The Lorax

The story is the strength here. Dr. Seuss message here is more that there has to be balance in everything that you do. You can't just make the needs that everyone, everyone needs without considering the price of making it, that everyone must pay. A lot of folks now go over board trying to go too far in one direction.

A bonus here is the talented Eddie Albert singing & narrating the story. That drew me to this story as I always loved Albert as Oliver Wendell Douglas on Green Acres.

This is a book, that is exactly mirrored in this animated special. I loved reading this book to my kids, & suggest to all parents this book to read to the kiddies at bedtime when they are small. It is as enjoyable to read as it is to watch here. Pure message & entertainment, par excel-lance.

Although a slightly silly film, as commented by another user, the Lorax is a revealing and relevant film. Released in the early 1970's when such issues were not publicly recognized, the film addresses perfectly the issue of the environment and natural resource depletion. The older generation feels that such a topic is not a pressing issue and needs not immediate attention. Perhaps that is why this "silly film" is aimed towards younger people, who will be impacted by its message and will not be too stubborn to make a change. The Lorax exemplifies this problem exactly, where the Once-ler feels that the economy and his own interests are more important then that of mother earth. God gave us one life, one planet. Act that way.

I've actually never read or have been read any Dr. Seuss books. They just aren't that huge in my country, mainly because translating them is something of a task. That being said, I've heard about them and I've watched a couple of these short films, as well as some the newer remakes. And from what I've seen, Dr. Seuss had a profound voice and ideas worth listening to.

In this tale we hear about the Once-ler as well as the Lorax. One of them a has-been business tycoon living in the ruins of his former success and the other a woodland spirit that serves as the voice of the silent nature that has been exploited by the former.

What makes this film work for me is the storytelling. The film quite clearly sides with nature. Its message is against cutting down trees and forests just for the sake of making money. Yet at the same time it doesn't villainize the Once-ler. It makes his decisions logical and something that seemed reasonable at the time. It doesn't condemn progress in itself, or even making money, rather asking for forethought and compromise. It doesn't say that progress is dangerous. It says that progress for the sake of progress is.

And true, the animation quality is nothing special, the story is somewhat short and the voice acting has a few hiccups. But when the underlying story is so strong, that really only gives it more charm, allowing for the message itself to shine through. Something I feel the 2012 remake missed completely.

The Lorax is worth seeing. It doesn't take much of your time, but hopefully you'll be thinking about it for a long time afterwards.

The Lorax is a wonderful film based off of the beloved Dr. Seuss book. It shows the story of a greedy Once-ler who only thinks of himself and in his selfishness he destroys the Truffula trees. The Lorax, who speaks for the trees, tries his hardest to save the land and its inhabitance, but will his pleas be enough to stop the tyrant Once-ler? I enjoyed this film very much and I thought the cinematography was wonderful because it is exactly like the illustrations in the Dr. Seuss book. Being able to see the world through the creative eyes of Dr. Seuss is wonderful and now you can, better than ever, with the deluxe edition of The Lorax including an Ultra Violet copy of the movie. This movie delivers fantastic messages about caring for the environment and respecting the earth we live on. I like the Lorax character most because he stands up for the land and teaches that being greedy and self-centered leads to destruction. I loved all of the music in The Lorax and I especially liked the first scene when you see the land in all of its splendid glory. I give The Lorax 4 out of 5 stars for its strong messages and great classic entertainment. I suggest this film for ages 4 to 10. Raven Devanney, Age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

As Dr. Seuss's work was usually politically charged,* "The Lorax" does a good job looking at the environment. Scary is how realistic the book/movie eventually became (especially under George W. Bush). But it does have an element of hope to it. I guess that it makes sense to have Eddie Albert narrate, given his environmental work. After watching the movie, you just might feel like speaking for the trees, and all other wildlife.

*"The Cat in the Hat" was promoting rebellion, "Yertle the Turtle" was about the class system, "The Butter Battle Book" was about the Cold War-era arms buildup.