MovieChat Forums > The Cat in the Hat (2003) Discussion > Why the Cat in the Hat is better than UP

Why the Cat in the Hat is better than UP

posted 15 years ago by Sack-3
30 replies | jump to latest

I'm not going to be the one that defends Cat in the Hat from a critical standpoint, but this discussion looks like a lot of adults crying about the lost innocence of youth. The PG rating suggested that this wasn't for kids -- the "dirty ho" joke crossed the line -- but it clearly was made for kids. Mine loved it (can't say the same for myself).

Hollywood is trying to hard to make kids movies that adults also enjoy, which happens every time a kids movie gets a PG rating. It makes no sense. I enjoyed "Up" but my 1st grader much preferred Cat in the Hat. And why not, Up was serious, dark, and ominous at times -- all great elements of an adult movie that younger kids have trouble relating to. Cat in the Hat had adult elements too but they mostly went right over my daughter's head. What she saw was a fast paced, visually appealing, zany movie that made no sense. Without the adult humor, it would be hard to argue with the movie from a kid's perspective.

So, I'll ask -- I know you hated it (so did I), but what did your kids think about the movie?

[–] narcolepticsloth 15 years ago

well i saw this back when i was a "kid", so that counts. I think... and frankly it confused the hell out of me. It wasn't really entertaining and every time they tried to be funny it was just pathetic. Even back then I knew Mike Myers was trying too hard.

I think the problem with Cat in the Hat is that their target audience is still reading the Dr Seuss book, which if you think about it is really too young to be considered a target audience. Sure it makes for a good rental, especially when you need something to distract the little mutant for an hour or so, but releasing it theatrically was a big mistake since those kids are usually the ones not watching the movie. If they crafted their film so that it would appeal to a wider audience then it probably would have done a little better (review wise).

Up on the other hand was a really great movie because it was entertaining for a variety of audiences. And even though it is a cartoon (or whatever that form of animation is called) that doesnt mean that it is strictly a kiddie film. Theres nothing wrong with a cartoon with depth. Kids should watch movies like this, or at least something that stimulates the brain. Its bad enough that they are left in front of television sets that show nonsensical cartoons that-oh my I'm ranting :P

But I find it odd that you would compare Cat in the Hat with Up since they have nothing in common. Apples and Oranges my friend...

[–] Mongrel6 15 years ago

I agree completely. I saw Cat in the Hat when I was basically still a kid and I thought it was terrible. When somebody asks me my opinion on the worst movie ever, this movie always comes to mind. (I'm sure there are worse, though)

Everyone seems to associate animated films as "kid films," which I think is total crap. Most ARE made for kids, and those that aren't are even dumbed down a bit so that kids can be included, but try to think outside the box. Animated films can be made for all audiences, which is something Pixar and a few others seem to get. Why can't you?

[–] logan_wolves 15 years ago

Cat in the Hat is an abortion on screen.

This and Up should never be put in the same sentence. Thanks.

[–] KongKongAGAIN 15 years ago

I don't give a damn about the "adult" nature of this film's humor; I give a damn that it's stupid, incessant, and annoying. I wonder for whom the hell the film was made: it's not entertaining to children, as far as I can tell, and, to an adult, it's just about unwatchable. I remember I kept hoping Mike Myers would get hit by a bus, as I sat through this fecal disaster.

[–] sylviamaye 15 years ago

Thank you! I completely agree. To even put an imaginative, creative, magical gem like UP in the same sentence as this mess is ludicrous! How in the world can anyone say Up was "dark?" There was nothing dark about that film whatsoever but if you're referring to the part where Ellie discovers that she's infertile and dies years later as dark than we differ GREATLY in our definitions of dark.

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[–] DrivingMissMulligan 11 years ago

YES!

[–] jumbofatcakes 15 years ago

I was born in 1994.

I thought it was OKAY. I wasn't like "let's own this movie!" to my parents, though.

Today, it is not only terrible, but has ruined the song "Getting Better" by the Beatles for me. I always think of the scene in CitH where he cleans up the house with that machine-contraption thing. The song is played during that scene.

Arguing online is like the Special Olympics. No matter who wins, you're still retarded

[–] Camargue 15 years ago

"I was born in 1994."

This probably accounts for your hurtful "signature."

When you attend college (and learn to formally argue) you will understand the value of being able to both defend your position and to expand into other areas. If your arguments are cogent, there is a good chance that others (not just the object of your words) may benefit from your logic. (You will also learn that ad hominem means instant disqualification.)

"What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?" - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

[–] jumbofatcakes 15 years ago

When you attend college (and learn to formally argue) you will understand the value of being able to both defend your position and to expand into other areas. If your arguments are cogent, there is a good chance that others (not just the object of your words) may benefit from your logic. (You will also learn that ad hominem means instant disqualification.)

Well obviously. A cogent argument always beats out an ad hominem. But what does that have to do with me?

Arguing online is like the Special Olympics. No matter who wins, you're still retarded

[–] sylviamaye 15 years ago

What he's saying is that when you're older, you'll understand that "arguments", per se, don't always have to be a battle of wits or who "wins". It can be a respectful exchanging of view points. We've deduced this much information by your age and signature (if you were wondering), which is pretty offensive to the mentally challenged.

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[–] jumbofatcakes 15 years ago

That sounds a lot like a simple discussion to me, but I see what you mean.
I'm sorry if my signature offends anybody. It's just a joke. I have nothing against mentally challenged people, or the Special Olympics.

Arguing online is like the Special Olympics. No matter who wins, you're still r*******

[–] sylviamaye 15 years ago

No problem, and much appreciated is the signature revamp. :)

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[–] IntoTheLookingGlassx 14 years ago

I was born in 1994 too, and I DON'T say things like that signature.

Don't stereotype people by their age, people can be wrong at whatever age. You're clearly showing that, and so is the other person.

[–] sylviamaye 14 years ago

Who's stereotyping? If you'd stop looking at our discussion in such surface terms (and obviously confused as to the point) you'd see he wasn't saying all young people are disrespectful or some such.

I was born in '87 so we're not too far off in age. Don't always assume someone is being attacked thereby going and attacking others without just cause.

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[–] RoranicusPandicus 15 years ago

I thought that Cat in the Hat was great.

But sorry. i don't think it's comparable to UP. That was a masterpiece.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] winterhawkdjs-1 14 years ago

So you thought the Cat in the Hat is better than UP or is it just that you're trying to make a point to defend the Cat in the Hat? Me, I liked UP better than Cat in the Hat, but really this movie wasn't terribly horrible as some make it out to be. It was an average movie to me.

[–] diegoavilarodriguez 14 years ago

personally both films are awesome,

[–] dfog 13 years ago

i was 10 when this movie originally came out, and for whatever reason i quite enjoyed it. i recently watched it and i could not believe what i was watching. i couldn't make it 30 minutes. to compare to another seuss remake, how the grinch stole christmas is the godfather to this film. i loved the grinch and i loved jim carrey. in this movie, i can't stand mike myers' voice let alone his acting. it actually saddens me that i could have possibly enjoyed this movie at any stage of life.