yehudit Reviews

The Lorax (1972 TV Movie)

Consider this movie's place in history.

[10/10 · 11 July 2005]

Well, of course it's good for kids--it's Dr. Seuss! Of course, he's for all ages, but that should have been a clue. I suppose adults can get something from Barney the Dinosaur (to use an extreme example) but it isn't really created for adults, is it.

I'm curious: how old is the poster to whom I am replying? I ask because I sense that without a real understanding of the concerns of the '70s, this film might appear just a piece of outdated animation.

While this film might seem simplistic, its timing was impeccable. It premiered at the moment that the original ecology movement had begun to touch the general populace, and it began with baby seals . . . and serious deforestation of US land. The true-life events and fears of that time were exactly as presented; in fact, this movie aired only that once (until decades later) because the lumber industry was powerful enough at the time to have it hidden on a back shelf. Imagine: they were that scared of the power of this message that Dr. Seuss created (ostensibly) for children.

In any case, I was thrilled to find access to the movie as it is one of those pieces that defined my childhood in its era. Enjoy it for what it is or spend some time really watching it, but don't dismiss it so easily.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Don't discount the embryonic Buffy!

[26 October 2004]

As the reviewer before me noted, this movie was supposed to be camp, and it does it well. Paul Reubens' death scene--beautiful! The wonderful thing is that, while the non-fans won't get it, those of us who watched the series and then went back to the film see the brilliance of Joss Whedon. He used the movie to play, to experiment, to see what would work when he really got down to it, and the seeds of the series are obvious. The word play and cultural references are there, already sounding out "Buffyspeak". A lot of the camera work gives hints, particularly the training scenes. Even the soundtrack is already important. True, Kristy Swanson is no Sarah Michelle Geller, but she rises to the role and SMG's "Buffy" owes her. In Luke Perry's character we can see many of the male characters to come--he gives off shadows of Xander, Angel, Spike, and Riley. Donald Sutherland's "Merrick", is, well, DS's Merrick, but the facial expressions and attitude will belong to Giles in the end (how gently and proudly each tells her that she does it all wrong).

In summary, I was most pleasantly surprised when I finally got to see this movie again.