8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The fun begins when the grumpy, grouchy, Yule-hating Grinch plots to ruin the Whos’ Christmas. Can he steal their holiday spirit by stealing their holiday treats? Or does Christmas...perhaps...mean a little bit more? Based on the Dr. Seuss classic.
Family | 100% |
Animation | 82% |
Comedy | 76% |
Fantasy | 48% |
Holiday | 36% |
Musical | 31% |
Short | 17% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
True Stereo track. Not original mono mix.
English SDH, French
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Essentially an upgrade of the 2011 DVD collection Dr. Seuss: Holidays on the Loose, last year's questionably-titled How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Ultimate Edition is almost identical to the previous Blu-ray but adds two loosely-related specials: Halloween is Grinch Night (1977) and The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (1982), both of which have been fullly restored for their Blu-ray debut. For a synopsis of the main feature, please refer to the linked review. Below you'll find write-ups for both new-to-Blu specials, as well as their A/V details -- again, everything else about this disc is essentially the same as before, save for the packaging. (For the most part, that's not a compliment.)
The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (screenshots 7-9) is the black sheep of the family: not only is it a crossover
episode, but it takes place in an environment far removed from his cave above Whoville. The Grinch (voiced by Bob Holt this time) has been
relocated to an apartment in a colorful city, Max still lives with him, and everything's coming up roses...that is, until he renews his Grinchy vows
to spread doom and gloom across the land. He targets The Cat in the Hat (Mason "Smuckers commercial" Adams, who also narrates) after a
near-accident on the road, eventually tormenting him with inventions not far removed from a Road Runner cartoon. Its feel-good coda seems
tacked on, but the memorable score (again by Joe Raposo), solid songwriting, Seuss script, and familiar characters keep everything afloat.
Unfortunately, the animation is even more stripped-down than Grinch Night and, combined with the brighter environment, makes this feel
more like a cheap Saturday morning cartoon than a true "special".
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is sourced from the same master as the previous Blu-ray, albeit re-encoded with an AVC codec at a slightly higher bitrate. Not exactly a tangible upgrade, but then again the old disc looked pretty good to my eyes. That doesn't mean there's no room for improvement, so let's call this "passable" and leave it at that.
And while the other two specials look about the same quality-wise (more due to the cheaper animation and visual design than the restoration), they're a giant leap beyond their DVD counterparts and, in my opinion, worth the price of admission if you're a fan of either one. Image detail and colors are rock-solid with no obvious compression artifacts, aliasing, banding, and other digital eyesores, while the regular appearance of fine grain suggests that no excessive amounts of DNR were applied. Overall, a perfectly fine effort in line with most of WB's animated releases.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas features the same creaky Dolby Digital mix as before. While it's doubtful that lossless audio would've yielded massive improvements, this is very lazy on Warner Bros.' part. Unfortunately, their laziness also extends to the other two specials -- they're stuck with Dolby Digital as well. Dialogue and narration are both intelligible while the music sounds fine (considering the source material, at least), but don't expect anything beyond DVD quality. These vintage toons will never sound brand-new, but compressed audio on a 2018 Blu-ray is ridiculous.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Ultimate Edition arrives in a two-disc keepcase with attractive cover artwork and a slipcover that doesn't shed glitter like the last one. On-disc extras are exactly the same as the 2009 Blu-ray.
Far from an "Ultimate Edition" of its main feature, WB's latest Blu-ray of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at least resurrects two long-lost Grinch specials with new restorations to boot. Beyond that, however, it's basically the same disc as before with a dated (but serviceable) 1080p transfer, Dolby Digital Audio, and a handful of recycled bonus features from the DVD era. A tough one to recommend on principle, but cheap enough for an impulse buy.
+ The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat / Halloween Is Grinch Night
1966
1966
50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
1966
50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition | Exclusive Lenticular + Postcards
1966
The Ultimate Edition | + Halloween Is Grinch Night + The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat | Includes Max Funko Pocket Pop! Keychain
1966
The Ultimate Edition | + Halloween Is Grinch Night / The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat
1966
Deluxe Edition
1969
Deluxe Edition
1970
30th Anniversary Edition
1992
2018
Includes 6 Disney Tales
2017
Peanuts Collection / + It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
1965
Dance Party Edition
2020
1970
2013
Anniversary Edition | The Signature Collection
1989
Ultimate Collector's Edition
1993
Peanuts Collection / + Mayflower Voyagers
1973
2017
2000
50th Anniversary Edition
1963
1974
2008
Grinchmas Edition
2000
1992
2003-2011