DR SEUSS – THE LORAX 3D [2012 / 2016] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] A Delightful Animated Feature Film with Special Appeal for Tree lovers!
The imaginative world of Dr Seuss comes to life like never before in this visually spectacular adventure from the creators of ‘Despicable Me!’ Twelve-year-old Ted will do anything to find a real live Truffula Tree in order to impress the girl of his dreams. As he embarks on his journey, Ted discovers the incredible story of The Lorax, a grumpy but charming creature who speaks for the trees. Featuring the voice talents of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate, and Betty White. ‘DR. SEUSS - THE LORAX’ is filled with hilarious fun for everyone!
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2012 Leggio d’oro: Win: Best Cartoon Voice: Marco Mengoni for the voice of “Once-Ier.” 2012 Teens Choice Awards: Nomination: Zac Efron for the voice of “Ted.” Win: Taylor Swift for the voice of “Audrey.” Win: Choice Movie: Animated. 2013 Ivor Novello Wards: Nomination: Best Original Film Score for John Powell. 2013 Cinema Audio Society, USA: Nomination: Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures – Animated for Carlos Sotolongo (original dialogue mixer), Randy Thom (re-recording mixer), Gary A. Rizzo (re-recording mixer), Shawn Murphy (scoring mixer) and Frank Rinella (foley mixer). 2013 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Win: Top Box Office Films for John Powell and Cinco Paul. 2013 Kids’ Choice Awrds, USA: Nomination: Blimp Award: Favorite Voice from an Animated for Movie Taylor Swift for the voice of “Audrey.” 2013 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Nomination: Golden Reel Award: Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR in an Animation Feature Film for Dennis Leonard (supervising sound editor), Randy Thom (sound designer), Luke Dunn Gielmuda (supervising foley editor), Daniel Laurie (supervising adr editor), Dennie Thorpe (foley artist), Jana Vance (foley artist), Sean England (foley artist), Jeremy Bowker (sound effects editor), Jonathan Borland (sound effects editor), Leff Lefferts (sound effects editor) and Sue Fox (foley editor). 2013 Annie Awards: Nomination: Character Design in an Animated Feature Production for Yarrow Cheney, Eric Guillon and Colin Stimpson. Nomination: Music in an Animated Feature Production for John Powell and Cinco Paul. 2014 National Cartoonist Society: Nomination: Reuben Award: Feature Animation for Jonathan del Val (animation).
FILM FACT No.2: The film ‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ is the fourth feature film based on a book by Dr Seuss, the second fully computer-animated adaptation and the first one being Horton Hears a Who!’ and the first to be released in 3D. ‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ was also Illumination's first film presented in IMAX 3D and also known as "IMAX Tree-D" in publicity for the film The idea for the film was initiated by Audrey Geisel, Dr Seuss's wife, who had an established partnership with Chris Meledandri, the producer of the film, from a collaboration on ‘Horton Hears a Who!.’ In 2010, it was announced that Danny DeVito would be voicing the Lorax character. The film was fully produced at the French studio Illumination Mac Guff, which was the animation department of Mac Guff, acquired by Illumination Entertainment in the summer of 2011. Actor Danny DeVito reprised his role in five different languages, including the original English audio, and also for the Russian, German, Italian, Catalan/Valencian, Castilian Spanish and Latin Spanish dub editions, learning his lines phonetically. It was also the first film to feature the current Universal Pictures logo, with a rearranged version of the fanfare, originally composed by Jerry Goldsmith and arranged by Brian Tyler, as part of the studio's 100th anniversary.
