Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Full Screen) | 
| Actors: Christine Baranski, Jim Carrey, David Costabile, Michael Dahlen, Josh Ryan Evans
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.98
Buy Used: $1.62
You Save: $25.36 (94%)
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Rating:  316 reviews
Sales Rank: 30251
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dvd, Full Screen, Live, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.6
MPN: D21275D
ISBN: 0783258259
UPC: 025192127526
EAN: 9780783258256
ASIN: B00005LOUQ
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2000
Release Date: October 7, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Under a thick carpet of green-dyed yak fur and wonderfully expressive Rick Baker makeup, Jim Carrey is up to all of his old tricks (and some nifty new ones) in this live-action movie of Dr. Seuss's holiday classic. He commands the title role with equal parts madness, mayhem, pathos, and improvisational genius, channeling Grinchness through his own screen persona so smoothly that fans of both Carrey and Dr. Seuss will be thoroughly satisfied. Adding to the fun is a perfectly pitched back-story sequence (accompanied by Anthony Hopkins's narration) that explains how the Grinch came to hate Christmas, with a heart "two sizes too small." Ron Howard proves a fine choice for the director's chair with a keen balance of comedy, sentiment, and light-hearted Seussian whimsy. Production designer Michael Corenblith gloriously realizes the wackiness of Whoville architecture, and his rendition of the Grinch's Mt. Crumpit lair is a marvel of cartoonish, subterranean grime. Then there's Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), the thoughtful imp who rallies her village to recapture the pure spirit of Christmas and melts the gift-stealing Grinch's cold, cold heart. You've even got a dog (the Grinch's good-natured mongrel, Max) who's been perfectly cast, so what's not to like about this dazzling yuletide movie? The production gets a bit overwhelmed by its own ambition, and the citizens of Whoville (including Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon, and Bill Irwin) pale in comparison to Carrey's inspired lunacy, but who cares? If a movie can unleash Jim Carrey at his finest, revamp the Grinch story, and still pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. Seuss, you can bet it qualifies as rousing entertainment. (Ages 5 and older.) --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
INSIDE A SNOWFLAKE EXISTS THE MAGICAL LAND OF WHOVILLE. IN WHOVILLE, LIVE THE WHO'S AN ALMOST MUTATED SORT OF MUNCHKINLIKE PEOPLE. ALL THE WHO'S LOVE CHRISTMAS, YET JUST OUTSIDE OF THEIR BELOVED WHOVILLE LIVES THE GRINCH. THE GRINCH IS A NASTY CREATURE THAT HATES CHRISTMAS.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 311 more reviews...
 Problematic, but can be overcome with discernment and discussion April 15, 2009
Bachelier (Ile de France)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Ron Howard's adaptation of Theodor Geissel's (Dr. Suess) "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (HGSC) is a problematic film for parents: it is both horrible excess and conveys an important, although flawed, message.
Let me be clear on my perspective: I am a traditional Catholic, and I firmly believe Christmas is the Church's commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. I also believe that in keeping with the festive nature of this glorious event that expressions of joy are not to be shunned. However, Christmas is a season (the twelve days of Christmas, from December 25th to January 6th, with expressions of Christmas joy extending all the way to Candlemass).
Jim Carey gives a Jim Carey performance, which is indistinguishable in my book from his excesses in "the Mask" or his other frolics. If you like Jim Carey you'll like his Grinch. I must admit I was amazed that he could convey any expression at all from under his makeup.
The assorted other characters, save the smallest Who in Whoville and the dog, are reduced to cameos, so it is suffice to say that they are adequate, although they too suffer under much make-up.
But larger than any character is the art direction: these sets make "Hook" look like a back alley, with distinct and unique cars, shops, homes, terrain, streets, light fixtures, etc. If this didn't win the Oscar for art direction it should have, simply because of the sheer magnitude of it.
Which leads to its flaws: the sets overwhelm everything and are too much, in a way that baroque or rococo is not too much. And Howard's direction and camera shots make all the detail so constantly in-your-face and overwhelming that you can scarcely follow the story.
The story is mindlessly expanded from Geissel's original fable, with evident padding and a ridiculous sub-plot about a romance between the Grinch and the prettiest girl in town and her present suitor, the self-satisfied and vain mayor.
