Disney's A Christmas Carol 3D

This is a surprisingly faithful—and sometimes dark—adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, with a little motion-capture 3-D whiz-bang thrown in for good measure. The core story—about miserly, miserable Ebenezer Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey) experiencing a spiritual awakening—is told exquisitely, making the movie a true winner. Gary Oldman lends his voice and likeness to Cratchit, as well as Marley’s Ghost and even Tiny Tim. His performances in the film are perhaps the movie’s most heartwarming (well, except for his turn as Marley’s Ghost; he’s scary as all heck in that role). I was not a fan of director Robert Zemeckis’ first motion-capture release, the unintentionally spooky The Polar Express. However, by the time Beowulf hit screens a couple of years ago, I’d warmed up to the format. The technology is catching up, and Carol looks great. Carrey is perfect here.