Best movie of this year hands down!

Admirable film.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

I have said this before but I liked Dr Seuss stories and The Grinch is one of them that actually holds up pretty well. The Cat in The Hat is one that I am a little bit sketchy about. However I sat down and watched this and will give my honest opinion.Now the pot of the cartoon is thicker than the plot of the book, which can work both ways into it either being good (like this) or absolutely terrible (like Hollywood's "adaptation"). This time it is not the latter.So in case you don't know the plot is that on a rainy day a mother leaves her 2 kids out while it is raining a cat suddenly comes in and wonders if they would like to have fun. The talking fish however doesn't approve and to be honest the kids are also pretty sketchy of a 6" tall cat getting them to have fun and he leaves. Only to accuse the fish of stealing his "moss-covered three-handled family gradunza." As the kids, the Cat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 have fun while trying to find it they mess up the place. The Cat leaves but after cleaning the place up.Allan Sherman does actually do a very good job playing the cat. I think everyone does a good job in this cartoon. I was a little caught off guard when I heard Thing 1 and Thing 2 talk but that was it.So if you want to show your kids the only representation of The Cat In The Hat on screen (the 2003 one doesn't count because it's barely an adaptation) then show them this. I however prefer The 1966 Grinch with Boris Karloff because in my opinion that story has aged better since I was a little kid and the cartoon is something I see nothing wrong with.

Cat in the Hat, The (1971) *** (out of 4) Two children get left home alone on a rainy night when there's a knock at the door and in walks a strange cat in an even stranger hat. Next to 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' this here is perhaps the most famous story from Dr. Seuss and there's no question that this made-for-TV short goes all out in turning it into one of the most memorable shorts from this era. When you look back at these animated shorts from the 1970s there's no question that the majority of them stand the test of time for numerous reasons. THE CAT IN THE HAT is certainly no exception and there are two things that make it remain so fresh. One is the terrific dialogue, which gets shot out at a mile a second. There's never a dull moment because the dialogue just keeps firing on all sides. It's funny and also very catchy to the point where you just want to start speaking this dialogue. Another thing that I really loved about the film were the colors. The colors used really bring this film to life and I really love one sequence where our beloved cat is sitting at a piano with both sides of the wall being a different color and then you have that terrific looking carpet. When you see all three colors blended together it's really a treat for your eyes. The story itself is a nice one and there's no question that kids and their parents will enjoy this one.

Despite the talents of both legendary animator Chuck Jones and Dr. Seuss himself, this animated version of the Cat In The Hat is not as good as I remembered. If the book had used this same plot, it wouldn't have been a children's classic. The changes to the story are for the most part not improvements, and only scraps of Dr. Seuss' wonderful language are used.SPOILERS FOLLOWThe Cat is not charming | No not in the least | And the verse but a bit | Of the Seussian feastThe Cat is not active | doesn't bounce on the ball | he puts Fish to sleep | and just caterwaulsThe 1960s Cat's search | for his family gradunza | and that tranquilized Fish | Well... it just makes you wonderIt's a dated old show | with unremarkable songs | but it's fortunate though | that it's not very longI wish it were better | I'll bet you do too | When you see the can-can | danced by Things 1 and 2

This song-filled Dr. Seuss classic should be shown on network television at least twice a year! The musical numbers are pure fun; as a bonus, they managed to sneak in a quick foreign languages lesson. The newest home video release of this favorite has the words on the screen, which is even better. Listen during the song performed with Thing 2 and Thing 1. You'll hear the booming baritone of Thurl "Tony The Tiger" Ravenscroft. I have watched this special over 100 times on home video, and never want to stop.