Search - Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 2003 DVD Release: 03/16/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 22 mins Studio: Universal Studios Total Copies: 65 Genres: Children's/Family, Children's Fantasy, Family-Oriented Comedy See Also: Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat [Fullscreen]

Following up on the success of 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Imagine Entertainment presents The Cat in the Hat, their second live-action adaptation of a classic Dr. Seuss book. Starring Mike Myers, the film follows the adventures of Conrad (Spencer Breslin) and Sally Walden (Dakota Fanning), a young brother and sister who find themselves visited by the titular mischievous cat (Meyers) and his entourage when their mother (Kelly Preston) leaves them home alone. Also starring Alec Baldwin and the voice of Sean Hayes, The Cat in the Hat is the directorial debut of Oscar-nominated art director Bo Welch. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Mike Myers - The Cat in the Hat
Alec Baldwin - Lawrence Quinn
Kelly Preston - Joan Walden
Dakota Fanning - Sally Walden
Spencer Breslin - Conrad Walden

Love it or hate it (and let's face it, most hated it), this film is a marvel of set design and art direction, and that is well represented on this special edition DVD. The 1.85:1 anamorphic image is simply stunning. (As is common now, a full-frame version is available separately.) Colors, a vital element of the film, are presented with an amazing flourish, perfectly capturing the theatrical appearance. There are no signs of grain or print scratches, as would be expected. Nearly as impressive is the 5.1 Dolby Digital track. The sound mix is very exciting, with wide use of the surrounds for effect, but the main audio source is never drowned out up front. Dialogue is clear (this could be a good or bad thing, depending on your view) and without any distortion. It wouldn't be surprising to see a two-disc re-release happen down the line, but this title still throws in a number of first-rate supplements. While the menus are annoying, they will take you to numerous sections, mainly comprised of 12 short (under three minutes each) featurettes. Those with short attention spans will appreciate these pieces, all with interviews from director Bo Welch, star Mike Myers, and other cast members. Segments include the cat makeup, the music, the creation of the Theodore Seuss Geisel stamp, the vehicles, various visual effects, and more. In addition, and designed to appeal to the very young, is a segment on how to dance like the cat. Slightly more promising, though not the best ever produced, is an audio commentary track from Welch and Alec Baldwin. The two seem to enjoy recording this track, and their time making the movie. Infinitely more amusing than the film is a lengthy bloopers segment. Finally, a number of deleted scenes are offered, as well as the trailers for Shrek 2 and Peter Pan. Overall, this is a fine disc, from the exceptional picture and sound to a wide array of extras. Now, if only the film was as good. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide