The Muppet Christmas Carol: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition DVD Review:

In celebration of fifty years being in entertainment, four of Jim Henson’s Muppet movies have been released on Anniversary Edition DVDs, even though the films have been around less than thirty years. The Muppet Christmas Carol brings some of the world’s most loved characters into the most loved Christmas story. The story is the same but there are great musical numbers and humorous Muppet characters to help bring the magic alive. It also helps a great deal to have Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. While many other versions of The Christmas Carol may be too frightening for kids, or if not would bore them, The Muppet Christmas Carol has the same story but is much more fitting for younger kids.

Kermit the Frog is the humble and hard working Bob Cratchit, who is working for Ebenezer Scrooge, and the rest of the Muppets have their place in the story as well. On Christmas Eve Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future in order to teach him the meaning of Christmas. This is definitely one of the more serious films that The Muppets have done, and the help of a great actor like Caine only further helps the film.

These four films which are all being released for Kermit’s fiftieth anniversary, have all been restored and remastered and they look and sound better than they ever have before. The visuals on this film which is nearly thirty years old are as sharp as can be, and the songs all sound great. The songs are fantastic and well fit for the film. There a number of original songs which go well with the classic story. The Muppet Christmas Carol has both Widescreen and full screen versions of the film, with an extended version that has an extra deleted scene.

The DVD received special treatment, at least as far as the other Muppet DVDs are concerned. The menus are about the same, although individually fit to the specific film. The special features on The Muppet Christmas Carol are much more in depth than the rest of the films though. There is the same special feature that the other DVDs have, which is a profile of one of the Muppets. This DVD has a profile of Gonzo, with interviews from other Muppets talking about him. There is also an On-The-Set Gag Reel, and a commentary track by director Brian Henson.



Ryan Izay