Watching Muppet Christmas Carol, as one does, and struck with a warm feeling about humanity. Not because of Christmas, but because a person wrote this story, and a hundred years later other people painstakingly created a version of it with puppets and miniatures and film - ThreadSky

louisathelast.bsky.social • 65 days ago

Watching Muppet Christmas Carol, as one does, and struck with a warm feeling about humanity. Not because of Christmas, but because a person wrote this story, and a hundred years later other people painstakingly created a version of it with puppets and miniatures and film

Comments

ericklw.bsky.social•65 days ago

I see that, I get what you mean here.

drleatongray.bsky.social•65 days ago

And children find it helpful when revising for GCSE English.

amazingjr87.bsky.social•65 days ago

An absolute masterpiece in every conceivable way

clark408.bsky.social•65 days ago

We watched it today too. Epic telling of a timeless story.

bwalsh.bsky.social•65 days ago

Because there is joy and dedication in every moment.

edx.bsky.social•65 days ago

the muppet christmas carol is also the best possible version

bearpondboy.bsky.social•65 days ago

The best of us.

orhccyweq.bsky.social•65 days ago

Google Play search for E-Play free music software

hmcd.bsky.social•65 days ago

Paul Williams and Michael Caine took that and turned it from clever to perfect and timeless, imho. Both should have won Oscars.

wireddifferently.bsky.social•61 days ago

I wept through the entire Jim Henson documentary and I will never not admit to it

mark3000.bsky.social•65 days ago

It speaks across the ages, seeing Gonzo fly off the windowsill (also watching and appreciating a story that works in different media and in different times)

mark3000.bsky.social•65 days ago

It also ends with, “If you liked it, you should read the book.”

freddymathies.bsky.social•65 days ago

I've watched it too, on VHS, the last Christmas present from my dad. The tape is 31 years old now.

deepcuts.bsky.social•65 days ago

And Michael Caine.

kiswanson.medsky.social•65 days ago

The secret sauce

johnreecer.bsky.social•65 days ago

Posted this earlier, so I’m plugging it here! Amazing film

https://bsky.app/profile/johnreecer.bsky.social/post/3le3qmjz4q22u

jblair23.bsky.social•65 days ago

He should’ve gotten an Oscar.

kristaelliott.bsky.social•65 days ago

Right? His facial expressions while watching the Cratchits through the window just *wreck* me every time.

wiezguy.bsky.social•65 days ago

We watched it Christmas Eve too. It's a really good adaptation. Getting Michael Caine to play Scrooge helped.

randomjeweler.bsky.social•65 days ago

Somehow intense human effort and love seems like a type of magic

deadbarchetta.bsky.social•65 days ago

Hands down my favorite adaptation of the story

jillmars.bsky.social•65 days ago

I’m told it’s one of the truest depictions of Dickens’ story as there is a narrator (or two if you count Rizzo!) and that the costumes are all really accurate - to a degree prob not necessary, but lovely nonetheless!
Gonzo saying “and Tiny Tim, who did NOT die!” Still makes me laugh every time!

acts-of-tekla.bsky.social•65 days ago

They made a tiny smocked shirt for Rizzo to wear in ONE scene!

beeyoutifulmom.bsky.social•65 days ago

What a lovely take! I felt the same when watching my local community theatre doing the musical version. Peace and a Merry Christmas to you.

blusquad1.bsky.social•65 days ago

And now people want to recreate the conditions that made it possible in the first place.

topcheese.bsky.social•65 days ago

And Michael Caine!

tagishsimon.bsky.social•65 days ago

Per Micah, this short interview is as wonderful.

https://bsky.app/profile/rincewind.run/post/3le3svxk4nk2y

feistyfeminist.bsky.social•65 days ago

I realized I’m old today because I kept saying “someone hand painted that” about random props in the background of the stop motion Xmas specials. I appreciate it more every year.

virginiae.bsky.social•65 days ago

I watch it yearly for much the same reason.

benregis.bsky.social•65 days ago

I saw it for the first time a few days ago and felt exactly the same. Wonderful film, wonderful book

debbielynn52.bsky.social•65 days ago

One of THE all time best ever holiday movies!! Yay Muppets!! 💕

smazzer.bsky.social•65 days ago

I saw that live on TikTok and it was so wholesome ❤️ I'm gonna miss that app.

elle-loves-hugs.bsky.social•65 days ago

The best Christmas film ever!

