In the colorful and warm tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a Clownfish named Marlin lives safe and secluded in a quiet cul-de-sac with his only son, NEMO. Fearful of the ocean and its unpredictable risks, he struggles to protect his son. Nemo, like all young fish, is eager to explore the mysterious reef. When Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from home and thrust into a dentist's office fish tank, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero on an epic journey to rescue his son. In his quest, Marlin is joined by a good Samaritan named Dory, a Regal Blue Tang fish with the worst short-term memory and biggest heart in the entire ocean. As the two fish continue on their journey, encountering numerous dangers, Dory's optimism continually forces Marlin to find the courage to take risks
and overcome his fears. In doing so, Marlin gains the ability to trust and believe, like Dory, that things will work out in the end.
Confronting seabirds, sewer systems, and even man himself, father and son's fateful separation ends in triumph. And the once-fearful Marlin becomes a true hero in the eyes of his son, and the entire ocean.
I just found out the other day that one of my beloved stories from my childhood has been made into a brand new movie – The Lorax.
My husband thinks The Lorax is a very depressing movie. In a way it is. But I like to think that there is hope to be found in the movie too.
If you are unfamiliar with the story, The Lorax is a story by Dr. Seuss. It was published in 1971 and later made into the movie. The story reflects just how much industry effects our environment.
The story goes that a man (the “Once-ler”) arrives in the beautiful forest. He falls in love with the Truffula Trees.
He soon realizes that he can do a lot wit the trees like build with them and use their “tuffs” of fluff on top to knit into sweaters. So he builds a factory and cuts down the Truffula trees to use their fluff to make the sweaters, called a Thneed.
Living in the forest is a creature named the Lorax. The Lorax feels that it’s his place to speak for the creatures of the forest and the trees because they are unable to speak for themselves. He tries to reason with the Once-ler and make his realize he is destroying their home, but he doesn’t care. As time goes on the once happy and healthy creatures of the forest are forced to leave.
In the end the Lorax gives up hope and leaves, but not without leaving the Once-ler a message that simply said “Unless”.
We learn at the end of the story that the Once-ler has one single seed, the only seed left of the Truffula Trees. He gives the seed to a young boy in hopes he can plant it and rebuild the forest.
Yes, I admit it’s a depressing story. But it’s also a story that teaches a lesson – that we must care for the trees, land and all of Earth’s creatures or else we will destroy everything and be left with nothing.