Voice Cast: Danny DeVito [The Lorax], Ed Helms [The Once-ler], Zac Efron [Ted], Taylor Swift [Audrey], Betty White [Grammy Norma], Rob Riggle [Mr. O'Hare], Jenny Slate [Ted's Mom], Nasim Pedrad [Once-ler's Mom], Joel Swetow [1st Marketing Guy], Michael Beattie [2nd Marketing Guy], Dave B. Mitchell [1st Commercial Guy], Dempsey Pappion [2nd Commercial Guy], Elmarie Wendel [Aunt Grizelda], Danny Cooksey [Brett / Chet], Stephen Tobolowsky [Uncle Ubb], Chris Renaud [Assorted Forest Animals], Jack Angel [Additional Voices], Bob Bergen [Additional Voices], John Cygan [Additional Voices], Debi Derryberry [Additional Voices], Bill Farmer [Additional Voices], Jess Harnell [Additional Voices], Sherry Lynn [Additional Voices], Danny Mann [Additional Voices], Mona Marshall [Additional Voices], Mickie McGowan [Additional Voices], Laraine Newman [Additional Voices], Jan Rabson [Additional Voices], Claira Nicole Titman [Additional Voices], Jim Ward [Additional Voices], Monique Donnelly [Humming Fish] (uncredited), Edie Lehmann Boddicker [Rose singing voice] (uncredited), Dan Navarro [Dan singing voice] (uncredited) and Fletcher Sheridan [Cy, the O'Hare Air Delivery Guy singing voice] (uncredited)
Directors: Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda (co-director)
Producers: Audrey Geisel, Christopher Meledandri, Cinco Paul, Janet Healy, Ken Daurio and Robert Taylor
Screenplay: Cinco Paul (screenplay), Ken Daurio (screenplay) and Dr. Seuss (based on the book)
Composer: John Powell
Computer Graphics Supervisor: Bruno Chauffard
Animation Director: Chris Renaud
Animation Supervisor: Laurent De La Chapelle
Character Animation and Computer Graphics: Illumination Mac Gaf
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Spanish [Castilian]: 5.1 DTS-HD
Thai: 5.1 DTS-HD
Spanish [Catalan]: 5.1 DTS-HD
Hindi: 5.1 DTS-HD
Arabic: 5.1 DTS-HD
Chinese [Cantonese]: 5.1 DTS-HD
Chinese [Mandarin]: 5.1 DTS-HD
Korean: 5.1 DTS-HD
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, Spanish [Castilian], Thai [Traditional], Spanish [Catalan], Hindi, Arabic, Chinese [Cantonese], Chinese [Mandarin] and Korean
Running Time: 86 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Universal Pictures / ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ takes place in the town of Thneedville, where there are no real trees, or grass, or nature to speak of, everything is plastic and fake. When young Ted [Zac Efron] discovers that what his crush Audrey [Taylor Swift], wants more than anything is to see a real tree, so Ted sets out to find one for her. Advised by his grandmother Grammy Norma [Betty White], Ted leaves Thneedville in search of the reclusive Once-ler [Ed Helms], who tells him the story of The Lorax [Danny DeVito].
Here we get to see that Ted is a smart 12 year old who has fallen in love with Audrey. When he learns that what she wants more than anything else on earth is a real tree, he decides to go on a quest to find one for her.
Ted gets a little help from his grandmother Grammy Norma who gives him directions to The Once-ler [Ed Helms], an exiled entrepreneur who tells the boy the sad story of his role in cutting down all the trees in a long-ago paradise called Truffula Valley outside Thneedville where The Lorax [Danny Devito] was the guardian of the trees. Now a recluse, Once-ler sees that Ted might just be the one to bring trees back to the city and to the wilderness.
Chris Renaud directs this questing drama with its colourful characters and bouncy and buoyant songs by the goldfish, swans, bears, and other happy creatures in Truffula Valley. Watching this animated film at home, parents and children can join in singing with the cast in the ecological ballad "Let It Grow."
But of course the moral of this animated film, is that trees are the oldest living beings on earth; these precious friends give us oxygen, protect the soil from erosion, serve as a habitat for wildlife, and stir us as great works of art. Jean Shinoda Bolen has written: “To a tree person, cutting them down for lumber would be like pulverizing Michelangelo's statues of David or the Pieta to make marble tiles, or bulldozing the acropolis of Athens as site for a hotel.”
Yet all around the world trees are being cut down by logging companies; rain forests are being cleared to make room for housing developments and animal grazing. Thankfully, there are tree activists everywhere trying to put an end to this madness.
‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ 3D is an uplifting celebration of trees and their beauty. This delightful animated feature is based on his 1971 children's classic. It has been adapted for the screen by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul. Theodor “Dr Seuss” Geisel had 40 of his books published and considered this one to be his favourite.
Hollywood has found it tricky translating the whimsical magic of Dr Seuss’ tales from page to screen and the makers of The Lorax don’t fully pull off the feat here. Their effort is a vast improvement on 2000’s lamentable How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but the strain of stretching a 45-page book into a feature-length narrative shows all too clearly. It needs three clumsy flashbacks to shoehorn Ted’s quest, invented for the film, into the tale of the Once-ler and The Lorax.
That said, Ted’s adventures produced some zippy chase sequences and the accompanying songs are jolly, if not particularly memorable. But will Ted be able to restore nature's balance? The eco-message of the book was ahead of its time when it was published in 1971, and here is tempered with cheerful good humour and psychedelic imagery. But stretching a short children's book out to feature length means the brilliant simplicity of the story is somewhat lost. Nevertheless, the catchy songs, personable characters and heartfelt eco message means that this is still a sweet and enjoyable concoction for all the family and especially if you are concerned about the environment and the health of our planet. Just before the end credits we get this statement: Dr. Seuss says, “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, It’s not.”
