A countless number of Christmas movies come out during the holiday season; however, none can compete with the iconic Grinch movie. Once I heard that a new, updated version of The Grinch was being created, I could not help but go watch it as soon as it was released. However, I was disappointed.

The movie is based on the concept of the Grinch plotting to steal Christmas. Due to the Grinch’s past, the holiday of Christmas does not bring joyous thoughts as it does to the Whos down in Whoville. It brings him bitter and disheartening thoughts. The Grinch—who once lived in Whoville—has separated himself from the loving, merry Whos that are chaotic preparing for Christmas. He lives within one of the copious mountains that tower over the small, smiling, sparkling town. Christmas is drawing near, and the mere sight of the lights from down below in Whoville causes the Grinch’s stomach to turn.

The Grinch plans to steal Christmas and creates an elaborate plan until Christmas night when he meets a Who: Cindy Lou. The movie follows both of these characters throughout; it periodically switches points of views giving the viewer two stories in one. Drastically different from the Grinch’s plan, Cindy Lou is in desperate need of meeting and catching Santa before Christmas day. Through her journey, she portrays how putting others before yourself is the true meaning of Christmas.

When the words The Grinch flashed across the screen, my heart swelled. I could not wait to watch the remake of one of my favorite childhood movies. Although, while watching the new—and what I was expecting improved—Grinch movie, I was immensely disappointed. The feel-good Christmas movie I had first watched several years ago, when it first came out in 2000, was far superior to the one displaying across the screen.

The old Grinch movie which I had desperately loved had changed for the worst. The characters who had once been played by actors and actresses were now cartoons made on a computer screen. The liveliness and joy that once radiated off the Whos and traveled through the screen were now lost between the pixels—like a phone in a bed.

The modern twist on the plot was inspiring, and at some times, very heartwarming. The plot slowly became less about Christmas and the Grinch’s aspirations to ruin it. Instead, it focused mainly on Cindy Lou. Some scenes from the original were deleted entirely in the new version, and some of the most famous quotes from the earlier movie were left out—for example, “That’s it. I’m not going.” Although some of my favorite parts were missing, several scenes were added that made the movie were quite amusing, but they were not enough. The new Grinch movie became more comical, putting a lighthearted aspect on the movie at certain times, but the Grinch that had once stole my heart did not do the same many years later.

Overall, the movie failed to catch my full attention, but the details in the animated characters did not. As the characters danced across the screen, I was able to notice all the meticulous detail put into the characters and scenery, slightly making up for memorable scenes that were forgotten and the lack of real-life actors and actresses.

As the final scene closed, I was highly upset that the movie had not lived up to the hype. To the younger generations, the movie was heartwarming and wonderful, but for those who have seen the first Grinch movie, it was a letdown. Major parts and details were missing that left holes within the movie. Although change can be for the better, at times, this was not the case.

As I was greatly anticipating some of my favorite parts, they never came. The remake of the famous How the Grinch Stole Christmas was poorly thought up and not worth the hour and 45 minutes spent watching.