MOVIE PREMIERE: There are plenty of noteworthy TV adaptations of Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol, from the straightforward telemovie version starring George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge to the animated musical
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. (And there’s also what may be the most imaginative take of all:
Blackadder’s Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge starts out generous and friendly, but is so annoyed by his ghostly visitations that he wakes up on Christmas morning all cranky and humbuggy.) This new FX version is in a different league entirely, and it has to be stressed that it is
not a family-friendly version. This one, from the minds behind
Peaky Blinders and starring Guy Pearce as Scrooge, is sprinkled with F-bombs, and tales of abuse, and the first ghostly appearance doesn’t happen for about an hour. So watch to compare, if you'd like – but don‘t invite the kids along. For full reviews, see
Ed Bark's Uncle Barky's Bytes and
David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.