Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

Cinemas often have limited re-releases of classic Christmas films for people to check out every year in December. Over the years, I’ve had a fair share of cinema experiences of Christmas films like ‘The Polar Express’, ‘Elf’ and the first two ‘Home Alone’ movies.

This year, I decided not to check out so many Christmas films at the cinema and just focus on one film that I wanted to see on the big screen. That is of course the 2000 film ‘The Grinch’, starring Jim Carrey, which has its celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. 🙂

I’m amazed it’s been 25 years since the release of the 2000 film ‘The Grinch’ at cinemas. I didn’t see ‘The Grinch’ when it came out in 2000, but I enjoyed it when I had the film as a Christmas present on DVD from one of my Dad’s work colleagues in December 2001. 🙂

‘The Grinch’ was my first experience of Jim Carrey as a comedic actor before I saw him in ‘Liar, Liar’, ‘Bruce Almighty’ and of course ‘Batman Forever’. This was also my first experience of Jim Carrey in a Christmas film before he did 2009’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. 🙂

As I never saw the film on the big screen before, it was only fair that I check it out at the cinema especially to celebrate its 25th anniversary. I’m very pleased I saw the film at the cinema lately, as it’s one of my guilty pleasures and it was good to see it on the big screen.

I saw the film at Showcase Cinema in Nantgarw close to where I live in Cardiff. The screening for the film for last Saturday afternoon – 20th of December – was well-attended. I didn’t expect to see many people attend the film. It must be a beloved classic.

Like with many re-releases of films I’ve seen at the cinema, I was able to pick out more details on the big screen compared to seeing ‘The Grinch’ on the small screen. I was able to spot Jim Carrey as the Grinch in more shots compared to what I would see on the DVD.

A thing I noticed immediately when the film started is that the title for it is simply ‘The Grinch’. Not ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’. I know that sounds like an odd thing to mention, but sometimes the film is promoted as being ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’.

I personally prefer simply calling it ‘The Grinch’, since the other title is quite a mouthful. I was expecting the ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ title to come up when I saw it at the cinema. When it didn’t, it was a relief for me. I wonder if it’s different in the USA though. 😐

‘The Grinch’ can easily be considered a zany Christmas comedy film, especially when you have Jim Carrey doing his antics and being very expressive in his Grinch makeup, which must have been hard work for him. But the film does have quite a special message.

Usually, when it comes to Christmas, we can be so wrapped up in the glitz and present-giving that we forgot the importance of what Christmas is all about. For me, as a Christian, it’s about the birth of baby Jesus, but there’s also the message of being with family as well.

The film does touch upon on the temporary loss of the gifts and the ache that many go through when Christmas is stolen by the Grinch. I’m sure many kids would be crushed if they found the gifts they were hoping to have weren’t there for them on Christmas Day. 😐

Thankfully, the film reminds us that the gifts and glamour of Christmas isn’t the important thing, as Lou Lou Who defends his daughter Cindy Lou Who when telling Mayor May Who that being with family and friends at Christmas time is a lot more important than the gifts.

It’s probably why ‘The Grinch’ as a film appeals to me, as we can get so wrapped up in the build-up to Christmas that we forget the importance of peace on Earth and good will towards everyone. I’m glad ‘The Grinch’ has that as well as having its comedy and fantasy.

I’m very pleased I got to see ‘The Grinch’ on the big screen for the first time at the cinema lately. ‘The Grinch’ starring Jim Carrey is one of my favourite Christmas films and having seen it umpteen times on DVD, it was terrific to get a fresh perspective on it at the cinema.

The performances of the cast are excellent in the film, including Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon and the dog Kelley that plays Max. The director Ron Howard also excels delivering this enjoyable festive film.

Incidentally, Ron Howard’s daughter Bryce Dallas Howard (credited as Bryce Howard in the film) plays a Surprised Who in the film. Who would have thought it? 😀 The set design, the costume and how the cast portray the Whos of Whoville are creative and imaginative.

Whilst I’ve not seen the 2018 ‘Grinch’ film very often, I do prefer the 2000 film more over than that film. I should check out the original 1966 TV special ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ sometime. It’ll be interesting to compare it to the 2000 film that I enjoy so much.

Thanks for reading!

Bye for now!

Tim 🙂