By Deirdre Spilman
Assistant Opinions Editor
The controversy surrounding Universal Studios’ newest animated film, “The Lorax.” is completely uncalled for.
“The Lorax” — a film adaptation of a 1971 Dr. Seuss book — arrived in theaters last Friday, and since then many anti-environmentalists have been griping about the film’s not-so-subliminal messages. Claims as ridiculous as ‘Dr. Seuss is trying to oppose children of big business and industry.’ These are simply untrue.
Journalist Nancy French said in a March 2 article on thenationalreview.com the film contains “dubious environmental and anti-capitalist messages” and “maybe staying home with an online rental this weekend will help reduce your family’s carbon footprint.” Not very high praise for America’s top-grossing film last week.
I have seen the film, and I’ll agree there is a very prominent message against deforestation. But if it is presented in a manner appropriate and entertaining for children, why not expose them to something so important?
The film is about a city so wrapped up in commercialism that its citizens pay for bottled air from the evil corporate giant Mr. O’Hare. Most of the town’s citizens say they have never even seen a real tree. Upset with this, a young boy travels beyond the town’s borders to talk to the Once-ler – the man who started the deforestation craze to produce his invention from the tree’s leaves.
This film has scenes depicting waste being dumped into rivers, trees being cut down and animals being forced to leave their homes. Things that have become all too common because of the businesses that will stop at nothing to turn a profit.
The demographic for this film is going to be the generation that will have to deal with problems like these on a daily basis, and the generation preceding it could use a wake-up call also. People need to see this film for what it is: a call to action, not another wedge to drive between environmentalists and those who do not want to go green.
Seeing this film made me happy – not just because the film was adorable and turned out to be a musical. I was happy because I thought of all the children seeing this film and learning what I have known for awhile – if we do not change our ways, we could lose the planet that we all care about so much. To quote the Lorax, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
spilmadm10@bonaventure.edu
