Entertainment
Original or Remake: Holiday Movie Edition
We live in a day and age where every good idea is worth recycling over and over again. Did you like Spider-Man? Great, here are three different versions? How about Ghostbusters? Try them with women? Despite the endless supply of creative writers out there (ahem), Hollywood loves to go back to the same old well to produce stories we’ve all seen before. And it’s no wonder why. We love them. Some are awful. Others are outstanding. Hollywood will keep trying until they get it right… and then try some more. Holiday movies are no exception. Let’s stack up these original Christmas movies with their remakes and see what comes out on top.
The Grinch
There are a few movies that are an absolute staple around Christmas time. A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s a Wonderful Life – just to name a few. And of course, The Grinch. But which Grinch does your household watch? For years, there was only one choice: the classic, animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, released in 1966. Then in 2000, Jim Carrey put on the green in the live-action version. Which did you watch? Let’s see how they measure up.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Runtime: 26 minutes
Animations were based on Dr. Seuss’ drawings
Narrator, Boris Karloff delivers an evil, wicked Grinch
“You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch!” Recognize that voice? That’s Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice of Tony, the Tiger
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Runtime: 1hr 44 minutes
Jim Carrey goes full cartoon in his portrayal of the Grinch
Narrated by Anthony Hopkins
We get to see the Grinch as a little kid. Cool or terrifying? You decide.
A Christmas Carol
Another Literary classic about a grump ruining Christmas, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a timeless story about the importance of kindness and generosity. This story has been told and retold so many times in so many forms, it might be impossible to compare them all. Instead, let’s compare two of the fan favorites.
Scrooged (1988)
It’s that other movie from the 80s with ghosts starring Bill Murray
A modern take with vintage Murray laughs
The hair. Oh, the hair!
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Muppet hecklers, Waldorf and Statler are funny and spooky as Jacob and Robert Marley
The Great Gonzo narrates as Charles Dickens with his comical sidekick Rizzo the Rat
Great Music! (unless you count that super sad song sung by Scrooge’s girlfriend, Belle
Miracle on 34th Street
Some of the greatest Christmas movies grapple with the relationship of Christmas wonder and the real world. The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen is about a cynical divorcee forced into the role of the magical Santa. Jon Favreau’s Elf, starring Will Ferrell is about an Elf from the North Pole coming to New York to meet his real father. This injection of Holiday magic into everyday life is what we all hope for this time of year and no story does it better than A Miracle on 34th Street. But which version to watch?
A Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Edmund Gwenn might be the real Santa Claus
Takes place in Macy’s
The old school black and white movie on the TV next to the fireplace is might as well be a Norman Rockwell painting
A Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Mara Wilson’s (Matilda) peak adorability
Takes place in ‘Cole’s’
They sprung for reindeer
What’s Played in Your House
It simply is not the Holiday season until we build a fire, bake some cookies, and watch some of these classic movies. Every household has its own list of Christmas movie essentials. What kind of house are you in? Parents, have your kids not seen the original Grinch? Kids, do your parents make you watch that old black and white movie? Whatever you watch, these movies will be sure to add to your holiday cheer.