Almost picture perfect

A Christmas Carol (PG)
Dir: Robert Zemeckis
Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth
Running time: 96 minutes

THE NEW version of A Christmas Carol introduces another generation to this classic tale in brilliant style.

Robert Zemeckis' production may use the modern wonders of 3D animation but remains largely faithful to the original text with much of the script unaltered.

Arguably, Charles Dickens' wonderfully descriptive writing style leaves little room for deviation but Zemeckis still deserves credit for keeping traditionalists like me happy.

Jim Carrey provides the voice of miser Ebenezer Scrooge with a good understanding of the required tone.

At first, Scrooge is an unsympathetic old man who refuses to celebrate Christmas.

He suggests that the poor should live in prisons or workhouses, or better still, they should die to decrease the surplus population of the world.

But, as the film progresses, Scrooge is shown to be vulnerable too and he wishes to repent well before the visit of the final ghost, The Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come.

Carrey is ably supported by Gary Oldman who voices humble clerk Bob Crachett to a tee, as well as the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's former partner who has been dead for seven years.

Marley promises that three spirits will visit Scrooge in an attempt to show him the error of his miserly ways.

The visits of the three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, form the basis of the main part of the film.

The three ghosts, each played by Carrey, are all excellent representations of Dickens' descriptions.

The Ghost of Christmas Past is a flickering candle flame who uses a metal cap used to extinguish himself once his visit is over.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is a large Santa Claus figure, a jolly giant in a fur-lined robe, who makes his first appearance atop a Christmas tree.

And the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, is a cloaked phantom, similar to the Grim Reaper, with a bony hand and fingers which point the way.

Unfortunately, the film threatens to drift just as it should be reaching its climax.

A miniature Scrooge with an unfathomably squeaky voice is chased through London by the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come on horseback.

The scene seemed to serve little purpose other than to show off the new 3D technology.

This is despite the fact that the 3D effects had already been successfully included during the course of the film - and with far more subtlety.

Snow appears to fall inches from your face throughout while the flying scenes around London with the other ghosts make for a thrilling experience unless you are easily travel sick.

Thankfully, once the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come's chase is over, the plot gets back on track with a fright at the famous graveyard scene.

Scrooge wakes up the next day and repents, promising in particular to help his clerk Bob Crachett and his ill son, Tiny Tim.

But, except for one rather unnecessary scene, there is gladly no need for an apology from the makers of this fine production.