I posted the last of my Scrooge month reviews a few hours ago with the review of The Muppets Christmas Carol.  And I just wanted to share with all of you what a wonderful experience it has been.  Have I seen a few clunkers?  Yes, but not many and even less successful adaptations still had parts I liked (only 2 I really hated).

I think it says something to the power of what Charles Dickens created that I could watch the same story 30 times and still get choked up today on watch 30.  There’s a reason it was a massive hit in Victorian England and has never gone out of print.  There is a reason it turned Christmas into the holiday it now is . There is a reason it has been tackled by everyone from Mickey to Alistair Sim.  I believe the reason is it is a story about hope.  We all want to believe in the goodness of our fellow humans but sometimes it can seem hard to see.  Christmas Carol tells us that even the worst have hope and the ability to change.

Being a Christian I love the idea of conversion, which comes with recognizing hope, but even if you do not believe in Christ the desire to change within ourselves is sometimes hard to find. It can feel overwhelming when hate and bitterness overtake our souls, and we cannot forgive others for hurts that feel Goliath in size. There is something about Scrooge’s story that gives us hope that we can change even if others seemingly cannot.

In a world that grows increasingly cynical by the moment it has been heartening to spend this Christmas season focused on hope and I thank you all for allowing me to prattle on and read my silly thoughts.  It means a lot to me and has been a wonderful holiday I will always treasure.

It has also been a ton of fun.  In some ways it’s like a whole classroom was given the same writing exercise and in the end produced wildly different responses.  I’ve had the chance to review franchises I was not as familiar with like Flintstones, Barbie, Smurfs, Looney Tunes and even the BlackAdder. I had the wonderful adventure of exploring silent films, something I do not do nearly enough.  I watched cheesy made for TV movies and giggled at the hokiness and camp value.  And I rediscovered versions like Patrick Stewart and the Disney version were even better than I remembered.   After spending November writing a novel it has been a wonderful experience to see so many takes on someone else’s creation.

So people will probably want to know what are my favorites? (I’ve grown weary of late of making lists). Honestly I don’t have a favorite.  Alistair Sim 1951 is probably the most well made and acted, but they all have their own unique appeal.  So I would just challenge you to look at the reviews themselves and see what strikes your fancy.  Aside from Ghost of Girlfriends Past and All Dogs Go to Heaven Christmas Carol, you’ll have a good time at the movies and be reminded of the hope of Christmas.

And like Tiny Tim says God Bless Us Everyone!  Merry Christmas Friends!

Make sure to check out the Index for links to all the reviews