Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-09-29
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 85 minutes

Synopsis
Michael Caine appears as Ebenezer Scrooge in this riotous musical adaptation of the Dickens tale alongside Kermit, Miss Piggy and all the popular Muppet characters.

Customer Reviews

Belle's song is pivotal to the story
Like the other reviewers, we bought this on DVD to replace our worn out VHS version. We were gobsmacked and upset to the point that we couldnt watch it as the scene where Scrooge is seen to melt and become the man he was to be in the future, is cut, and the song removed, that he joins in at the end, with an Oscar winning (or should be) performance from Michael Caine. Its a disgrace that it was cut, and I wouldnt buy this DVD if you want the full and unabridged version that makes more sense. Otherwise why is Rizzo crying? BOO to the film editor. Stick with the VHS until they release a full version.

A sheer delight but a disappointing DVD
The Muppet Christmas Carol may well be the greatest film ever made. It's certainly far and away the best screen adaptation of Dickens perennial even if Michael Caine's Scrooge is more game than great (George C. Scott is probably the definitive Scrooge, but that's another story in a much lesser movie). Aside from the real visual imagination on display, from the wonderfully stylised production design and warm photography to Jerry Juhl's genuinely witty script, it's also the only version I've seen that passes the Tiny Tim test: usually the part is played by such obnoxiously saccharine little tykes that you can't wait for that empty place by the fireside, but in this case you really do care for once. Pure greatness in every frame.

Unfortunately, the care shown with the feature has not been mirrored with the DVD, which has never had a satisfactory release anywhere to date. The UK PAL editions are missing a key musical number, 'When Love is Gone' (which features on the NTSC disc, but only on the fullframe version), which is particularly unfortunate since its absence leaves a gaping hole in the Christmas Past section of the movie.

They've killed it!
This is a perfect example of how to ruin a brilliant film. I've been watching this favourite every year on VHS and when the Anniversary Edition DVD appeared I leapt at it. Unfortunately about a third of the way through I switched off. An entire scene (including the best song in the film) has been removed from this version without explanation. For those unfamiliar with the movie I am referring to the character Belle's wonderful rendition of "When Love is Gone" and a touching performance from Michael Caine where we see Scrooge's humanity for the first time. True, even a cut down Muppet Christmas Carol is still a great family film, but I certainly wouldn't want to read a novel with some of the key pages missing and I won't watch this abridged DVD. Looks like the squeaky old videotape is going to get dusted down for another year.