Clint Eastwood's A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Last night the woman and I watched GRAN TORINO, which we both enjoyed despite it's somewhat clunky construction. As you're likely aware, Eastwood (who also directed) has declared it to be his swan song as an actor, and it really is his on-screen presence (with all the positive baggage that comes along with it) that is the real reason to watch this one. But there's one thing that I'm really kind of astonished that no critic (that I'm aware of, at least) has pointed out:

We've seen this story before. Many, many times before.

It took me about a half hour into the movie to realize it. There was something about Eastwood's character - Walt, the embittered, old, racist Korean war vet - that was agonizingly familiar. That grumpy demeanor. That fixation on the material (i.e. the Gran Torino). And that low, growling grumble periodically emanating from his throat to terrific comic effect. But at last, it dawned on me.

"He's doing *** Scrooge!"
Albeit a very well-armed one.
How interesting and appropriate that for his final on-screen role, Eastwood would choose what is, essentially, a remake of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (by way of SLINGBLADE). I think we've seen so many adaptations of that Dicken's classic, that we often miss the important, life- changing message it embodies: Life is about loving other people. It's a message worth repeating.
So, really, I could point out all the problems with GRAN TORINO. But then, I wouldn't want to be a Scrooge now, would I?

Cheers,
B