Five Reasons I Plan to Take My Kids to See The Lorax
Posted February 20th, 2012 at 7:55 am
The Lorax Movie
Many classic Dr. Seuss tales have important lessons for children to take in – such as, “A person’s a person, no matter how small,” from “Horton Hears a Who” – but perhaps no Seuss story is so full of teachable passion than “The Lorax,” with its dramatic storyline of environmental recklessness.
A big thanks to Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax for sponsoring this campaign. Click here to see more of the discussion.
While I have long appreciated the important message of conservation and respect for the natural world in “The Lorax,” (more on that in an upcoming post), I have to admit that when I learned the details of the new film version of The Lorax, which comes out on March 2, it was something else about it that made me decide pretty quickly that this was one children’s movie I’d be taking my own offspring to see.
Five somethings, actually.
In my experience as a mom, while there are lots of things that end up making an animated kids’ movie fly or flop, the most important of these is the actors handling the animated characters’ roles. I mean, who could have done Woody and Buzz Lightyear other than Tom Hanks and Tim Allen?
Five performers who will be bringing their own interpretations of these iconic Seuss characters’ roles to the new film.
Given the way most people revere classic Seuss illustration and story-telling, I am sure there will be some grumbling about the fact that this movie appears to be a completely fresh interpretation of the original – including new artwork and even new characters. But with the Seuss family involved in making the movie, and a message that is important enough to get an updated retelling for my own kids’ generation, I’m counting on something that will win over even skeptical old-school Seuss Fans.
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What’s your favorite Seuss book? What do you love about it? What’s your favorite Seuss movie adaptation?
Tell me in the comments below.
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15 Comments
[...] about why I plan to take the kids to see the new Lorax movie over at my Babble blog. The New Lorax, Played by Danny [...]
» SPONSORED: The Lorax Movie is Coming! » mamapundit commented on Feb 20 12 at 8:12 amClisby commented on Feb 20 12 at 8:28 amMy favorite is probably “What Was I Afraid Of?”, where the main character keeps encountering a pair of ghostly pale green pants.
“I said I do not fear those pants
With nobody inside them.
I said, and said, and said those word.
I said them, but I lied them.”
MemeGRL commented on Feb 20 12 at 9:27 amI’ll be curious to hear your reaction to the movie. I’m crushed that it’s PG.
Katie Granju commented on Feb 20 12 at 9:45 am@memegirl -
I am really hoping that I like it as much as I think I will. I don’t have a problem with art of any kind reinterpreting earlier pieces of art. Sometimes it is done well and other times it falls flat, but in general, I don’t have an issue with new twists on classic literature or movies or whatever.
As for the PG rating, I wonder if some of that has to do with the dark themes in the story? I mean, the original book is not happy romp in the park, for sure. It’s kind of distressing and dark in the way so much of great children’s literature (Grimm’s, Harry Potter, etc) can be dark. I will find out, I guess.
-Katie
Earth Muffin commented on Feb 20 12 at 10:12 amThe Lorax is my all-time favorite Seuss book, the same goes for everyone in my family. It’s not uncommom to hear one of us shout out, “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues,” when we’re on a bike ride or a drive near a forest. I’m excited to see this movie and I really, really, really hope it is done well. The Cat in the Hat was a bit of a disappointment, but Horton Hears a Who become a fast family favorite.
Clisby commented on Feb 20 12 at 1:29 pmI didn’t really like The Lorax – way too preachy. Same problem with The Sneetches. I prefer the more off-the-wall examples, like the two Cat in the Hat books, On Beyond Zebra, What Was I Afraid Of?, Yertle the Turtle, etc.
Leslie commented on Feb 20 12 at 1:46 pmI love most Dr. Seuss books. Not a fan of reinterpretations, though–why tamper with perfection? I have not seen any of the live-action movies and I doubt I will see this one. I love the movie version of The Lorax that already exists, though. Yertle the Turtle was my favorite Seuss when I was a little girl. My favorites to read aloud are Fox in Socks and Green Eggs and Ham.
SajMom commented on Feb 20 12 at 1:55 pmI love Scrambled Eggs Super a la Peter T Hooper!! Also There’s a Wocket in My Pocket. I don’t know a kid who doesn’t love that one! In second grade we had to bring in a book to read a portion aloud to the class. I brought in fox in Socks-I have no idea why no one stopped me. That’s difficult for adults to get through! I found the Lorax to be a bit preachy too, and I’m not against teaching kids through books at all, I guess it just seemed a bit heavy-handed. One of my kids, I think he’s a month or two older than C, is absolutely fascinated by the Grinch. In part because the cartoon version emphasizes his heart and my son is currently fascinated by the human body. He can’t get over the idea that blood is UNDER HIS SKIN! And he just pointed out to me that the dog has a heart too!
ClaireR commented on Feb 20 12 at 4:35 pmWhat Was I Scared Of? Has always been my favorite. That and Too Many Daves, both of which are in “The Sneetches and Other Stories.” My kids begged and begged to have me read these two pieces over and over and over and over. They can still recite them, and they are now almost 24 and almost 20.
Jenny commented on Feb 20 12 at 4:51 pmMy favorite if the The Foot Book. I must have read that book at least 100 times on a 1400 mile road trip with my niece (age 6 then). I loved the rhythm of the rhyme.
mbmom7 commented on Feb 20 12 at 4:56 pmI never liked Dr Seuss’ books as a kid – too many made-up words. As a parent, I like reading some of the shorter ones -”the Foot Book” and “The Wocket in my Pocket”. Also, “Marvin K Mooney” and ” I am not going to get up today”. I still don’t like the longer ones. My kids get bored when I try to read them. “The Lorax” is too preachy for me to read to my kids.
They like the Grinch movie, but I found the Cat in the hat one to be rude and inappropriate for children. I much prefer the PBS series “the cat in the hat knows a lot about that” – a nice mix of science and silliness (and short!).
Moi commented on Feb 21 12 at 12:08 pmI loved the books (as did my kids), but so far the movie versions I’ve seen have been just jarring and too obnoxious for my taste.
Clisby commented on Feb 21 12 at 12:14 pmClaire – I know what you mean. I must have read What Was I Scared Of more than I’ve read Goodnight, Moon.
A recent exchange chez clisby:
Emma:
Clisby: What’s with you? Did you just pick a peck of snide?
Emma: In a dark and gloomy snide field, that was ALMOST NINE MILES WIDE!
Clisby commented on Feb 21 12 at 1:33 pmIs this why I just got spammed with “The Lorax wants to send you on an Eco-Getaway!”
If so, I don’t appreciate it.
MemeGRL commented on Mar 01 12 at 10:32 pm@Katie–I agree, there have been some terrific reinterpretations (Romeo + Juliet) and some flops (Cat in the Hat live action). But it slays me every time a book aimed at preschoolers or even kids under 10 gets a PG rating. What is so wrong with our country that we can’t stand a G movie? I hope it’s just for themes but I doubt it, and the ad campaign is clearly aimed smack at my 6 and 8 year olds. So I do look forward to hearing what you think.
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