DVD Review: A Muppet Christmas Carol

A Muppet Christmas Carol

(DVD j Muppet)

 

This was the fourth Muppets feature film, and the first to be produced and released following founder Jim Henson’s death (in May 1990), coming out for the Christmas season in 1992. It was also the first to be distributed by the Walt Disney Company — although the Muppets are now owned by the Walt Disney Company, that merger didn’t happen until 2004.

 

The traditional elements of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” are modified a little to fit with the Muppets environment. Gonzo the Great portrays writer Dickens, and, accompanied by Rizzo the Rat, serves as a host and narrator throughout the film. Kermit the Frog is Bob Crachit, and Miss Piggy is his wife. Kermit’s “nephew” Robin plays Tiny Tim, Fozzie Bear plays “Fozziwig”, Scrooge’s first employer. Curmudgeons Statler and Waldorf stand in as the Marley Brothers in place of Jacob Marley. And there are all-new Muppet creations in the roles of the three primary ghosts — Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet-to-Be.

 

And all the Muppet performances are up to their typical standards, although the expected Muppet shenanigans are actually toned down to tell a more serious story then we usually expect from this group of zanies. And that’s good, because the real star of this production is British actor Michael Caine, as the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge. When offered the role of Scrooge, Caine is quote as saying “I’m going to play this movie like I’m working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I will never wink, I will never do anything Muppety. I am going to play Scrooge as if it is an utterly dramatic role, and there are no puppets around me.” Which is exactly what producer/director Brian Henson wanted. And precisely what Caine delivers. He never treats any of the Muppet characters as anything less than a fellow serious actor. Caine’s Scrooge is one of my all-time favorite interpretations of that iconic character, and elevates what could have been a somewhat silly film to the level of “Modern Classic”.

 

Note: This is a musical version of the story, with songs by Nebraska’s own pop star Paul Williams (who won an Oscar for his “Rainbow Connection” song for the original Muppet Movie). One song was cut for the theatrical release of The Muppet Christmas Carol, and has a storied history of sometimes being included in “extras” or “new edits” of this film. That song has been returned to the version of The Muppet Christmas Carol available on the Disney+ streaming service. However, it is absent from the DVD version available from the libraries.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try any of the other Muppet feature films, or any of the dozens of other adaptations of Dickens’ classsic story.)

 

( Internet Movie Database entry for this film ) | ( official The Muppet Christmas Carol web site )

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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The Dark Crystal on DVD

The Dark Crystal

by Jim Henson and Frank Oz [DVD j Dark]

In 1982, Jim Henson and Frank Oz, fresh off the success of the comedic The Muppet Show (1976-1981) wanted to push the boundaries of storytelling with their puppetry, and the result was The Dark Crystal. Oz had also recently performed as Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, and the various fantastic creatures of The Dark Crystal bear far more resemblance to Yoda’s almost lifelike qualities than the obvious felt-and-strings appearance of Kermit and Miss Piggy. The Dark Crystal features a classic “epic quest” saga, in an exotic fantasy setting. Jen and Kira, a pair of young gelflings, find themselves in the middle of an epic battle between the forces of good (the aged Mystics) and evil (the hideous Skeksis), as the Dark Crystal, a source of Balance and Truth in their land, has shattered and they must seek to heal it or their world will suffer ruin. The look and feel of this film is tremendous, as are the designs of all the fabulous creatures that populate it. This film should appeal to both kids and adults (who may remember seeing the film when they, themselves, were kids). The music by Trevor Jones is one of my favorite film soundtracks. This DVD also features a marvelous “Making Of” documentary, which is well worth watching. If you’ve never experienced The Dark Crystal before, don’t pass it up now!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Labyrinth, starring David Bowie and featuring the same type of puppetry and fantasy setting. Or, the classic The Muppet Show, to admire the work of Henson and Oz and company in a more recognizable format.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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The Art of the Muppets

The Art of the Muppets: A Retrospective Look at 25 yeras of Muppet Magic
by The Staff of Henson Associates [791.457 Hen]

