"Ten Versions of 'A Christmas Carol' That Fell Short of the Traditional Spirit"
In the two centuries since Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol was first published, the classic tale has been adapted over 300 times. While many adaptations have been well-received, some have faced criticism for various reasons.
One of the most notably criticized adaptations is the 2008 direct-to-video film, Barbie in "A Christmas Carol". This version, featuring the iconic doll as Ebenezer Scrooge, was described as disappointing, childish, and poorly executed. Critics noted that it lacked the drama and spirit of the original story, with poor humor and a lack of a true plot. The adaptation was criticized for diverging significantly from Dickens's narrative in unconvincing ways [1].
Other adaptations, while popular or recent, have not been singled out as heavily criticized in the data we've reviewed. For example, the 2012 Hallmark movie It's Christmas, Carol! follows a workaholic CEO named Carol and features a single ghost playing all three roles of Christmas Past, Present, and Future due to "budget cuts in the afterlife."
The 1988 movie Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, was criticized for being too "mean-spirited" and lacking heart. The movie Ms. Scrooge portrays Scrooge as abusing her employees, which was criticized as unnecessary. The 2001 film "Christmas Carol: The Movie" changes the character of Bob Cratchit and the ending, which were not well-received by critics.
In the 1997 made-for-TV movie Ms. Scrooge, the elderly miser Ebenita Scrooge is set in modern-day Providence, Rhode Island, but specific plot details are not provided. The 2012 movie "Scrooge and Marley" is a gay love story adaptation, focusing on the tragic love story between the characters Ben and Bill.
The 1935 movie Scrooge, starring Sir Seymour Hicks, was criticized for condensing the story, omitting character backstories, and not showing the ghosts on screen. The 2019 BBC miniseries A Christmas Carol was criticized for its dark and depressing tone, even in scenes that should show Scrooge the happiness he's missing out on, and for eschewing the traditional hopeful ending.
The 1964 TV movie "Carol for Another Christmas" was written by Rod Serling and focused on the victims of internment camps, nuclear war, and imperialism, sparking controversy and being criticized for being too harsh and depressing. In Ms. Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge a world where she's still mean, rather than her own grave and emphasizing her potential loneliness and unhappiness.
While the Barbie (2008) adaptation is notable for being critically panned, comprehensive lists specifically ranking the top 10 worst A Christmas Carol adaptations do not appear in these sources. For a fuller list, one would typically consult specialized film critique databases or retrospective articles focused on Dickens adaptations.
[1] Source: Link to the review of Barbie in "A Christmas Carol"
- despite numerous adaptations of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the 2008 direct-to-video film, Barbie in "A Christmas Carol", remains one of the most heavily criticized, being called disappointment and poorly executed;
- in the realm of entertainment, discussions surrounding the top 10 worst adaptations of A Christmas Carol often include the 2001 film, "Christmas Carol: The Movie", which was criticized for altering Bob Cratchit's character and the ending.
- exploring the world of pop-culture and entertainment history, one cannot ignore the controversies surrounding adaptations of A Christmas Carol, such as the 1935 movie Scrooge and the 1964 TV movie "Carol for Another Christmas", both criticized for their dark and unconventional themes.
