7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve.
Starring: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Frank OzFamily | 100% |
Comedy | 63% |
Musical | 43% |
Fantasy | 30% |
Holiday | 28% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Bah! Humbug! Let's cut to it: The Muppet Christmas Carol is a lesser film without "When Love is Gone," the all too
critical musical number and narrative crux the studio powers that be foolishly cut from the movie's 1992 theatrical release,
much to director Brian Henson's objection and dismay. The song was reinstated for various home video releases over the
years via a superior, fan-favorite extended version, but even then it couldn't seem to catch a break. (The 2005 DVD featured
both versions of the film, but only the theatrical cut was presented in widescreen. The extended cut was relegated to full-
screen pan-n-scan.) Alas, whether by stubborn resolve, lazy disregard, shrewd sales staggering, or some other inexplicable
but equally disheartening reason, no such version of The Muppet Christmas Carol is included on this new Disney Blu-
ray release. "When Love is Gone" has sadly gone missing yet again, and it pains me immensely.
I have no intention of joining or inciting any impassioned boycott, though. Is the song's disappearance a shame? Absolutely. A
tragedy? Let's not get carried away. The theatrical version isn't a lackluster Muppet movie by any means. It isn't the perfect
Christmas outing I was prepared to declare its extended cut, I'll be the first to admit, but it's still my Christmas Carol
of choice, still an enormously funny and touching Muppets musical, and still 96.6% of the beloved holiday classic I revisit a
dozen times every December.
The Muppet Christmas Carol celebrates the season with a fittingly festive 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer sure to please fans familiar with the film's terribly outmoded 2002 and 2005 DVD releases. Colors are strong and lively, despite the fact that many of the film's early scenes are cast in an icy blue hue, which tends to skew skintones and primaries ever so slightly. Thankfully, other scenes, particularly those that accompany Scrooge's journey into the past, his first visit to the Cratchet house and his eventual redemption, are warmer and more natural, suggesting the shots that feature the mild blue tint appear exactly as they should. Detail is excellent as well. Edges are crisp and clean (with only a hint of ringing on occasion), textures are unexpectedly refined and revealing on the whole (the fur, the hair, the felt!), grain is intact and unobtrusive, and there isn't any significant macroblocking, banding, aliasing or other compression anomalies to report. There is minor print damage -- all negligible -- and some compositing softness and noisiness (as is the case when Scrooge first meets the Ghost of Christmas Present), but each instance is, by and large, inherent to the source. My lone complaint? Contrast is a bit inconsistent, which leads to some dullness (the Ghost of Christmas Past's parting) and some crush (the scene immediately following it in Scrooge's bed chambers). All that being said, I couldn't be much happier with the results. Unless, that is, I was reviewing a comparable 1.85:1 presentation of the film's extended cut. Maybe next Christmas.
There aren't any major disappointments to be had with Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. It just isn't all that remarkable. Dialogue is clear, intelligible and intuitively centered, LFE output is decidedly decent (particularly when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come makes itself known, swirling portals, bum bum bum motif and all), and the various songs fill the otherwise front-heavy soundfield nicely. Unfortunately, the rear speakers aren't all that engaging. Interior acoustics are good, but environmental ambience has a far greater presence in the front speakers than the rear, directional effects are weak and imprecise, and "immersive" is one of the last words I would toss about with abandon. Still, it's safe to assume that this is a reasonable representation of the film's sound design, for better or worse.
No, this isn't the definitive release of The Muppet Christmas Carol have been hoping for. No, it doesn't include the film's extended cut or "When Love is Gone," which really does make the movie better all around. And yes, it's a missed opportunity and a disservice to fans. But to disown Disney's first Blu-ray release of The Muppet Christmas Carol is to dismiss everything beyond "When Love is Gone" that makes the film so good, especially when the Blu-ray debut of the theatrical cut features such a commendable AV presentation. Me? I'll happily add this one to my collection, hold onto my 2005 extended cut DVD a bit longer, and patiently wait for Disney to catch up with fan demand and release a more complete edition, hopefully next Christmas.
1992
1992
20th Anniversary Collector's Edition
1992
1992
1981
50th Anniversary Edition
1964
1984
1979
Wocka Wocka Value Pack + Soundtrack DL
2011
1996
2018
1984
2014
The Unnecessarily Extended Edition
2014
2006
Deluxe Edition
1969
1970
2003
2007
Grinchmas Edition
2000
2002
1995
Deluxe Edition
1970
2013