Where The Wild Things Are Movie Blurb by Shale October 23, 2009 This movie opened last week and I didn't intend to see it but over the week I have heard so much about it - especially that the majority of viewers of this PG rated movie were older than 18. I understand that this is one of those movies that has a following from a beloved 1963 children's classic by Maurice Sendak. That explains why I never heard of it, having gone out into the adult world in 1963 and never having small children around. Really the main reason I saw this movie was not only to satisfy all those young to middle age adults who suggested it but it was the flick playing at the most convenient time when I got off work today. For those not familiar with the little book, it centers around a 9-year-old boy named Max (Max Records actually). At first I thought he was a bit of a nerd, like I was as a child; his room full of stuff that I had (or woulda liked to have) at that age. It even opens with him making a snow igloo - same as I did in the 'burbs of St. Louis as a kid. But Max has anger issues - he acts like a spoiled, out of control child (Sorry, I was raised before Dr. Spock - I wasn't allowed to be out of control) Max Out of Control So Max has a fight with his mother (Catherine Keener), who is separated from his dad and is courting a potential new daddy (Mark Ruffalo in a small scene), and runs away from home. He sails across a huge sea in a tiny boat to an island and meets the family of wild things. Carol, one of the wild things is having a tantrum and tearing everything up, something Max can relate to. Carol & Max - Kindred Spirits Carol calms down enuf to take a liking to Max and he sort of dissuades all the other wild things from eating him. Actually, they soon make Max their king and he becomes part of the wild family with his first proclamation "Let the wild rumpus start!" Max, Owner of This World The rest of the movie has Max interacting with the wild things, which were made by the Jim Henson's Creature Shop and are quite impressive in their size and very expressive CGI faces. He tries to help Carol and KW get over their disagreements and we can all see the parallels of Max' own family squabbles. Max and KW This is a tale of a boy learning how to control his anger and seeing the consequences of angry outbursts. My daughter, a grade school teacher is familiar with the book, having read it herself and to her students. You can see the lessons presented to Max as all the wild things take on the childlike roles of jealousy, frustration, anger and eventually, acceptance of friends, however annoying. It was a simple little movie with great visuals, which seem appropriate as that is all the book was about; mostly drawings with very few words. I liked the movie and I think other kids will as well.
One thing's certain: all the animatronics and CGI in the world couldn't scare me as much as those illustrations and my imagination did as a child.
I'm gonna go see it with some friend's tuesdee at our downtown theatre's 2 doller tuesday night. You get in for 2 bucks if you donate a can or more of food, but they only feature 2 movies at a time. And the concession chick always gives me free shit haha. Should be fun, I'm looking forward to it! Gonna smoke a lot of weed, eat lots of candy and junk and splurge that whole day. Even thought about wearin our pjs.
Even when you were small? It IS a cute, quality book... but two or three of those guys really got into my head!
Yeah! I wished I could hang out with them like he did. But, my first viewing of Rudolph the Yeti made me hide behind the couch =P
I did not have that particular experience... But! That's where I'm coming from. I wish I could find the book now. I'd probably find the monsters adorable but it's one of those fascinating things about the young mind. Just the a stroke of a pencil to make an unusual shape can haunt you for some reason, when you haven't seen much.
I remember seeing the book and flipping through it at school, but I never read it, I always thought it was weird. Just this kid playing with monsters.
plus the kid reminded me of a little spoiled bastard that used to live in my neighborhood...I wanted to ring his neck
Agreed, visuals were great... I can't believe the story was just soooo bad... I guess with all that money they poured into the visual aspect of the film they couldn't afford a decent screenplay writer. The kid was a super brat, and after running away and biting his mother and tearing up his sister's room, mom gives him cake. Nice lesson, hollywood.
I have been wanting to watch this for quite sometime and i finally did last night. I never read the book... so i was just wondering, is the movie supposed to be depressing????
well thats relieving. the whole movie i was trying to force myself to smile, and think its cute, but i couldn't help but be depressed. i gotta read the book
From what I remember it's pretty damn short and not very interestingly written - however, it's an absolute work of art, and I'd definitely buy it in a second if I saw it at Border's or something.
I wouldn't let a kid watch this movie, it might give them the idea that the peoples who care about them may turn into scary monsters that want to eat them ^^. I think kids shouldn't be scared by things like that, way too traumatizing
