10s Movie Review - The Grinch

Director: Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Cameron Seeley, Pharrell Williams, Kenan Thompson, Angela Lansbury

I WATCHED THIS FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 52: A CHRISTMAS MOVIE
 
Description: A grumpy Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.

Review: The children’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss was published in 1957 and became a classic. It’s about a grumpy green monster, the Grinch, who wants to sabotage Christmas. This third film adaptation (an animation in 1966 and a live-action in 2000) comes from animation studio Illumination (“Despicable Me”) and faithfully follows the book.

You would say that the film doesn’t really add anything, because it’s practically the same. But I really loved this animated version of “The Grinch”. It has a modern tone, which slightly clashes with the original story at times, but that’s all. The classic Christmas story remains irresistible, and the humor, design and voices are very well-done. I think people should appreciate it more.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 5: Anastasia

Director: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
Genre: Animation/ Drama/ Musical/ Adventure
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 1997
Starring: Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Angela Lansbury, Christopher Lloyd, Hank Azaria, Kirsten Dunst

Description: The last surviving child of the Russian Royal Family joins two con men to reunite with her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, while the undead Rasputin seeks her death.

Review: The Romanov family flees during their royal celebration, when they are being cursed by counsel man Grigori Rasputin. Short before he predicts that the entire Romanov family will die within two week, the Russian revolution starts. The 8 year old Anastasia and her grandmother manage to escape, but get separated. Years later, Anastasia leaves an orphanage, with no memory of the past, trying to find out where to go.
The film is inspired by the real life story of the Romanov family and their missing daughter Anastasia. The animation is beautiful and the songs have depth. I really liked Anastasia as a character, but also Dimitri. The villain is a bit flat, we don’t really get to know much about him. Which makes him less scary than intended.
The story also has depth and the ending is not typically Disney. “Anastasia” is a overlooked and underrated Disney animation. One Disney princess they always forget about.

Rating: 4/ 5