Scrooged - 1988

“Irreverent” comedy based on the classic “A Christmas Carol.” Although all the basic elements of the story are there, this is definitely a different version of the classic tale. The acting is over the top by both Murray as well as some of the supporting cast but its not too surprising for this type of film. As only a so-so fan of Murray, he was just a little TOO cynical at the beginning and TOO gooey at the end to bring across the comic aspect of this film for me, so not a lot of laughs here. The changes to the “ghosts” were lots of fun, however, and definitely added some comic elements. Enjoyed the creativity in the updated story! Though not a personal favorite, this is a great movie if you like (a) irreverent comedies (b) you’re fond of Bill Murray and (c) you like “A Christmas Carol” in ALL its numerous forms so don’t be afraid to give it a try. (If you’re a Dickens purist, skip this one!) For me, possibly 2 1/2 stars.

A Christmas Carol - 1984

Exceptional adaptation of this classic story. Great script that moves smoothly with outstanding performances by George C. Scott as Scrooge as well as a superb supporting cast. The emotional levels of this story are wonderfully portrayed. Excellent filming and costuming. This version also has my favorite “Christmas Carol” endings with great final scenes between both Scrooge and Bob Cratchit (Bob's amazed shock in this version is superb) and Scrooge with his nephew, Fred, and his wife. As a fan of “Christmas Carol” in all its various adaptations (including the cheesy ones), the holidays are not complete without viewing this particular one! Definitely one of my top two favorites! *****

The Christmas Wife - 1988

Enjoyable drama. Facing his first Christmas as a widower, John (Robards) answers a personals ad hoping to meet someone to share Christmas Day. The woman (Harris) who responds to his request is obviously hiding something. This quiet story was well written with a touching storyline that managed to avoid getting too sappy. As you watch the characters, you can feel their loneliness without it becoming overly sentimental. Performances were excellent by both Robards and Harris, easily making you feel at ease with their characters. Although this was a family friendly film, the storyline was definitely geared more to an older audience and would not be that entertaining for the very young. Definitely worth watching, though. ***

Ernest Saves Christmas - 1988

Light-hearted comedy from the memorable Ernest (Jim Varney). For those of us who remember the lovable Ernest, this was probably the best of his films. Ernest steps in to aid an aging Santa in his search for his replacement. Along the way we meet some of Varney’s most unforgettable characters. (His snake man really had me chuckling!) Even my teens, who are certainly too young to remember Ernest, found themselves laughing at some of his antics. The story itself is somewhat cheesy (as are many Christmas films), but the special effects are surprisingly pretty good. Although not at the top of my Christmas watch list, this film was great fun. ***

The Storyteller - 1987

Wonderful collection of fantasy stories and myths produced by the masterful Jim Henson. Filmed more like stage productions, these are darker stories rather than your typical light-hearted fairy tales. Each episode is a wonderful blend of live action and mild puppetry, but one of their main strengths is really the talented narrative of John Hurt as the “Storyteller”. His "storytelling" is truly magical and will have you completely entranced. Definitely worth your time! On a side note, although family friendly, these would probably not appeal to a younger audience.  *****

Jane Eyre - 1983

Excellent BBC miniseries based on Charlotte Bronte’s well known novel. This is certainly a very faithful version of this romantic story with a well written script. In fact, the dialogue is frequently almost verbatim from the book. With the added length of a miniseries, this series was also able to include many of the scenes and characters cut from other versions of this story; a definite plus! Exceptional performances from both the main and  supporting cast, especially those of Timothy Dalton as the brooding Rochester and Zelah Clarke as the quiet and vulnerable Jane (although Dalton was perhaps too handsome for the role). :-)  The costuming was well done and in keeping with the era of time the novel took place, but the inside sets at Thornfield seemed a little overly decorated and were somewhat distracting. Regardless of any weaknesses, this is definitely one of the best versions available.    ****