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

I get the same feeling whenever I see something in a film that’s really handcrafted and tactile— stop motion, hand drawn animation, beautifully painted backdrops, meticulous miniatures. We do really cool things, as a species, and we do it for fun

caitesq.bsky.social•65 days ago

I had this reaction to The Nightmare Before Christmas tonight! What a strange, lovely little movie, and how wonderful that it's become a holiday classic.

cousins.bsky.social•65 days ago

On Twitter, costumers and fashion historians really praised the Muppet costumes for being so accurate to the time period and class of the characters. Love that the movie is good in so many different dimensions

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

And for whatever reason, I don’t tend to get the same feeling with CGI, at least not the hyper realistic type. It’s like seeing the artifice is part of the delight

mommyisaperson.bsky.social•65 days ago

Not just the artifice, but everything you see is the result of human effort and imagination! Someone cared enough to use their hands and pull some physical object into creation, which was used to tell a story. Someone MADE that. It's a really cool thing!

mommyisaperson.bsky.social•65 days ago

I forgot to add because I was exhausted- it also represents human knowledge/skill. Sure, it might seem goofy or like a silly thing, but the fact remains people learned how to make these things and make them look recognizable and good! That's also cool!

alwaysjathis.bsky.social•65 days ago

Related-
Today I introduced my 18yo to Vincent and The Doctor and then we had a great conversation about art and animation.

sapphixy.bsky.social•65 days ago

Starry Night was long one of my favorite paintings, but that episode is why I burst into tears when I saw the original at MOMA.

misctakes.com•65 days ago

I just watched it too and was thinking about how I'd take these effects over almost any CGI

thesem.bsky.social•65 days ago

Tapping the “I love seeing the hand of the artist” sign furiously

alantielrainne.bsky.social•65 days ago

Especially in this age of AI, where so many are tempted to abdicate their artistry into AI hands. It's easy, but the work is where you can put some of yourself into it, and you have to care to do all that work, and AI makes it easy to not care.

shiravondoom.bsky.social•65 days ago

YES

the 80s Clash of the Titans is so beautiful, because Harryhousen's stop motion work was ART

patricksbruck.bsky.social•65 days ago

So good!

transarchivist.bsky.social•65 days ago

this is definitely part of the reason i want practical effects to come back

patricksbruck.bsky.social•65 days ago

Yes! And while the Muppets’ Christmas Carol uses lots of post effects, even spirits not on set with Michael Caine (like the Marleys) are real muppets, just added in later. CGI often lacks that tangible, human feel—it’s more an illusion on top of an illusion than something integrated into the scene.

dhcalifornicus.bsky.social•65 days ago

The Muppets are living things and are presented as such. I think Dickens would have appreciated their adaptation.
https://youtu.be/TRtY2sp-hsQ?si=TroFgwEe8oWXsVdn

zazzles.bsky.social•65 days ago

that’s me with star trek tos. i love watching them tumble all over the set to simulate their ship getting hit. i love the handmade props and special effects… people put time and effort into that show and it makes me so happy

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

Yes!! I delight in the 90s shows for this reason too— there’s more and more CGI toward the end, but still tons of practical effects and tactile props. Gorgeous matte paintings

brianjayjones.com•65 days ago

When I interviewed Mike Frith about Jim Henson’s work on EMMET OTTER and DARK CRYSTAL, he said something like, “the miracle is they happened at ALL. Everything you see is built. Every surface exists in three dimensions. It’s all real.” I love that.

smazzer.bsky.social•65 days ago

I need to know how they filmed the rowboat scenes on the pond in Emmet Otter!

susanmd3.medsky.social•65 days ago

Here you go!

smazzer.bsky.social•65 days ago

TY!

mlow.bsky.social•65 days ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGVsyQXAF6U

brianjayjones.com•65 days ago

Jim Henson LOVED that rowboat and couldn’t keep his hands off of it!

spaceprez.bsky.social•65 days ago

Art makes life worth living

anthonybecker.bsky.social•65 days ago

Agreed! Realizing this multiple times per year and accelerating

kbspangler.com•65 days ago

An anecdote I love is how one of the set designers on TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE was distraught bc he knew he would never experience a job with that much of a budget or project scope again.

docbenway.bsky.social•65 days ago

Yeah there’s a lot to knock that movie for but the sheer craft of it is incredible

mjbuzzz.bsky.social•65 days ago

Have you seen this delight? It's rare that we get to watch it at Christmas, but it's a tradition in my family to watch it after the first snow fall https://youtu.be/cAiZwx3uvsI?si=w3fv1NTrps-eKWsH

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

I don’t think I have!

cancelproof.bsky.social•65 days ago

Thank you. As an artist who used to be abused working in stop motion, it's great to know many people appreciate our art.

I certainly was not appreciated by the art director who used to abuse me in our shop. Thank GOD for my paint dept lead who regularly told me our boss was an idiot. 😂

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

I’m sorry that happened to you. I LOVE stop motion. Still love the old Rudolph, and when Fantastic Mr. Fox came out I saw it in theatres at least five times so I could look at all the details

cancelproof.bsky.social•65 days ago

I am determined to make sure it doesn't happen to others.

