As we have established in past posts, The Blog is an unapologetic secular humanist.
Or, if you prefer, a Godless, atheist, liberal.
Whatever.
We have also established that this atheist loves Christmas.
The music.
The giving.
The receiving.
The lights and decorations.
The Advent Wreath.
The stories, the movies and the T.V. specials.
The PC has lamented the fact that some who identify as Christian are so wrapped up in "The Reason for the Season" that they miss the point.
Now, The Blog would never presume to speak for Jesus.
But, he suspects that if J.C. could speak directly to the sanctimonious, "CHRISTmas" crowd, he would say this....
"It's not about the person, people! It's about the message.
Peace on Earth. Goodwill toward all."
"And, yeah, I mean ALL. Not just men."
With that in mind, The Blog would like to say a few words about what he believes is the best secular Christmas story, ever.
For a whole lot of info about The Grinch, give the wikipedia page a gander.
Can you see why I consider this the best Christmas story, ever?
Message before the man. The way The Blog presumes that Big J.C. would want it.
Neither God nor Jesus is ever mentioned in the story.
Santa Clause is mentioned (and impersonated) but never appears. Suggesting that in Whoville, as in the real world, Santa is a symbol of the message of Christmas.
And, okay, maybe a way to keep the kids in line for, at least, one month a year.
And that message, one more time, is "Peace and goodwill."
The story of The Grinch is the ultimate story of redemption.
Yes, it has been told before.
In The Blog's second favorite Christmas story, Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."
(It has just occurred to your old PC that Jim Carrey has played both The Grinch and Ebenezer Scrooge on screen. Coincidence? I think so!)
The original Dr. Seuss book was published two years before The Blog was born. I assume that it was successful then, but, as The Blog was a mere Blogling at the time, I didn't really become aware of the story until 1966 when it was made into an animated special, directed by the only animator, at the time, up to the task of adapting Dr. Seuss. Chuck Jones. The Warner Brothers director was not only responsible for the best Bugs Bunny cartoons and all of The Roadrunner episodes, he has also tackled Seuss' "Horton" stories as WB shorts.
The TV special starred Boris Karloff as both the narrator and the voice of The Grinch. Possibly the most understated portrayal of the green guy that would ever occur!
And, oh! That song! Sung by the improbably named Thurl Ravenscroft, his basso profundo voice also known for his work for Disney ("Grim, Grinning Ghosts") and as Tony the Tiger.
Others lent their voices to The Grinch over the years, including Zero Mostel and Hans Conried.
Which brings us to the movie version.
It is fashionable to hate the movie version. But, I don't hate it. I thought that it was really well done.
Directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carey, they did what was necessary to make a story that took 30 minutes including commercial breaks to tell into a feature length movie.
But, it was beautifully made! The sets, costumes and make-up. The best of Hollywood!
I can't fault Jim Carrey, too much, for chewing the scenery. That is what he does.
And Taylor Momsen, adorable moppet that she was, was a little too old to play Cindy Lou Who ("who was no more than two.")
Wait! No!
Sorry. Google images came up with that first pic first. And The Blog is wondering how so much time has passed that Cindy Lou Who is now hot.
The Blog is feeling old!
Most recently, The Grinch has appeared on stage, on Broadway and on tour. Still chewing scenery. Still fun!
It is almost midnight, Christmas Eve. Time to wrap it up before Santa comes.
Merry Christmas to all of my bloglitts!
Don't overdo the Who pudding and go easy on the rare roast beast!
No comments:
Post a Comment