How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2000 Film) [Soundtrack]

James Horner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B000050HSZ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,981 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Children's Music

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jim Carrey stars in the Ron Howard adaptation of Dr. Seuss's enduring tale of the evil Grinch in Whoville and the Christmas he looks to sabotage. Carrey also lends his quick mouth to "Grinch 2000," a rap duet with Busta Rhymes, and to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," which he goes alone in a voice somewhere between Buster Poindexter, Don Rickles, and Pavarotti on acid and amphetamines. The mistletoe has its place above country-pop star Faith Hill, who delivers the album's first single, "Where Are You, Christmas?"

Other high-profile names here include those Canadian jokesters BareNaked Ladies, ska-punks Smash Mouth, and that omnipresent boyband 'N Sync. Lesser names like the Eels, the modest pop experiment of a man called "E", and the orchestral grandeur of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra contribute solid festive tunes. A few dialogue bits are scattered throughout, and James Horner's movie score finishes things off.--Rob O'Connor

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "Some one has to love this CD, January 6, 2001

By Daniel A. Fincke

Format:Audio CD

SO then," I thought, "let it be me." I bought this album looking for the James Horner score and dreading the unwelcome intrusion of songs not even in the movie. I was also uncomfortable about the format of dialogue interspersed with those foreign songs taking up space on the disc. Busta Rhymes, Faith Hill, 'N Sync also weren't looking good. HOWEVER, by the second listen through, I was extremely pleased with my decision to purchase. This is pretty well tied for the quirkiest Christmas CD I own (actually---they're the only two I own!). The more I listen to this, the more I appreciate the fun spirit. The Busta Rhymes track is a lot of fun, Faith Hill is doing James Horner's beautiful song, so even she is worth hearing out! The Eels and Barenaked Ladies are much more fun than I imagined after hearing them briefly in the movie and credits. Jim Carrey's "You're A Mean One" does grow on you. I don't understand purists who can't handle a remake. No one is abolishing the original TV version or its soundtrack... they're still out there and they're still very good. New interpretations can be good things too once in a while! I must admit though that I still find Sixpence None The Richer's "You're A Mean One" to be vastly superior a reinterpretation than Mr. Carrey's. I wish it had been tracked down and included here so that it could get a wider audience. It is quite marvelous. The only other omission, and it is one more noticable than this private peeve of mine, is of any extended version of "Welcome Christmas." The only version on the disc is from its brief appearance in the movie with the Grinch butchering it playfully. It could have gotten more attention somewhere on this full CD. Maybe 'N Sync could have been axed to make some room for a potential holiday classic oddly not heard enough---even on a Grinch soundtrack such as this. Oh well, I guess that's what the original soundtrack is for (I hope). I have yet to check that one out. I also love the movie dialogue for it captures 5 of my absolute favorite scenes from one of my new absolute favorite Christmas movie. The 4 dialogue bits intermixed with the songs in the first half of the disc nicely set the tones for the songs that follow them and link them even closer thematically to the movie. That is one thing about these songs that seems so overlooked by the other reviewers on here... these songs, in their own quirky and fun ways, retell the story of the Grinch in a valuable way. Mixed in with Jim Carrey's brilliant performances, they are delightful. The one waste of time, however, is the 'N Sync song. What an idiotic departure from the theme of the movie! The whole "you don't have to be alone on Chrismas" theme with such a specific meaning in the movie gets reduced to a putrid run of the boyband love song. However, unlike other reviewers disappointed with an entire CD over a poor track or two, I will note that this CD is almost 77 minutes long... no one is getting ripped off by having to live with a bad track or two! That's the best part of this CD, after all the movie clips and zaniness, comes close to 40 minutes of TERRIFIC score by James Horner (the reason I bought the disc) which is itself worth the price of the disc and makes this almost like 2 CDs in one, a value I'm grateful for. Finally, the best treat of this soundtrack is the track, "Stealing Christmas" in which a most beautiful and poignant scene in the movie is reproduced in narration, dialogue and music to my delight. The effect of the music and the words becomes emphasized here, separated from the pictures. Alone, it is reason enough to pick up this CD. It gives itself to a very storybook effect that makes one wonder indeed what a storybook on disc extrapolation from the movie could've sound like. I imagine it could've been done quite well. Finally, I must admit that Taylor Momsen's touching version of "Christmas, Why Can't I Find You?" from the film, does sound a bit weak on the disc. But it still is moving, nonetheless, and the CD would have suffered greatly without this adorable little girl embodying so sweetly our grown up emotions. How small a heart must one have not to be moved by her?! So, in sum and in pun, don't listen to the grinches, this disc is a steal.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall Pretty Good!! November 10, 2000

By "slinky119"

Format:Audio CD

When I got this CD, I was excited because it had the song, "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch". All I have to say is that Jim Carrey did a terrible job doing the song. They really should had the orginal version. If they would have done that I would've given it 5 stars. The rest of the CD is good like Green Christmas by Barenaked Ladies, You don't have to be alone by *N Sync, and my favorite song on the entire album, "Where are you Christmas by Faith Hill. Faith did a great job on the song.

Also the CD had some voice clips from the movie, which was cool. This CD will gets you in the Christmas mood.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, if you like the movie, you will like this CD August 31, 2002

By Deanne Kelley

Format:Audio CD

I enjoyed the movie dialogue on this CD almost more than some of the songs. The movie was awesome. There is certainly a variety of tunes here...from Smash Mouth to Faith Hill to N'Sync. (My favorite being Hill's "Where are you Christmas").

It is certainly original, and fun, but if you want traditional tunes, this is not for you. Obviously if you are interested in buying this CD because of the movie, than you can't miss; making this CD worthy of 4 stars.