| Blackadder's Christmas Carol |  | Director: Richard Boden
Actors: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
Category: Video
Buy Used: $24.99
Used (3) from $24.99
Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 25290
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
EAN: 5014503464820
ASIN: B00004CLQ4
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Among the many films and TV shows that add a new twist to Charles Dickens's classic tale, Blackadder's Christmas Carol is the most ingenious. It was made between Blackadder the Third (1987) and Blackadder Goes Forth (1989), and its inspired concept is to recast the self-serving Edmund Blackadder (Rowen Atkinson) not as Dickens's misanthropic miser but as the most kindhearted man in England. Tony Robinson's Baldrick is as moronic as ever, while Robbie Coltrane plays the Spirit of Christmas like a forerunner to his Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, showing Edmund visions of past and future to not quite the desired effect. Hugh Laurie returns as the Prince Regent from Blackadder the Third, and the entire court from Blackadder II (1986) is reassembled for japes involving a merry seasonal death warrant. Miranda Richardson is outrageously capricious as Elizabeth I, then takes the character a stage further in a decadent space-opera future that also sees Patsy (Nursie) Byrne as an android. Though not quiet as laugh-out-loud funny as the regular Blackadder series, this is an excellent Yuletide special. --Gary S. Dalkin
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| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Brilliant December 19, 2007
Matthew David Ritchey (Hollywood, CA USA)
Anyone who says this is lackluster should be scooped out and used as a houseboat.
Blackadder fun at Xmas March 13, 2007
Mark Bundy
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Blackadder spirit comes to Christmas. I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol. In fact, I didn't see the twist coming until several minutes into the show. Mr. Atkinson's versatility really shows in this Blackadder show and I recommend it.
 A Reversed Scrooge October 11, 2006
General Breadbasket (Melbourne, Australia)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Blackadder's Christmas Carol" is a 43 minute or so special of the British period comedy series, an inside-out version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". I'm a real fan of "A Christmas Carol" and I do like checking out these novelty interpretations. While the concept is interesting, I didn't really find it that likeable.
Ebenezer Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) is a very generous man. Too generous, in fact. Everyone takes advantage of him, whether it is Mrs Scratchit and her overpriced matches, Lord Nelson and his ravenous giant orphans, his screeching, present hungry niece (Nicola Brown). Even Queen Victoria is asking for a loan. By the night of Christmas Eve, Blackadder and his assistant Baldrick (Tony Robinson) have nothing to eat for Christmas, no presents to give each other, they don't even have a Christmas tree. Blackadder goes to bed, and in the night is visited by a ghost (Robbie Coltrane), who goes around giving visions and warnings to those who need it. He doesn't have much to say to Blackadder, he has been a good man all his life. In fact, says the ghost, it's quite an achievement, considering who some of Ebenezer's ancestors were. Ebenezer becomes curious, and the ghost flashes back to both Elizabethian times and the reign of mad King George, where the Blackadder's of the past manipulate and scheme among the holly. They also see the future, but that's another story...
Like I said, I thought the concept, a reversed Scrooge, was an interesting one. I also really liked the period costumes and sets. Along with some of the sillier dialogue, it was almost like one of those English pantomimes. However, some of the gags were in a bit of bad taste, and I thought the ending was frustrating, doubly so considering the twist in the story.
If the Region 2 edition of the DVD is anything like the Region 4 version, there won't be any special features, apart from a basic menu and subtitles. It's fairly short for a DVD, actually.
Funniest Christmas Show EVER December 9, 2005
Stephanie S. Thiele (Mesa, AZ USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a totally hilarious twist on the Dicken's classic. A must own for any British comedy or Blackadder fans.
"Blackadder's Christmas Carol" should be a Christmas classic.
Especially interesting to watch if you are a fan of the TV show, "House".
Highly recommended!
New Twist on an Old Tale January 7, 2005
J. S. Kaminski (Aberdeen, NJ United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This hilarious episode of the Black Adder series parodies Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," and does it quite well. The twist here is, instead of the main character being an awful person in need of an attitude adjustment, like Ebeneezer Scrooge, Black Adder is already "the kindest man in England." However, after a visit from a Christmas ghost, he, too, changes his ways, with disastrous results for England, and for him! If you enjoy the Black Adder series, you should enjoy this, too. Five stars!
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