Let me just start off by saying that there have been a lot of books written about the history and behind-the-scenes details of The Muppets over the years, and many of those go into much greater details than this. However, this book published in 1980 is a very nice look back at these felt and foam creations on the occasion of the Muppets' 25th anniversary. The book provides a short history of puppetry, and the ways in which the Muppets both differ and resemble traditional puppets and puppet shows. There are a lot of rare images from the Muppet sudios, from Jim Henson's very earliest designs up through the heydey of the early years of Sesame Street at The Muppet Show. There are also small sections of the book dedicated to the Muppets that were used in the early seasons of Saturday Night Live, and Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas (an underappreciated holiday special from 1976. For anyone interested in the very earliest years in Muppet history, this is a charming introduction, filled with excellent images. For a detailed and in-depth look at the Muppets, you'll probably want to track down one of the larger books, published in more recent years. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and other reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Muppet Show Book by Jim Henson and Jack Burns, or Jim Henson: The Works, the Art, the Magic, the Imagination by Christopher Finch.]

[ Disney's official Muppets web site ] | [ official Muppet Wiki web site ]

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The Muppet Show - Season One

The Muppet Show
[DVD j Muppet]

This entertaining show features Jim Henson's Muppets. The show's original run on TV was 1976-1981; so far only three of the five seasons have been released on DVD. It is set up as a variety show run by Kermit and regular acts include Pigs in Space with Miss Piggy, Fozzy's jokes, stunts by Gonzo as well as musical and dance numbers. Each episode has a special guest who does their own numbers and interacts with the Muppets behind the scenes of the variety show. Season one has guests such as Peter Ustinov, Phyllis Diller, Twiggy, and Florence Henderson. Anyone who enjoyed Fraggle Rock, Muppet Babies, or Sesame Street as a child should give the Muppet Show a try. It is in the children's section but is just as entertaining for adults or as a family show. -- recommended by Kristen A. - Gere Branch Library

[Also available: Seasons Two and Three.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Muppets.com web site (Disney) ]
 
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My Life as a Furry Red Monster

My Life as a Furry Red Monster
by Kevin Clash [791.53 Cla]

You may know that the beloved toddler Muppet "Elmo" is voiced and operated by Kevin Clash, a now-middle-aged "six foot African American male" but did you know that Clash began making puppets and performing before he was even in his teens? His life is truly a dream come true -- from watching Sesame Street as a shy but creative youngster, to being one of the mainstays of the long-running children's series. This 2006 autobiography highlights Clash's experiences from young neighborhood showman to voice of one of the best-selling Christmas toys ever, all the while emphasizing the importance of love, acceptance, and following your dreams. -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library


[ official My Life as a Furry Red Monster entry on the Muppet Wiki site ] | [ official Kevin Clash entry Muppet Wiki site ]

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It's Not Easy Being Green

It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider
by Jim Henson [808.882 Hen]

I picked this up after having the chance to see a traveling Smithsonian exhibit of the history of Jim Henson and his puppetry, and read it straight through in just two sittings. This is "the world according the Jim Henson"-like -- with dozens of quotes from Henson, his co-workers, and those who were inspired by the man and his work ethic. Broken up into a variety of categories, this is inspirational but lite-weight, however if you grew up on any of Henson's creations -- the Muppets of Sesame Street, Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggie and the others of The Muppet Show, the creatures of Fraggle Rock, or the various one-shot productions (like The Dark Crystal), you'll appreciate this peek into the psyche of the man behind them all. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Jim Henson: The Works, and No Strings Attached.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Entry on this book in the Muppet Wiki ] | [ official Jim Henson Co. web site ]

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Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles: A Muppet Sketchbook

Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles: A Muppet Sketchbook
by Alison Inches [791.5 qHenYi]

For anyone who's a fan of The Frog, and anything else Muppet-related, this is a "behind the scenes" treat. It combines quite a bit of biographical information on Henson with a trove of drawings, and it also has examples of non-Muppet works. It's a nice slice of the creative processes of a gentle genius and his skilled team of artists and performers. [If you like this, you may also enjoy No Strings Attached by Matt Bacon; The Muppet Show Book by Jim Henson; It's Not Easy Being Green by Jim Henson; and Jim Henson: The Works by Christopher Finch.] -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library

[ official Jim Henson Legacy web site ] | [ official Jim Henson Co. web site ] | [ This book's page on the Muppet Wiki web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.