UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. - Dr. Seuss
As a parent, I wanted to nourish my child with the best nuggets of wisdom to become a better human being. Right now, she still does not have enough life experience so, I guess, one of the ways I can relate them to her in an interesting manner is through books and movies. A movie that perfectly scores that is "The Lorax".
I was surprised that this movie was shown last 2012. I never heard of it until I saw it on my Netflix recommendations. My husband, however, related that he had already seen it a few times. Oh well, it flew under my radar.
The movie was an adaptation of the pro-environment book written by Dr. Seuss. Sadly, it has been heavily lambasted by critics, calling it "the worst adaptation of Dr. Seuss's books" (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lorax_2012). I haven't read the book yet and I haven't seen The Grinch since I was 10 years old so I couldn't make a good comparison. Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed "The Lorax." It's the only animated movie I have seen recently that tackled materialism and environmentalism in a child-friendly manner. Why should I complain?
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Oncie had a product he strongly believed in: The Thneed. To make the Thneed, however, he chopped down a Truffula tree. This angered the Lorax. He then made Oncie promise to never chop down a tree to produce his product. For some time, Oncie developed an odd friendship with the Lorax and the animals of the Truffula village. However, he broke his promise to the Lorax when his mother asked him to increase their production. He deforested the area causing harm to the animals and driving them away.
What he had done to the Truffula village to be rich made me reflect as a parent. I know we should encourage our children to reach their full capabilities. And most of the time, children are pressured to please us. Yet, for me, I want to teach my little one that she shouldn't harm the environment or anyone to reach her dreams. This movie reminded me I should shape my little one into a mindful being. That's enough for me to watch it with my little girl in a few years. For those wondering, my little one is roughly two years old and she still does not have enough attention span to watch a movie.
Aside from that, I also liked the movie’s on-the-nose way of sending its messages. It's easier for kids to understand. Although, truly, some of the musical numbers can be a bit jarring. However, (I guess, I am alone in this) I did love Oncie's montage of "How Bad Can I Be?" which showed his descent into a greedy corporate douchebag who harmed the animals who were once his friends.
The movie was also visually stunning especially when they take us to the Onceler’s youthful days. The Truffula trees are just breathtaking. No wonder Audrey wanted to see one. I know that my young one’s eyes will also be pleased.
The Truffula Trees
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