Customer Reviews

Dr. Seuss: The Cat in the Hat (Sing-Along Classics) [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

That this classic video expands on the book isn't bad, it's great because it's Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss), comic songwriter Allan Sherman and Chuck Jones, world's most revered cartoon director, doing the "riffing." The characters (like Things #1 & #2, and the fish, Karlos K. Krinklebein, are richer; the storyline tighter; and the songs are a hoot. Most of all, the use of language in the cartoon is yet more dazzling. Get the Seuss cartoons Seuss himself took part in: "Cat in the Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham/Sneetches/The Zax," "The Grinch..." and, maybe best of all, "Horton Hears a Who," directed by Chuck Jones, with Hans Conreid doing the voices and delightful, Gilbert and Sullivanesque songs, such as that by the redoubtable Wickersham Brothers. (Other reviewers are right: avoid the more recent "we pan the page of the book while Billy Crystal/John Cleese et al read along"...they are visually nowhere and hold your child's (and your) attention for about a nanosecond.)

Although the video does depart from the book, the story and songs are very entertaining. My daughter is 2 years old and loves it... in fact I've heard her singing along with some of the songs. I enjoy it too, and this is important because I usually have to see it/hear it over and over and over....

This video is excellent for children of all ages. I enjoyed it as achild and I find myself referring back for the basics. The Cat in the Hat is a role model for everyone.

I love this video! Although primarily aimed at kids, like all the good material from this genre, it has something for the parents too. The songs stick in your head for days after, and although the kids in the show are somewhat bland, the Cat, Mr. Krinklebine (the goldfish) and Thing 2 and Thing 1 more than make up for it. My kids have to watch these at least once a day and love every minute of it. I also recommend the Green Eggs and Ham video.

Title of book: The Cat in the Hat
Author: Dr. Seuss
Publisher: Random House
Place of Publication: New York City
Copyright Date: 1957


Have you ever seen a cat in a hat? Well most kids haven't, but you can read about one if you read The Cat in the Hat written by Dr. Seuss. It's about a crazy cat that comes to Sally and her brother's house, while their mom is at work. Their mom told them not to make a mess .Then the cat in the hat came .He doesn't only bring his hat but a magic box too. He gets the kids so tempted to see what's inside the box. But their fish says "NO! NO! That can't be here while your mother is out!!" And the cat said, "Have no fear my tricks aren't bad."Not even a few minutes later the house was a mess .The fish was really mad, but the Cat wasn't done. The cat ran out of the house and came back with a big red box. The box was locked with a hook. And two things ran out. If you want to know what happened next, read The Cat in the Hat.

In the book, the author is trying to say don't make a mess while your mother is out or you'll regret it. Sally and her brother changed and realized never to let a stranger in their house. I rated this book with five stars because it teaches a very important lesson too little kids and they love to read it!!!

The Cat in the Hat has always been a favored book in my house. This cartoon expands the book and gives the Cat a twist on the edge. They've actually given the fish a name, but I can't remember what it is. Hmmm... I'll have to watch the video again. Anyway, the Cat is voiced by Alan Sherman. I think his voice really brings the Cat in the Hat to life. This video includes many fun songs, and somehow I find myself singing along. Seuss fans who haven't bought this video should!

Diasppointing. Any Dr. Seuss purist will be surprised at the license taken with the orignal story. Theodore Giesel had a hand in the songs, which aren't even close to the text or the orignal zanniness of it all. The only similarity is that the Cat in the Hat makes a mess and he cleans up. No kite flying by Thing 1 or Thing 2, no balancing of the fish on a book or boat. Sorry I was misled by the title and Dr. Seuss name, which usually means quality stories. If you like 60's animation and silly songs, this is for you.

This movie is packed with good, clean fun and music, great for children of all ages! The kids love singing along with the wacky songs, and parent's don't need to worry about inappropriate material!

The Cat in the Hat (the book) is a favorite of mine and my daughters (2 and 4). I love the rhythm and rhymes. I was disappointed with this animated version because it retains very little of the language from the book. In contrast, the animated versions of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Horton Hears a Who, and Green Eggs and Ham stay very close to the language of the books, only elaborating and tinkering slightly with the language here and there (and adding clever songs). The Cat in the Hat animated version, however, totally re-writes the whole story. Yes, it is cute, and wacky, and my kids like to watch it. But I see no reason for it to have departed so far from the book. The book is a classic and its language is perfect. Why change it?

This video is a terrible adaptation of a wonderful book. All the charcters and their relationships are distorted from the original. This is done by the same team that animated "the Grinch Who Stole Christmas" -- which is wonderful -- but they strayed far afield from the original story line this time. This is apparently to accommodate a few forgettable Allan Sherman tunes, which unlike the songs from Grinch, take away from the story rather than improving it. The second video, if possible, is even worse. These 60's revisionist versions of children's classics should not have been resurrected. Thumbs down.