The beginning of December brings happiness and holiday cheer. At my house it signals baking cookies and wrapping presents, along with putting up and decorating the towering ten foot tall Christmas tree. Classic holiday films play on television such as the 2000 remake of Dr. Seuss’ classic book How the Grinch Stole Christmas. As a child, I waited, giddy with excitement, at the theatre just to see the debut. Looking back, I was probably as thrilled for the movie as for Christmas itself. Because I fell in love with the story, this movie is a favorite choice during the month of December at my house. Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen give their characters meaning and significance in multiple ways and the use of sound, music, and visual elements are also critical to the movie.
Ever since the Grinch, Jim Carrey, was little, he struggled to fit in with the Whos in Whoville. His unusual personality and green, hairy body worked against him. Now an adult who lives up on Mount Crumpit, the Grinch has become more like a myth. The townspeople treat him as if he was the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot whenever he goes out in public. Furthermore, his attitude doesn't help. The Grinch is purposefully a troublemaker who seems to hate everything and everyone. In Jim Carrey, the Grinch comes to life with energy and vivid role playing. Ron Howard's goal was to get as many of Carey's jokes and tricks on screen as possible while sticking to the main story. They introduce several sub-plots such as little Cindy Lou Who's, Taylor Momsen, constant inquiring about the Grinch. Cindy Lou, the heroine of the film, is a smart seven-year-old whose only wish is that those around her would realize the true meaning of Christmas. Momsen is adorable as the free spirited and ...
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...eaths. The use of color in the gift wrappings and festive trimmings strengthens the mood of holiday cheer and joy. In contrast, the mountain above Whoville is large, appearing to loom over the town. As the viewers know, it is the home of the Grinch. The Grinch is a mean spirited villain sporting yellow teeth and covered in green hair. His appearance gives a frightening effect and enhances his hateful actions.
The use of characterization, music and sound effects, and visual techniques help make Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas a spirited, family friendly film. It is perfect for curling up on the couch with a warm mug of hot chocolate during the Christmas season. Add decorating and baking holiday goodies for the overall experience. Nothing matches spending the holidays with close family and friends. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Whether or not you consider Ron Howard's version of Dr Seuss's classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas comical, yet disgraceful, there's no ignoring the little green monster's reign over the box office. The movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey, was released in November of 2000, reaching a gross high of over $200 million in the U.S alone (The Numbers). However, I feel that this version has over exaggerated the original story, and I will back this up by showing many examples of how Dr. Seuss’s classic turned into a marketing, franchise frenzy.
Seuss, The Grinch is the main protagonist in this tale, but not much background is given on this green fellow. In the story, The Grinch is accompanied by his dog, Max, throughout most of the movie. Max acts as a sidekick that helps the Grinch, but is somewhat of an underdog. But puns aside, Max wasn’t treated the best by the Grinch in most of the movie. The Grinch made him pull an entire sleigh which held the Grinch and all of the Whos’ Christmas food, gifts, and decorations. While Max is pulling the sleigh, The Grinch is continuously yelling at him to make him move faster despite the extremely heavy weight on his shoulders, and expects him to carry all of it on his lonesome. To add onto that, The Grinch makes Max help, treating Max almost like a slave, which is extremely unethical and should never be done. But The Grinch doesn’t really even treat Max like a worker, Max just does what he’s told, and doesn’t get much out of the things he’s done for the
In the film, A Christmas Story, directed by Bob Clarke, Ralph Parker tells the story of a noteworthy childhood Christmas. The story takes viewers through Ralphie’s trials and tribulations in the weeks leading up to the holiday. Throughout the film, he narrates over specific events in order to highlight its significance to that Christmas as well as its impact on his childhood and adulthood. An example of a major moment is when Ralphie is assigned a paragraph from his teacher over what he wants for Christmas.
From the beginning of the movie with the birth of Rudolph and the discovery of his bright red nose, he was demeaned. Mrs. Donner states we will “simply have to overlook it”, and perhaps “he’ll outgrow it”, Santa sadly retorts “let’s
A Christmas Carol is a classic novel with lessons that is universally recognized. Scrooge is a cold-hearted, bitter, and greedy man who detests Christmas. Joy is his enemy and he believes it to be unnecessary. Scrooge realizes a great deal about himself and those around him because of the spirits of Christmas Present, Past, and Future visits. Through those visits, he undergoes a transformation that effects the rest of his life. Ebenezer Scrooge sees firsthand how temptation can corrupt and how redemption can save.
