Movie Review: Horton Hears a Who
Published March 14, 2008
Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, the directors of the film do a good job of making the movie appealing to the eye. Frequently, the recent crop of animated movies outside of the Pixar domain, don't always do a great job of keeping the art clean, bright, and attractive. For instance, Shrek seems a little dull, saturation-wise. Another example is the recent Robots, which is so busy and colorful, it is hard to keep focused on the plot. This film strikes a good balance visually, which may be due in part to Hayward's graduating out of the Pixar house of animation. I hope to see other studios benefit from this in the future, as it would be sad to have Pixar be the only game in town.
Surprisingly, there is a simplified parable of philosophy to be gleaned from the story. Horton's and Kangaroo's battle is the eternal battle between the believer and the skeptic, faith and reason. At a certain point Kangaroo is trying to dissuade her son Rudy from listening to Horton's ravings. But Horton makes a strong case, asking how the jungle dwellers are sure that they are not similarly living on a speck of dust, while others are observing them.
This was the most surreal moment for me. It was at this point when my son turns around and starts realizing his surroundings for the first time. He is no longer transported to Whoville by the immense size of the screen. He starts seeing that we are in a room, surrounded by strangers, all experiencing the wonder of a story cast on celluloid, projected onto a wall by a beam of light. In effect, we are gazing at the figurative speck of dust that is Horton Hears a Who. And that is why I got into this line of work to begin with.
- Movie Review: Horton Hears a Who
- Published: March 14, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Writer: Tony Dayoub
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Comments on this articleComments
You're correct... once you consider the source. It's just that Hollywood so frequently misuses the source.
It surprised me that they got it right this time.
Even Ron Howard didn't get it right in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
I was very excited taking my little brother to see this movie. However, I seemed to have found it very disappointing. To me, its one of the worst computer animated movies I've ever seen.
I have to disagree that it was the worst computer animation, have seen a lot worse. Shrek didn't impress me in the animation department, a lot of newer Disney films have looked horrible (excluding Pixar films & Meet the Robinsons).
To me I felt finally someone got what a Dr. Seuss story should like. I felt they were very true to the illustrations in Dr Suess books (I have read them to my 3 kids repeatedly over the last 16 years). Grinch & Cat in the Hat were horrible films (find the original cartoons which are great)
7 of us went ranging in ages from 2 - 39. We all loved the film and its amazing to have a family movie that has a positive message, which is so rare these days. And too hear my 2 year old nephew belly laugh for 90 minutes is precious.
I also think that the filmmakers demonstrated great imagination in incorporating other forms of animation in brief sequences throughout the film.
This included a Dr. Seuss-style illustrated sequence, and a Pokemon-style anime sequence.
Who says you have to be limited by computer animation when telling a story?
Umm the movie was really...touching. This guy was barfing next to me the whole time and it made me feel so good and refreshed, the smell of warm puke in the morning. It really just changed my life. The way the elephant jumped over the moon it made my heart sing!!!!The baby next to me had a little bit of a messie diaper. I loved it. It couldn't have been a better movie. Oh and I accidently farted on my grandma during the scary part.
The movie was boring. I spent the whole time making out with my boyfriend. Now that was intresting.
Guys
Its a fantastic fable of philosophy.
what is truth? How many people need to believe in something to be true?
And what is knowledge, what is important about that?
Cheers
Julian
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You have made me interested in seeing this because I had no faith that Hollywood could get it right.
"Surprisingly, there is a simplified parable of philosophy to be gleaned from the story."
Considering the source, it's not surprisingly at all. Many of the Dr's stories are parables: The Loraz, The Sneetches, etc.