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Review Legacy

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas! (2012)

I get no pleasure dumping on stuff made for public television with the aim of educating and entertaining impressionable kids in a healthy manner.

But.

Let me ask you this: What do you think of when you imagine The Cat in the Hat? (I mean the character and the book, not the panned film.)

If you’ve read the 1957 Dr. Seuss book or its 1958 sequel (The Cat in the Hat Comes Back) recently, then you know the Cat to be a chaotic figure. One who toes the line between destruction and playful anarchy. A wrench in the gears of middle-century Leave it to Beaver blandness. He is not a simple animal friend, nor a moral leader, nor a quasi-imaginary companion. (He’s certainly not voiced by Martin Short.)

In short, this Cat in the Hat is not the Cat in the Hat I know.

I haven’t seen the show that this Christmas special comes from. I gather that it derives not from the seminal Seuss classics, but the line of non-fiction sporting the Cat in the Hat that followed (which is another noble pursuit that neutered the character).

This special floats along in a semi-insidious haze of neutrality. The kids, and by proxy the viewers, are learning a few facts about animals and getting character advice about keeping promises (with some “Christmas magic” jarringly sprinkled in), but it is not a film proper, or even a real “holiday special.” It is an educational public service with holiday trappings.

The paper-doll animation is ugly and ungainly (especially for anything not one of the five main characters), the narrative practically nonexistent, the tone toothless kiddie fodder. There’s not even that many facts to learn!

I love PBS and what it contributes to the world, especially for those starved of free meaningful content. I’m a monthly donor. So I give it an honorary salute without actually inflating the rating because I admire the mission. But don’t watch it unless you have toddlers in tow, especially not if you have any reverence for Dr. Seuss’ storytelling sensibilities.

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Review Legacy Revision Candidate

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

The consensus among my peers in recent years is that To Kill a Mockingbird is Baby’s First Anti-Racism Story with a heavy dollop of white saviorism.

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Review Podcast Rating Legacy Revision Candidate

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977)

If you are like me, you see “Jim Henson” on the poster, and you expect something at least a little manic and silly and postmodern. Something Muppetsy.

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Review Legacy Revision Candidate

Ocean’s Eleven (2004)

I’d never argue it’s one of the best, but Ocean’s Eleven is undoubtedly one of the coolest movies I’ve ever seen:

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Legacy Revision Candidate Review

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

Everyone who is panning this should watch Olaf Presents or Once Upon a Snowman to see how dismal Olaf shorts can be.

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Legacy Deprecated Review

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) – 2021 Review

Read the expanded review here


It’s great for all the reasons you remember: Seuss’s verses are wonderful and whimsical; Jones’ animation is colorful and playful (the faces!); Karloff is perfect as the narrator and Grinch; Ravenscroft’s baritone insults are a hoot; and the warm holiday ending is a great payoff on a fun reverse-Santa story.

I’ll probably be watching this every winter for the rest of my life.

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Deprecated Review Legacy

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) – 2021 Review

Read the full review here.

This is the rare childhood favorite that just gets better and better as I get older.

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Review Legacy Revision Candidate

Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)

The challenge with Winnie the Pooh-type whimsy is that if you don’t calibrate the tone just right, it can be an unbearable slog, tedious and treacly and dopey.

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Revision Candidate Review Legacy

Santa’s Workshop (1932)

Note: I viewed both the 2019 remaster on Disney+ and the earlier version on YouTube

Santa’s Workshop is a historically important, technically accomplished, visually appealing animated short that’s quite the holiday delight. There’s tons of energy and color in the motion of making and delivering Christmas gifts, with some great sound design. Using Schubert as backing music adds a lot of richness.

Unfortunately…

I’m docking a rating point for both the blatant racism (blackface doll, scrubbed away in the 2019 remaster), and the subdued racism (“Oriental”-looking dolls). I get that the 1930s were a different time, but even with that context it’s tough to watch.

Another point docked for Disney not giving us an easy way to view the original. I understand the appeal for this to be a timeless toon, and therefore the need to have a modern version that reflects our values better. Frankly, as a parent, I’m grateful for it, because I can show it to my kids with minimal guilt.

But I am super NOT okay with Disney doing anything to obfuscate this process or make it difficult for enthusiasts/historians to watch the original.

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Review Legacy Revision Candidate

A Christmas Carol (1971)

Richard Williams’ 1971 Oscar-winning short is an astonishing adaptation, animated with beautiful, pencil-drawn grace and showcasing the creepier side of the story.