Everyone has their preferred screen rendition of "A Christmas Carol," and while I am partial to the 1951 film version, my heart belongs to another re-telling. I refer, of course, to 1992's "The Muppet Christmas Carol," which is not only one of all-time best Muppet movies but also (no joke) one of the most historically accurate depictions of Victorian fashion put to film.
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" was released two years after the death of The Muppets creator Jim Henson and is dedicated to both him and legendary Muppet puppeteer Richard Hunt (who died of complications related to HIV/AIDS less than 12 months prior to the movie's arrival). Henson was in the middle of talks with then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner to sell the Muppets to the Mouse House at the time of his death. It was, by most accounts, a very stressful deal that took a toll on Henson's well-being, so...
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" was released two years after the death of The Muppets creator Jim Henson and is dedicated to both him and legendary Muppet puppeteer Richard Hunt (who died of complications related to HIV/AIDS less than 12 months prior to the movie's arrival). Henson was in the middle of talks with then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner to sell the Muppets to the Mouse House at the time of his death. It was, by most accounts, a very stressful deal that took a toll on Henson's well-being, so...
- 9/14/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
When Muppets creator Jim Henson died in 1990, the future of the Muppets franchise felt up in the air to its fans. At the time, Disney had already been in negotiations to purchase the Muppets, but Henson was on record with his refusal. Disney, still with a foot in the door, co-financed two Muppet feature films in the 1990s -- "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island," both directed by Henson's son Brian -- which proved to audiences that the Muppets were capable of living on. Indeed, the two films provided a fascinating new premise for the Muppets: they would be stock players in adaptations of classic literature. Sadly, this tack did not play itself out, and after the not-very-good, straight-to-video "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz," that angle was abandoned.
Come now, Disney, "Muppet Midsummer Night's Dream," "Muppet Dracula," and "Muppet Moby-Dick" await.
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992) is both one...
Come now, Disney, "Muppet Midsummer Night's Dream," "Muppet Dracula," and "Muppet Moby-Dick" await.
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992) is both one...
- 9/14/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
When you see a real actor performing with The Muppets, it is easy to think that would be a straightforward process. You show up and goof around with some puppets for a bit and don't have to take things too seriously. While this can work for a sketch on "The Muppet Show," it's not really the case when it comes to a real-life actor with a sizable role in a feature film. Sure, Steve Martin or Mel Brooks can come in for one scene in "The Muppet Movie" and do a schtick, but the weight of the story does not rest on them. Charles Durning as Doc Hopper and Austin Pendleton as Doc's sidekick, Max, cannot afford to be knowingly silly. They are ostensibly the antagonists of the movie, and if they do not play the film straight, there are no stakes to the picture. Therefore, there's no drama and no reason to care.
- 9/14/2022
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
At this year's D23 Expo, Brian Henson announced that his directorial debut "The Muppet Christmas Carol" would finally be coming to Disney+ in its complete and uncut form later this year. After a number of years of trying, the studio has finally found a way to properly restore the song "When Love Is Gone" to the film, so now it can be viewed the way it was originally intended.
However, "original" is a relative term in this instance because this beloved holiday classic that has become a seasonal staple for three decades was originally intended to be a TV special similar to the recent "Muppets Haunted Mansion." During the panel celebrating the film's legacy — and the new life it's about to receive thanks to this release — Henson shared the origins of what is regarded as one of the most faithful adaptations of Charles Dickens' iconic tale to date.
/Film's Dalin Rowell...
However, "original" is a relative term in this instance because this beloved holiday classic that has become a seasonal staple for three decades was originally intended to be a TV special similar to the recent "Muppets Haunted Mansion." During the panel celebrating the film's legacy — and the new life it's about to receive thanks to this release — Henson shared the origins of what is regarded as one of the most faithful adaptations of Charles Dickens' iconic tale to date.
/Film's Dalin Rowell...
- 9/14/2022
- by Ben F. Silverio
- Slash Film
It's time for all of those people who complained Disney was "ruining Tim Allen's legacy" by casting Chris Evans in "Lightyear" to put their Disney+ streaming hours where their mouths are, because "The Santa Clauses" are coming to town! The trilogy of Christmas films first began in 1994, with Allen taking on the role of the holly-jolliest man in red, and ensuring a generation would misspell "Santa Claus'' for the rest of their lives. The series comes 16 years after the final film, and will likely conclude this particular story of Santa and co. for good.
Scott Calvin (Allen) is getting older, and he's not going to be able to continue being Santa forever. He only got the gig the first time around after he scared the big man off the roof and was contractually obligated to fulfill the role, but as he feels his Santa magic slowly slipping away, he...
Scott Calvin (Allen) is getting older, and he's not going to be able to continue being Santa forever. He only got the gig the first time around after he scared the big man off the roof and was contractually obligated to fulfill the role, but as he feels his Santa magic slowly slipping away, he...
- 9/14/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Disney's D23 Expo is taking over the weekend, and /Film's Dalin Rowell is there on the ground today reporting back on the latest and greatest news from the animation giant's lineup of shows and movies. The latest comes from the panel from the long-running Fox series "The Simpsons," which also included a faux announcement for the Simpson Cinematic Universe. Despite the extensive Marvel parody, the rest of the panel makes it sound like "The Simpsons" may still be sticking with the small screen for a while longer.
In a wide-ranging discussion that also included insights into the show's future guest stars and a super-sized Treehouse of Horror special, the team declined to confirm whether or not more "Simpsons" movies are on the horizon. The topic came up when actor Yeardley Smith, who plays Lisa and moderated the panel, asked writer Tim Long how it feels to watch old episodes of the show.
In a wide-ranging discussion that also included insights into the show's future guest stars and a super-sized Treehouse of Horror special, the team declined to confirm whether or not more "Simpsons" movies are on the horizon. The topic came up when actor Yeardley Smith, who plays Lisa and moderated the panel, asked writer Tim Long how it feels to watch old episodes of the show.
- 9/9/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
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