Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

Okay, admittedly, I thought that this movie was going like all of the other big budget Dr. Seuss movie adaptations (The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat [2003] and The Lorax [2012]) because of how those movies completely missed the point of why people kept coming back to their original source materials, respectively. But, I've started to watch this one and.....I was shocked to find out that this movie is absolute 100% faithful to its' original source material!!!! Yeah, a big-budget Dr. Seuss movie that actually understood, appreciated and respected its' original source material?! Could this really be heaven?! But, like most movie adaptations, it's not always perfect. But, I will say that this without a doubt the best Dr. Seuss movie adaptation that we've gotten so far and I actually am glad that the production crew, the studios, and the cast put in a lot of effort into making this movie. So yeah, this movie is definitely worth a watch, if you're a huge fan or an average fan of Dr. Seuss.

I have always been a fan of Dr Seuss's funny and charming stories, but the adaptations of his work have had mixed results. There are timeless classics such as 1966's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but there are also abominations such as 2003's The Cat in the Hat.Horton Hears a Who! is one of the better adaptations of Dr Seuss's work, and succeeds amazingly well on its own terms. While aspects of the story are occasionally predictable and clichéd, and one or two of the character relationships could have been less obvious, it is colourful and hilarious entertainment for both children and adults, which compared to what it could've been is quite an achievement.Even with the predictable and clichéd moments, Horton Hears a Who!'s story is a simple and entertaining one well done. This is further advantaged by fast pacing, funny and smart writing that stays reasonably loyal to Dr Seuss's style and very likable characters.There is a lively vocal cast on board too, Jim Carrey shows he is great at comedy as well as drama and manages to be endearing as well as funny. Steve Carrell is great fun too, and it was delight to hear Annie's Carol Burnett in a supporting role. The soundtrack is infectious as well, but what made Horton Hears a Who! other than the humour was the animation, which is very clean, colourful and beautiful to look at.All in all, a terrific film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I have always been a fan of Dr. Seuss (which may explain why I've enjoyed so many films which can only be described as 'odd') and, while I was not sure how anyone could make an 86-minute film out of one of his books, I was curious as to how it turned out. Surprisingly, it was done quite well and Horton Hears a Who turned out to be an enjoyable journey.The Story: Horton Hears a Who is based on Dr. Seuss' classic book by the same title. The story is about an elephant named Horton who hears a cry for help coming from a small spec on a clover flower. Horton responds to the call and decides to help the small people who live on the flower. The other inhabitants of the jungle take offense at Horton, as they can't hear the people on the speck, and declare he is going mad and must be stopped. Still dedicated to helping his small new friends, Horton must get the clover to safety before it's too late.The Good: This film, like the book, contains biblical pro-life themes. Throughout the film Horton insists that "a person's a person no matter how small" and is dedicated to his mission of protecting the small people no matter what the cost. Down on the spec, the mayor must overcome the corruption in his town and convince the people of Whoville that while their town may have been stable for centuries, it's not stable anymore. The people then band together to help Horton save Whoville from imminent destruction. Also present in this film are sub-themes of friendship and dedication to a higher cause.On a more technical note, the film's animation is quite well done, but what really stands out here is the soundtrack. John Powell has once again composed a score that fits the movie like a glove but is also quite enjoyable in it's own right. While some of the characters seem a little overdone at times, they were cast well and the sound design complemented the picture excellently.The Bad: Toward the beginning of the film it becomes evident that the mayor of Whoville and his only son, Jo-Jo, do not have a healthy relationship. The father's and son's visions for Jo-Jo's future are at odds with each other and it plays out in a sullen silence on Jo-Jo's part. Fortunately, by the end of the film, father and son work together to save Whoville and I think it's safe to assume that their relationship goes uphill from there. Besides that, some slightly rude humor and a bit of name calling is all that can be considered negative in this film. As a warning, there are a few scenes that may be slightly scary for young children.Conclusion: Horton Hears a Who is a safe, clean option for an enjoyable family night. While there are a few problems with it, I believe that it can be enjoyed together by people of all ages. It's another one of those films that gives me some slight hope that Hollywood might not be completely dead.Let's hope they make many more.

This movie was such fun! I've watched parts of this movie, here and there, but I don't think I've ever watched it all of once. I'm glad I gave it a try, though, on this Saturday morning.This movie has two stories. One is about Horton, an elephant in a jungle, who has found the town of Whoville by accident and resolves to keep it safe and the other story is about the Mayor of Whoville, who is having a nervous breakdown by trying to protect his town.This movie is filled with much hilarity, that adults and kids BOTH are sure to get. The animation is excellent and really does this Dr. Seuss original book much, much justice. You're sure to laugh at Horton's funny antics and how everything is crazy down at Whoville.The main reason I liked this movie was, aside from the storyline, the graphics. The first part, where they showed the family of the Mayor during breakfast time, also really struck me. I found it cool, I guess. And kind of unbelievable. 96 daughters and 1 son! Gosh. As Horton said, "Oh, busy guy!"This movie really gives a clear and strong message. "A person's a person no matter how small." Everyone's significant! Everyone makes a difference. You, me, the guy from accounting and everyone else! It also shows us that everyone's connected somehow. I teared up during the near-ending. This truly was a great movie. Top of my favorite animated films now. Who could have hated a wonderful film such as this one!