With her justification, of the Whoville law, that all Whos should be able to attend not because of their outer appearance. As the mayor, Maywho objectifies the crowd believes in what Cindy Lou says. However, the mayor does not want that to happen as argues if he is not here I will accept the award. Cindy Lou was able to break the law of not speaking about or to the Grinch as well as have the people in the town agree to invite him to the celebration. When the Grinch goes mad because of the razor gift he received Cindy Lou and her family were all shamed and looked down upon by everyone in Whoville for what they did and it was their fault for breaking the norm (not inviting the Grinch). Later on, because the Grinch took all the presents the people in the town were able to see the true meaning of Christmas and that is family so in an indirect way the Grinch also broke the norm of just accepting gifts on that day. The Grinch proved that although his appearance and personality were he truly knew what the Charismas spirit was and it wasn’t all about the gifts, lights, or celebrations but family was the key part in it
However a little girl named Cindy Lou Who is feeling depressed and lacking the holiday spirit. When her brother and his friends return from climbing Mount Crumpit, claiming they saw the Grinch, Cindy Lou grows curious of the Grinch. The Grinch is a mean spirited villain sporting yellow teeth and covered in green hair. His small heart has no room for feeling while his only friend is his dog, Max. The holiday season is especially despised by the Grinch. He has an extreme hate for Christmas and holiday cheer. The Grinch tri...
The drama of A Christmas Carol is a very popular selection as it brings out the Christmas spirit of even the stone-hearted. It starts with a grumpy old man named Ebenezer Scrooge. He dislikes Christmas and wants nothing to do with it. In order for him to gain his Christmas spirit back he is taken to his past, present, and future by three different ghosts. Doing this helps him to realize what Christmas is about. The turning point of the play is when Scrooge sees his own grave. This made him fully understand what he has done and what needs to be fixed. Ebenezer makes many
In 1966, while heading up the animation division at MGM Studios, Jones directed one of the most memorable holiday television specials ever produced, “Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” First aired on Sunday, December 18, 1966, the half-hour special was met with glowing reviews from newspapers across the country and has since become one of the most beloved holiday programs on television.
The theme of Christmas spirit stays constant through the novella and the three versions of the movie. The purpose of this Christmas
The Grinch is an individual, who is bitter and lives in a cave on the snowy Mount Crumpits, which is 10,000 feet tall and north of Whoville town. The Grinch age is unknown, however looks to be about in his mid-40s and is unemployed. Thus, results in him spending a lot of time alone in his cave with his dog, Max, as his social companion. At any rate, the Grinch faced many issues when he was younger, causing his current behavior, where he was abandoned as a child, and made fun of because of his look and horrendous appearance at school and as a way to cope he decided to run away. The Grinch behavior shows signs of depression, aggression, and irritation though out a large sum of the movie. In that case, the kid that use to make fun of
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966&2000) explains not only the life of the Grinch but the Whos as well. Through the theorists of Karen Horney and Erik Erikson, viewers can learn why the Grinch’s personality is formed. Not only had it formed, but through the years it transformed.
It is hard to believe that there is anyone on the planet that hasn't heard of the story "A Christmas Carol". Although it isn't hard to believe that people do not realize that there are differences between movies and novels. In this case, that fits right into that subject. Here are some of the differences between the movie and the novel.
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens is a tale of the morality changes of a man. The uncharitable, cold heart of the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, melts with ardent love as he receives visitations from three Christmas spirits who enlighten his soul with wise lessons and bring a warm change to his heart. In the beginning of the novel, Scrooge expresses his vices of greed and cold heartedness by his words and actions, but as the story unfolds, his life is renewed by these Spirits who shed light and truth upon him, resulting in making him become a better man, portraying the virtue of charity.
What if you never received your gifts from Santa on Christmas? Hurry Up Santa! The Musical by Bob Kempf and Andy Philpot is a musical play that tells the reader of a Christmas where Santa Claus oversleeps and Christmas Day turns chaotic. News reporters make the situation worse, however, families all around the world still believe they could still have a jolly Christmas. But with Santa encountering problem after problem on his nocturnal ride and children slowly losing hope, who knows if Christmas can be saved. Hurry Up Santa is an overall great play with an amazing plot and great acting, but has rather average design elements.