I am an extremely talented artist so I will continue to create 💕

Thank you for your kindness and happy holidays 🔥🎄🎁

drizzlers.bsky.social•65 days ago

Christmas Carol is one of my favorite stories. The whole time travel aspect was novel for its time, as was the contrivance it provided to Scrooge being an onlooker of his own life, the clarity it gave him to redeem himself even as an old man. I love it.

gooddoggoodmom.bsky.social•65 days ago

I love that movie. Especially the song “It Feels Like Christmas 🎄”
Because it’s true, when you think about it: “wherever you find love, it feels like Christmas.”
Love is the spirit of Christmas. ✨

4livingtheory.bsky.social•65 days ago

It is a wonderful rendering. And it does evoke that warm feeling. Here a mutual made one with their cats, from @gonzo.bsky.social
it brings joy https://youtu.be/21skPRj1s_Q

scorpioheavy.bsky.social•65 days ago

Love, love, love this! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!

4livingtheory.bsky.social•65 days ago

To you as well! Merry Christmas! And a good New year to you! 🎄🎉🙌🏻🐾

samiam2.bsky.social•65 days ago

Well said.

asterionhex.monster•65 days ago

I was having these feelings watching it earlier about Frank Oz?? This guy whose entire life has been this and maybe this isn’t the peak of his work but it’s close and it’s beautiful, how many people worked to make this

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

SO much work, in every frame of it. So much love and devotion, especially because this was the first thing they did without Jim

thatharper.bsky.social•65 days ago

aw, man, I forgot that, and now I may cry

asterionhex.monster•65 days ago

I hadn’t realized the music was Paul Williams and I love him and another person who has done this forever, he wrote The Rainbow Connection

twolemonades.com•65 days ago

Watching it right now here, too. What a gorgeous work of art.

jprimrose.bsky.social•65 days ago

i feel like this when i watch anything by Aardman, as well. so much effort and beauty in every frame.

buddhaclauser.bsky.social•65 days ago

It and you are a Christmas miracle!

predictionmonk.bsky.social•65 days ago

👍

aprilbea.bsky.social•65 days ago

Watching it this year I got super emotional about how much Paul Williams put into the music for it. I watch it every year, but somehow this time around it really hit me hard.

juliaboogers.bsky.social•65 days ago

You might already know, but it was the first thing Williams did after getting sober. “‘He resonated almost more powerfully than anybody with the redemption story of Scrooge,’ says [Brian] Henson.” I read this article every year and get teary 🥲 https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/the-story-behind-the-music-of-the-muppet-christmas-carol.html

soapachu.bsky.social•64 days ago

Why is everyone suddenly misusing the expression "resonated with"? The thing resonates with the person, not vice versa.

clinto.bsky.social•65 days ago

We watched it last night, and it gets me every time WITHOUT knowing the Paul Williams story. Now I have to watch it again. Thanks for the post - this is probs my favorite movie ever...

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

I had no idea!

louisathelast.bsky.social•65 days ago

It’s so gorgeous. Not a skip on that soundtrack. And a proper overture!

handle.invalid•65 days ago

🇵🇸🔄💚🤍

mattagnello.com•65 days ago

Humans keep going.

ineti.bsky.social•65 days ago

This is how I feel any time I watch an adaptation of any Shakespeare play. Endless variety and creativity.

marcia4d.bsky.social•65 days ago

Just finished watching it. Great writing and everything else.

denshewman.bsky.social•65 days ago

Well said

jerseysocialworker.bsky.social•65 days ago

Muppet Christmas Carol is one of our traditions. What a great film!

jvwest.bsky.social•65 days ago

It's the canonical version, unassailable. No other version comes close.

notthecops.bsky.social•65 days ago

This post was so thoughtful and positive that I got confused because I had twitter open in another tab and thought a Christmas Miracle happened and it actually got good again, lol. Nope.

andeeharry1.bsky.social•65 days ago

Oh yeah..180 years old and it is still a classic and even the 50 year old 'spoof'' version, they both work well and still do. Merry Christmas

existentialcat.bsky.social•65 days ago

First goal when we crack time travel should be showing Dickens the Muppet Christmas Carol.

talitherose.bsky.social•65 days ago

He’d have loved it! Honestly, Jim Henson could’ve easily been Dickens-reincarnated.

Both so acutely aware of the pain & joy of living ~ but artistically handling it in different ways.. to different audiences. Unerringly aware of the needs of their audiences & trying, desperately, to reach many..

sinboy.bsky.social•65 days ago

Something like this I expect, but with Muppets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubTJI_UphPk

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