redemption here, and the spirits are unconvincing as serious otherworldly entities. Scrooge is certainly unlikable, but his revealed childhood abuse and hand wringing over changing had me rolling my eyes. they even threw in Cratchit‘s wife being a summoner of spirits. A witch? I wish I had my 2+ hours back.

The best way to describe it is: your creepy unemployed cousin who wears all black to Christmas dinner and pretends to like absinthe and Nietzsche probably thinks it's great.

I've checked the reviews after I had watched the series and I couldn't believe that it has such a poor rating. TBH I haven't watched it during Christmas time and I agree that it's something not to keep your Christmas mood high, but I absolutely love the different approach, the rawness, the psychological and brutal analyze of the main character. It made me think, it made my eyes sweat a little. The only thing I don't like is the very ending.