Horton Hears a Who
Posted on March 12, 2008 at 7:49 am
They finally got Dr. Seuss right in this warm-hearted and heart-warming story of the elephant who is “faithful 100 percent” and the world on a little speck of dust that he rescues.
Jim Carrey provides the voice of Horton, an elephant with a gentle soul who teaches the jungle animal children. When a frail plant is carelessly trampled underfoot, he stops to pat it carefully back into the ground. And when he hears a tiny voice coming from a dust mote, he races after it to tenderly place it on a clover. He finds a way to communicate with the voice, which belongs to the Mayor of Whoville (Steve Carell). Each is surprised to find out that there is a world beyond the one he thought of as everything there was.
I have long proposed and preached that Seuss is one of the Prophets of the 20th century. Anyone who feels a need to preach on circumcision, as from Paul, should look not further than Sneetches on Beaches. As to church committee logjams – read about the East going and West going Zax. The Lorax is one of the patron saints of the youth environmental movement. And I propose that all potential and actual clergy read Thidwick.
Thanks so much for this clip. I’ve been looking forward to this movie so much, as this is one of the more beloved Seuss tales for me. I’ll be in the theater on Saturday, this clip convinced me to pick up my nephews first, thanks!
Nell – Thanks for the review. I came across another really cute review of Horton from Grandparents.com which has posted a review of Horton Hears a Who, Seuss-style! that I thought was fun and worth sharing.
Now here’s a review of Horton Hears a Who!
The third Dr. Seuss flick tops the other two.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas was good for a laugh,
But The Cat in the Hat was a mess and a half.
Both were live action, which felt off the mark,
But here’s animation that’s got the right spark.
It matches the absurdist style of Seuss,
And captures young viewers with just the right juice.
The story on tap, as if you don’t know,
Involves a fun jungle where beasts come and go.
Horton’s an elephant, playful and kind,
With hearing as sharp as his remarkable mind.
When he thinks there’s a scream from a small speck of dust,
He can’t really see it, but guard it he must.
Sure, they’re microscopic, these people called Whos,
But this is their world, which they don’t want to lose.
Horton’s friends ridicule him, and they don’t believe,
That the mayor of Whoville is not make-believe.
He’s one tiny creature who turns up one morning,
Issuing Whoville a true global warning.
So each of these heroic outcasts persists,
In seeking to prove that the other exists.
Jim Carrey gives voice to a Horton who’s swell,
While Whoville’s odd mayor comes from Steve Carell.
Lucky young viewers have a real treat in store,
With food for thought and sight gags galore.
This little flick’s message to folks one and all:
A person’s a person, no matter how small.
Few movies are aimed right at kids three to nine,
But here’s one cartoon that’s both humble and fine.
So grandparents seeking a G-rated flick,
Will find that this Horton is one nifty trick.
It won’t do your grandchildren one ounce of harm,
And will impress you with its wit and its charm.
http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/activitiesandevents/movie-reviews/article/movie-review-horton-hears-a-who.html