Question about the release of "The Lorax" in March 2012

[Sgt Floyd]

Oh yeah you could definitely argue that the Lorax sometimes veers into annoying tree hugger territory, the same way the Onceler veers into annoying greedy Capitalist territory. They both have good points and bad points which makes the problem so difficult to solve.

And when you think about it, the Onceler started to be willing to compromise when the Lorax pointed out how harmful what he was doing to the environment, but then greed took over as soon as it was alerted to him that...a huge order came in or something?

 

[Drtooth]

And when you think about it, the Onceler started to be willing to compromise when the Lorax pointed out how harmful what he was doing to the environment, but then greed took over as soon as it was alerted to him that...a huge order came in or something?

Yeah... that addresses the mass consumer market part. That lead to cost cutting measures of convenience over a thoughtful long term strategy that's equally good for the environment, the consumers, and the business. Like I said, something absolutely everyone who runs a company is completely ignorant of these days.

Not to mention the fact that, in the special, the Onceler addresses the fact that all these workers would be out of jobs if he were to stop then.

 

[minor muppetz]

Judging by the commercials, I wonder if this really is an adaptation as much as it's a follow-up to the story (much like how Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland was really a sequel to the books). Something tells me that the parts resembling the original book will be very short... Like the boy goes in search for trees, finds the Once-ler, learns the story but the flashback only lasts about five minutes or less, and then tries to restore the trees. Aside from scenes with the Once-Ler I haven't really seen anything in the commercials that resemble any part of the book or special.

 

[minor muppetz]

Well, I saw it today, and I didn't think it was too bad. For me there weren't any dull moments, and I didn't notice any gross-out/bathroom humor or hip humor (though I did go to the restroom at one point).

The movie was more of a straight adaption than I expected. I expected the storytelling portion to just be as long as one of the segments from Dr. Seuss on the Loose if not shorter, and then make it an adventure to grow a tree and find/team-up with the Lorax.

The only thing I didn't really like, though it's more of a nitpick, is that they showed the Once-Lers face throughout the flashbacks. It's not as bothersome as seeing Dr. Claw's face in the Inspector Gadget movie, but still a bit weird. But somehow I feel it works better to show his face that much in this movie, while not showing the face worked better in the original book and special. But I don't quite like that they made him human... I felt he was an abstract sort of character with a green body in the original. Though just yesterday I wondered if the hands and legs seen in the cartoon were just part of his clothing, despite them not drawing seams where neccessary, but here it appears he wore long green gloves (and for the record in the cartoon we see the bodies of his family during the celebration and there's no lines or seams where the clothing meets the hands).

And in this the Once-Ler is sort of more sympathetic than in the book or special. Sort of like the Grinch in the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas, only his family initially doesn't expect him to succeed, and they basically make him break his promise to not chomp trees down, and then turn agaisnt him after the trees run out. At one point the Once-ler promises not to chomp more trees, opting to just have them plucked, until his mother convinces him otherwise... And after they're all gone she acts like that's his fault.

I don't want to give away much more (I may have already given away enough), but is the town in this meant to be the only town in the world? They call it a town, and act as if there are no more trees anywhere... Did the Once-Ler really chomp down all the trees in the world? Are there other populated towns? Does Mr. O'Hare ship his air to other parts of the world?

 

[CensoredAlso]

The only thing I didn't really like, though it's more of a nitpick, is that they showed the Once-Lers face throughout the flashbacks.

Because they think the average American audience has to have everything spoon fed to them, heh.

And in this the Once-Ler is sort of more sympathetic than in the book or special.

I thought he was already quite sympathetic and didn't need a complicated back story to make me care about him or identify somewhat with him. But this is typical of modern day attempts at Dr. Suess. They don't trust the material, nor its audience.

 

[minor muppetz]

I thought he was already quite sympathetic and didn't need a complicated back story to make me care about him or identify somewhat with him. But this is typical of modern day attempts at Dr. Suess. They don't trust the material, nor its audience.

I already knew he was sympathetic. It seems with each version (first book, then special, then movie) he gets more and more sympathetic.

And is it just me or did many of the characters in this look like the live-action versions of the Whos?

 

[CensoredAlso]

I already knew he was sympathetic. It seems with each version (first book, then special, then movie) he gets more and more sympathetic.

I don't see that as more sympathetic. More like less subtle. But just that's just me. I probably won't be seeing this film. But I'm glad if others like it.

 

[Drtooth]

I'm trying my darnedest not to want to see it, and I have to give herald respect for not caving into that dark, dark human instinct of morbid curiosity. I sorta half blame my childhood of watching Sesame Street for this, but I'm part grouch now, and something tells me if I want to complain about this movie, I need reasons to.

Plus, I can't resist Danny Devito. Seriously. I can forgo a bad movie with Robin Williams, I can skip something stupid Christopher Lloyd is in (though I've seen a LOT of stupid stuff CL was in. I watched that Stacked show)... but good ol' DD... I wish I could watch "It's always Sunny in Philadelphia." How can so much talent fit in that short man?

 

[CensoredAlso]

I sorta half blame my childhood of watching Sesame Street for this, but I'm part grouch now, and something tells me if I want to complain about this movie, I need reasons to.

Honestly, and I know it's wrong, I've never had the compelling urge to need reasons, lol. If it turns out I'm wrong, well then that's great! Lol

 

[Drtooth]

Well, considering I actually found a theater that showed the film "The Secret of Arietty," I made my choice, and I'm all the richer for it. Such a beautiful, sad movie.