ellen diamond

I have to admit I was 3/4 of the way through the movie before I finally realized it was Jane Fonda playing Claire! I knew the voice but just couldn't see her -- until I did. Given a script with no emphasis on character development, her unwavering consistency and commitment to the part gave the movie its heart, in my opinion. To enjoy it, you must suspend belief and just go with the flow, right up to to the utterly phony-looking body hit by the car at the end. Lily Tomlin, who is not an actress, that is you always know you're watching Lily Tomlin, was a bit stilted but she's such fun to watch and such a born comedian that whatever she didn't quite pull off the audience happily filled in. They are both pros in their own fields, and that in itself is a joy to watch, capped off by the wonderful Malcolm McDowell.

This is the 2nd time I've watched this movie. it's hard to say why it keeps me so engrossed, but for one, the acting is superb. The often neglected, always wonderful William Daniels really shows his stuff as John Adams, and Howard DaSilva is amazing as Ben Franklin. And they all sing really well! And the songs are really good, except towards the end not so much. Another thing--you know how it ends, so you don't have to be worrying the whole time about that. I would just say see it and judge for yourself. No animals are injured, no blood ... though there's a beautiful song about the War of Independence sung by a soldier to his mother ...

I really liked the way this movie is enough like the Christmas Carol we are used to so I didn't have to worry about following the plot! Instead I could focus on the seriousness of the theme: can someone really be helped to change his/her basic outlook on life? Because Dickens himself had good reason to be familiar with the realities of the seamy side of people and life, there's an undeniable authenticity to the story. The acting was great: Guy Pearce does evil so well one has no idea if he'll make it through to the other side" in this version! Yet the movie is not a horror film in any way, and there are sci-fi aspects and some quite amazing surprises where the plot line suddenly veers off from the familiar that kept my interest. I'm not sure the "old" story version will hold my attention in the future, having seen this production! I recommend it and agree it's not for children!

A lovely movie ... just credible because of wonderful acting by a troupe of absolute pros! And for the Christmas spirit, it ends on an upbeat note. Grinches won't like it ... everyone else will.