Bah, Humbug. It's Too Early For 'A Christmas Carol'!

Posted Nov 3rd 2009 12:45PM by Elisabeth Rappe

We've all lamented the way that Christmas decorations, candies, and wrapping paper start appearing on store shelves between fake pumpkins and cheesecloth ghosts. In some stores, the Christmas stuff appears as early as July or August. But when it comes to our local multiplex, we're generally safe from holly and plum pudding until it's actually cold outside. Not this year.

Being entertainment fiends, I'm sure that the last week found most of you were tuning into AMC, IFC, and other assorted channels to check out their horror selections. You were also undoubtedly watching your favorite television shows, football teams, and following the World Series. I'll bet that you saw the tv spots for A Christmas Carol around ten times a day. Possibly more than that given all the games. Did you feel a cold chill run down your spine?

I did, and it wasn't caused by a pocky Jim Carrey or the possibility of Robert Zemeckis' mo-cap dead eyes. It was the fact that my jack o'lantern was flickering on my kitchen counter, bell jars of bones were decorating the top of my television, and Shadow of the Vampire was beckoning from my DVR. It was Halloween weekend. Even after October ticked down to its last gasp and we fell back, it was still autumn. It's harvest time. It's heartwrenching drama time, the real start of the Oscar race. It's time for The Road, The Men Who Stare At Goats and the Coens. It is not Christmastime. I don't care what the Three Spirits try to tell me, or whether Tiny Tim wants God to bless us, every one. I'm not going to listen until December 1. Perhaps I'll miss a great 3D thrill ride and the velvet voice of Colin Firth, but I'm not ready for snow and Dickensian morality just yet. Are you?

Tags: A Christmas Carol, AChristmasCarol, charles dickens, CharlesDickens, Colin Firth, ColinFirth, Disney, Disneys A Christmas Carol, DisneysAChristmasCarol, jim carrey, JimCarrey, Robert Zemeckis, RobertZemeckis

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-03-2009 @ 1:21PM

Andy said...

Yeah...is it that time for Christmas Zombies yet AGAIN?!?!

Not to mention, is there ANY other storyline that has been done more? I seriously would bet not. From Duck Tales to Scrooged, this story has been just beaten absolutely to death.

It's like a song you liked at one time, but have heard it so many times you can't stand hearing it anymore.

11-03-2009 @ 1:59PM

eric said...

So, another year, another hideously ugly Zemeckis CG journey into the uncanny valley. Yawn. But I was at least tempted by the fantasy element of "Beowulf", so I should thank him for featuring an actor I can't stand in a story I'm completely familiar with--and bored of.

I'd like to know how much it cost to recreate Carrey's "Lemony Snicket" look digitally.

11-03-2009 @ 2:01PM

Michael Byng said...

Yes, you Scrooge.

11-03-2009 @ 2:20PM

Astin said...

Yup, too early for it. Although the creepy mo-cap look works well for Halloween time.

At least they seem to acknowledge that it's far too early in the commercials. Something along the lines of "Are you ready for Christmas? Neither is Scrooge..."

11-03-2009 @ 2:46PM

filmsuki said...

To make it worse it's in 3D, and you know what that means: sacrifice story for rollercoaster ride sequences. :\

11-03-2009 @ 3:12PM

Joe said...

Elf came out on Nov. 7th, 2003 and how can we forget the holiday classic Surviving Christmas which came out Oct 22, 2004 NINE days before Halloween.

So it's not unusual for a Christmas movie to come out so early

11-03-2009 @ 4:05PM

Devon said...

Christmas: the earlier the insanity starts, the better!! Is early October a bit too early to start with the "Christmas Carol" promos? Yes. Do I mind? Not a bit! As a Christmasoholic, the longer the holiday season lasts the happier I'm likely to be.

11-03-2009 @ 4:26PM

Jeremy said...

Wholeheartedly agree! Really looking forward to the movie, and I ain't no Scrooge -- I love Christmas -- but can't imagine watching this before Thanksgiving let alone Nov. 6. Is this going to be in theaters for 2 months?? It'll have to be for me to see it. Good post here, I'm with you all the way from the old school horror movies on TMC, World Series fever and harvest time that rings in the drama heavyweights.. Not Christmas yet! Everything in due time...

11-03-2009 @ 10:23PM

Julie said...

Here's a giant Bah Humbug and just plain BLECH! I LOVE Christmas. I LOVE A Christmas Carol. But, it has been done to death (and now to stone DEAD), with this latest adaptation. I am so sick of this CG technique I could scream Dickens! I like your description of a "pocky Jim Carrey BTW).

11-03-2009 @ 10:25PM

The Mutt said...

I was in a Rite Aid yesterday. They were taking down their aisle of Halloween stuff and putting up the Christmas stuff.

Whatever happened to Thanksgiving?

11-04-2009 @ 12:20AM

cablebfg said...

What do they sell on Thanksgiving, besides turkeys? When you find that answer, then you shall be blessed with the knowledge you seek.

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