Review written by Christian Garcia
On the 6th day of Christmas, ole Cee Gee gave to me: the original resting Grinch face!
Background:
How The Grinch Stole Christmas is one of Dr. Seuss’s most beloved classics and most kids my age was exposed to it through the 1966 film. I remember being shown it for the first time when I was in elementary school, and I fell in love with it instantly.
Over the years, whenever I see commercials or pictures relating to Christmas, the Grinch's face is one of the first I see. The Grinch has become a holiday icon and the original 66 film is where it began.
My Thoughts:
While many are fans of the 2000 Jim Carey adaptation, I personally prefer the original 1966 animated version. When I think of how the Grinch looks and sounds, Boris Karloff’s portrayal is the first to come to mind. That iconic creepy grin is the face that always comes to mind when I think of the Grinch as well as the classic song, “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”. The montage of the Grinch making his Santa outfit inspired me to try and do the same as a kid and I did try but did not get as good results.
I also prefer the storytelling aspect of the 66 film much more. The Grinch is a character that I didn’t need to know that much of his backstory and felt that his actions and demeanor told me enough. While I commend the later films for trying to give him more character, I felt the tragic backstory route makes his turn in the end less effective because it is not a mere grump finding and accepting the good in his heart but the redemption of a tragic hero and that makes it less impactful for me.
Also, I loved the ending much better in the 66-version compared to the Carrey version as I feel it got across the original message of the story much stronger. In both remakes, the Who’s have to convince themselves that Christmas means much more than presents and decorations whereas in the original they didn’t even notice they were gone and were caught up in the feeling of Christmas. The Grinch’s change of heart comes from seeing how despite his efforts to steal their gifts and decorations, he couldn’t steal their spirit and it helps him realize that Christmas means a little bit more.
Conclusion:
The original How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a timeless classic that holds up almost 60 years later. It’s simple storytelling and character writing creates what I believe to be the best film adaptation of the Seuss classic. The classic grin and song are iconic creations that have become synonymous with Christmas. It’s lesson of how the spirit of Christmas is not tied to the presents and decoration but to the wonderful feeling it gives us all. It’s a timeless lesson that has stuck with me and is one that will continue to ring true for generations to come.
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