Horton Hears a Who!

When you understand how Dr. Seuss focused his stories on ecology, even though they were always children's stories, this film also resonates with you. These stories have a wonderful, unique fantasy, where both plot ideas and visual ideas intersect, because Dr. Seuss himself also created illustrations for his books. It has been pleasantly projected into the film. A slightly different animation, but not so much. (11.03.2014)

Competition is so strong and huge nowadays that it would be unfair to give Horton 5 stars. Still, I have to say that the plot is very nice, albeit simple. I was missing some more funny lines and a bit more style. The animation was definitely not bad. My rating is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but since I’m finding this movie to be quite underrated, I’m giving it a 4. (12.02.2011)

An incredibly weak cartoon that has no proper plot, good characters, funny moments, or clever quotes. Jim Carrey’s or Steve Carrell's potential is nowhere to be found. A few awkward escapades and political subtext don't make a good film. If it wasn't for the awesome anime sequence, Vlad the Killer, and John Powell's resuscitation, I’d give it even fewer stars, even though I can't really do that. (14.06.2008)

I think that it’s high time to re-examine all (in)voluntary clients of psychiatric clinics. At least those who hear voices that nobody else does. However, that would mean running about after them with a microscope and scrutinizing every single piece of lint. Which would result in these doctors and specialists seeming like madmen to the rest of society, and we would have to isolate them somewhere. So society would “not be cleansed" and a fluctuation of stability would set in until everything that we know collapsed and world would end. For instance, disintegration of family values (cf. the kangaroo brat at the end). That’s the reason why this anarchistic pamphlet is suitable not only for kids and adults, but also for youths living the “signs of punk". But otherwise, Horton is a nice hippo and an hour and a half in his ethereal presence flows away like water under the bridge. And it’s good water because it’s fun. Especially in the second half. The main credit for the successful result goes to the sound. Both Powell’s music and the voices (especially Will Arnett as “Bela Lugosi"). Plus the relaxed atmosphere of undemanding entertaining shenanigans with no real ambition and one magically bizarre interlude with something like Pikachu. Um, did you hear that too? As if a morsel from today’s dinner just talked through me. P.S.: The visual side is incredibly faithful to Dr. Seuss’ book. (13.04.2008)