Holiday Rhymes - The Grinch

 

Here for your consideration 

Two versions of a classic, 

One carries a valid lesson 

While the other is a bit bombastic. 

Both are adaptations 

Of a Dr. Seuss tale, 

One would live on as a legend 

While the other would mostly fail. 

Even so, they both have merit 

In their own unique way, 

Let us look deeper into their eyes 

That are as yellow as an autumn day. 

We first draw are attention 

To the animated short, 

Released in 1966 

With much creative support. 

Boris Karloff plays The Grinch

A memorable performance indeed, 

His voice is distinct and powerful 

Like a raging stampede. 

With animation by Chuck Jones 

A legend in his time, 

He did Loony Toons plus Tom & Jerry 

Hilariously sublime. 

It carries the essence

Of Seuss’s story with ease, 

Made with love and passion 

Hardly anyone disagrees. 

Now let’s look at the other one 

Made twenty years ago, 

Is it as good as the original? 

Not quite, mi amigo. 

It doesn’t look as pretty 

With colors washed out and muted. 

And whoever the cinematographer was 

Really needs to be booted. 

The images are too soft 

With movement at full throttle, 

Which would not be so bad 

If the lens wasn’t a Coke bottle. 

Too many subplots 

Plague the main story, 

Hack writers inserting bad padding 

As if it were mandatory. 

But despite these issues 

There is a bright side, 

Jim Carry as The Grinch 

Showing his range to be wide. 

Jim plays the character 

With silliness and conviction, 

Showing his talent as a performer 

Has no known restriction. 

Special mention must be made 

For the costume he had to wear, 

It was itchy, scratchy and painful 

In short, a total bear. 

His eyes especially 

Suffered intense pain, 

The contact lenses were large 

And irritated the whole membrane. 

Despite that, Jim persevered 

And give it all his best, 

He played the part like a pro 

Almost with no rest. 

While both versions are fun 

In their own unique way, 

The animated original is best 

Like fine coffee at a French Cafe. 

Jim Carry is loads of fun 

And he did do his best, 

But when it comes to the essence of the story 

The original wins with no contest. 

Next time, another comparison 

Of a classic Holiday tale, 

Join me as we place them both 

On the quality measuring scale. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.