Which leads to the story's redemptive portion: it does attack the commercialization and emphasis on the giving of presents that mass consumer culture has produced. While I'm no Jansenist, such excess is self evident. But the film's excesses itself blunt this simple message, and disarm the argument through its hypocrisy. In addition, it says, and says loudly "Christmas is NOT about giving presents" but what it offers up is that Christmas is about....warm feelings we have for each other.
News flash to Hollywood: that is NOT what Christmas is about.
it appears it will be ever thus, in Hollywood's constant safe space of always trying to be politically correct it cannot ever say anything. A pity. Given the evident success of Mel Gibson's "The Passion" and the financial success of the Narnia films over the Golden Compass you'd think their wallets would figure it out for them.
Nevertheless, I don' find HGSC all that offensive or damaging to the observant Christian home. It is piffle, but harmless piffle. The cartoonish excess is annoying, but it has some morbid appeal to children that is ultimately correctable through conversation.
2 and 1/2 stars actually April 15, 2009
Dylan Schultz
This version of the Grinch is not true to the original. First of all, this Grinch does not act at all like the old Grinch. This Grinch is hyper: It is as if the Grinch somehow came down with A.D.H.D. The old version of the Grinch was soft spoken, yet wicked.
This Grinch was a pack-rat with all sorts of crap, whereas the old Grinch was a simpleton who lived modestly in a cold, dark, empty, lonely cave. This Grinch had a history with the Who village. The old Grinch wasn't an active member of the Who village and never had been. Dr, Seuss left this part out on purpose: To give the Grinch wickedness for no other reason than just because. If they wanted to elaborate, they should have made it dark and tried to explain the real Grinch. Instead they just stared from scratch and made him obnoxious.
This story missed a valuable opportunity. When you remake something, may it be a story or a song or whatever, you should try to tell it in a new way but by staying true to it's essence. It is not every day that a classic is reborn. This film could have been something special. Instead, it is filled with cheezy, dated humor. Worst of all, it misses the theme/moral of the Dr. Seuss story. Dr. Seuss wrote poetry with meaning for children of all ages. This Grinch actively spoke against rhyming. I don't understand it at all - not funny. Worst of all, the meaning is gone. The original story was about a single act of kindness towards a weary soul, and the outstanding impression that it can have. This story has missed the target. This Grinch seems immune to kindness. Even in the beginning of this movie the little girl is kind to this Grinch, but he remains grinchy until the very end. The moral of this story is, "don't bother, people don't change unless they want to themselves." Although this may sometimes be true, it's not a virtue.
Also, the magic of Whoville is lost. Esthetically, this film was amazing, however, the Who people were ordinary. Dr. Seuss books were meant to take us all away from the modernity of life to a timeless place where things don't make much sense. There was too much BS in this film. The Who people are supposed to be a pure breed. They appreciate Christmas for all the right reasons. Here, the Who people are covered in human flaws; greed, jealousy, competition, etc. And worst of all, they talk about and do very normal things. This was not a magical place. It was an average town where people just looked different. I gave 2 and 1/2 stars because the set was very very good, but the writing sucked.
I don't think I will ever watch this again. It is a dated film and will be lost along the wayside in years to come, while the original cartoon version of this story will last forever. I think Dr. Seuss would be ashamed that his name is associated with this film. It isn't worthy.
 Funny for kids and adults!!! April 10, 2009
Catarina Carreiro (Massacusetts)
Great movie for kids and adults. I love this movie and always have. My 3 year old son LOVES this even when it is not Christmas. He laughes so hard at "the Grinch", Jim Carrey does an amazing job. I thought he would get scared but he doesn't at all. He watches it over and over. I don't mind because I always find something new and there is some mild adult humor that he can't pick up on.
Funny March 27, 2009
Gloria M. Rappuhn (Mich)
Gave this to my (Jewish) boss for Christmas he apsolutly loved it and thought it was the best gift we ever got him along with some Grinch boxers LOL His girls enjoyed it too.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas February 14, 2009
Richard A. Rasor (Grass Valley, CA)
This film took the story of Grinch and stretched it by having Jim Carrey act the leading comedy role. Expertly filmed and directed, most people will find the Grinch very funny, that is, if you like Jim Carrey's style of comedy. If you are a dedicated fan of Dr. Seuss, you may find that this rendition takes too many liberties with the original story. However, our family watches Grinch at least twice a year, especially near Christmas, and continue to laugh and laugh. Kids will love it.
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