Overall, ‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ 3D is a really good and exciting animated film and especially with fantastic 3D visual feasts to enjoy and is also a warning about climate danger and especially the deforestation of Planet Earth!
DR SEUSS – THE LORAX MUSIC TRACK LIST
THNEEDVILLE (Written by John Powell and Cinco Paul) [Performed by Fletcher Sheridan and chorus]
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THEME (Written by Lalo Schifrin)
THE HUSTLE (Written by Van McCoy) [Performed by Van McCoy and The Soul City Symphony]
EVERYBODY NEEDS A THNEED (Written by John Powell and Cinco Paul) [Performed by The 88 and Ed Helms]
HOW BAD CAN I BE (Written by John Powell, Cinco Paul, and Kool Kojak) [Performed by Ed Helms]
O’HARE AIR JINGLE (Written by Chad Fischer) [Performed by Chad Fischer]
LET IT GROW (Written by John Powell and Cinco Paul) [Performed by Fletcher Sheridan, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Dan Navarro, Claira Nicole Titman, Betty White, Rob Riggle, and chorus]
THESE TREES (Written by John Powell and Cinco Paul) [Performed by Ed Helms]
LET IT GROW (Celebrate the World) (Written by Christopher Stewart (aka Christopher "Tricky" Stewart), Ester Dean, Cinco Paul, John Powell, and Aaron Pearce) [Performed by Ester Dean]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU (Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill (aka Patty Smith Hall)
THIS IS THE PLACE (Tricky Version) (Written by John Powell and Cinco Paul) [Performed by Ed Helms]
YOU NEED A THNEED (Written by John Powell and Cinco Paul) [Performed by Keith Slettedahl and The 88 featuring Antonio Sol, Fletcher Sheridan and Taylor Graves]
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3D Blu-ray Image Quality – Universal Pictures and ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT presents us ‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ 3D with a stunning 1080p image presentation and is also enhanced with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, which shows off the most brilliant and outstanding 3D effects so totally brilliant, and definitely gives you a totally demonstration reference quality, especially showing off some extraordinarily gaudy and flamboyant vibrant colours that burst out of your screen. In spite of having to wear 3D glasses, the vibrancy of colours will practically hypnotize the viewers into a wonderful magical world of bizarre artificial cities and gorgeous woodlands. Primary colours appear especially luxurious and richly saturated, without ever spoiling your viewing experience. The softer pastel hues of the forests and treetops are equally dramatic and striking, making much of the animation come alive with realism. The additional 3D dimensional effects become immediately apparent, providing the presentation with a terrific layered appearance, which makes the action pop right out of the screen even more. Gimmick effects abound in a very hilarious entertaining ways, often reaching beyond the confines of the TV screen and amusingly floating in mid-air, to great effect. The 3D depth experience again is consistent and never fails to impress, but the real highlight of this 3D image transfer is the final chase scene through the streets of Thneedville, putting viewers in the first-person perspective, as you weave and bob through traffic with a fluid movement that dizzying as well as exciting, feeling as if we're really part of the pursuit or skiing down a fake snow hill. Overall, the 3D animated film is a lot of fun and fantastic thrill ride with this 3D Blu-ray disc.
3D Blu-ray Audio Quality – Universal Pictures brings us ‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ 3D with an equally brilliant 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround experience, which is also a near reference quality, which reverberates with great dramatic verve and fervour every time characters break out into song. The sound design offers plenty of good strong rear activity; but overall it never actually fills the room with an immersive sound experience, so you do not experience it enveloping, to pull the audience into the magical world of 3D visuals. The original composed film music score by John Powell and the pop musical songs take advantage of the surround effects with especially the outstanding various instruments and performers. Meanwhile, dialogue and vocals are never overwhelmed or drowned out, making this a totally amazing sound and musical soundtrack ever for all to enjoy.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Unfortunately and sadly there are no Special Features or Extras to be viewed with the Blu-ray release.
Finally, ‘DR SEUSS – THE LORAX’ 3D has finally been brought to the big home widescreen cinema widescreen with some totally amusing and amazing results, and is helped along with a plethora of some amazing famous voices like Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Rob Riggle and Betty White. The animation is totally dazzling and totally mesmerizing at the same time, but the overall moral, especially for children could be lost in the storyline, which ultimately goes against what it tries to preach. So all in all, this Blu-ray as a whole makes for good and wholesome entertainment and a must for the entire family. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
