You know its Christmas time when the cinemas begin releasing the festive season movies.

The release of Walt Disney’s, A Christmas Carol, is a wake up to all the people out there that the Christmas season is just around the corner.

The family movie, featuring funny man Jim Carrey, is now currently showing at selected cinemas and IMAX theatres throughout Australia.

Carey plays the role of a Christmas hating spirit, called Ebonezer Scrooge.

Scrooge is a financial money changer who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth.

He looks at everything else that isn’t money as not worthwhile, including friendship, love and the Christmas season.

But an encounter with the ghostly figure of Jacob Marley (Gary Oldman) sets the stage for a mysterious and magical encounter with three ghostly beings to help him realize the true magic of Christmas itself.

As a visual, this movie is a masterpiece, an at times you’ll actually question yourself whether you are watching a computer animated screen, or a real movie.

The animation team has done an amazing job of making the characters look visually appealing, and it really enhances the viewing of the film.

The movie itself is a dark and different adaptation of a well-known Christmas tale, and while it does a great job of encapsulating viewers, it does let itself down at times its indifferent plot.

There are times where viewers will be frightened and scared, but also moments where their hearts will beat faster from emotional overload.

A Christmas Carol is out now and is a good movie for all families after a Christmas flick.

Three stars