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The Ghost of Christmas Present and Ebenezer Scrooge (both Jim Carrey) in "Disney's A Christmas Carol"

Disney's A Christmas Carol NOW PLAYING

PG (2009) Publication Date Nov. 6, 2009

Motion-capture animation, in which actors wear sensors and their movements are transferred onto a digital model, is a captivating technology. It's one that director Robert Zemeckis has used with aplomb to revitalize iconic tales such as "Beowulf" (2007) and now Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

This latest adaptation of the Dickens classic is rich with vibrant imagery and boasts an impressive cast, with funnyman Jim Carrey at the forefront.

The story itself -- first published in 1843 -- has been adapted and retold so many times that even those who have never opened a book or switched on a television are familiar with its plot and characters. One chill Christmas eve, humorless old miser Ebenezer Scrooge (Carrey) is haunted by the specter of his former business partner Jacob Marley (Gary Oldman) and warned to learn compassion and generosity or suffer eternal consequences.

Scrooge is in for a long night.

Three ghosts visit Scrooge during the exasperating evening, each offering glimpses into his life. The Ghost of Christmas Past (also Carrey) leads Scrooge through his humble roots, before wealth quashed his vivacious spirit. The Ghost of Christmas Present (again Carrey) shows Scrooge flashes of the now, such as his nephew Fred's (Colin Firth) contagious merriment and his quiet assistant Bob Cratchit's (Oldman) tight-knit family. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (you guessed it, Carrey again) is decidedly less approachable than its predecessors, using a bony finger to point out Scrooge's ominous future.

Three apparitions offering two choices: redemption or death.

"Carol" is a visual feast with groundbreaking animation -- absolutely brilliant from a graphic standpoint. The film almost feels like a family-friendly bookend to Zemeckis' "Beowulf" (which was decidedly adult in tone and context). Zemeckis (also the screenwriter) stays loyal to the source material, with dialogue and setting true to Dickens' original vision -- cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and plenty of old-fashioned English dialect (which, admittedly, sparks occasional "What did he just say?" confusion).

Carrey is outstanding as Scrooge, not to mention the myriad other roles he is asked to portray (his rendition of the peculiar Ghost of Christmas Past is particularly fascinating). Carrey's Scrooge rides an emotional roller coaster -- what begins as menace and feigned courage shifts to fear, regret, sorrow and, ultimately, joy.

The poignant moral message of Dickens' 166-year-old novel shines through despite the 21st-century presentation. Cratchit lives in poverty but the enduring love of his family fuels his infectious joie de vivre. Meanwhile, Scrooge is rich beyond measure but bereft of companionship and miserable because of it.

Dickens' message is clear: True joy comes not from what you can take, but rather, what you can give.

This is also the most thrilling version of "Carol" ever produced, bar none. Catch it in 3D for a truly visceral experience -- snow flakes seem to fall in the theater and there's a sense of being virtually transported to 19th-century England. But parents should be wary of taking young children. Several scenes, especially those involving Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, are more frightening than one would expect.

Although Dickens has been translated time and time again, this animated adventure is no humbug.

Rated PG for scary sequences and scary images. 1 hour, 36 minutes.

- Tyler Hanley