Where the Wild Things Are Movie REVIEW
Where the Wild Things Are review- For someone like me, a boy raised in Brooklyn, New York (where author Maurice Sendak was raised and was inspired to write the 1963 classic children’s book) “Where the Wild Things Are” was not only required reading, but FUN reading. First let me make it clear- WTWTA only had around 10 sentences in it- it was a children’s book powered by drawings of fantastical monsters.
Question #1 for me was: how can you adapt a full length movie based on a few drawings?
After watching the movie (I had a free pass) I can say that the director Spike Jonze (who teemed up with Maurice Sendak) just used the barebone book and weaved a whole world powered on a child’s imagination, and finally gave those monsters I stared at as a kid personalities. After the initial feeling of “oh, this didn’t happen in the book” I realized how STUPID that comment is since the “book” is just a bunch of drawings. This movie is an entirely different piece of artistic work.
Yes, the Where the Wild Things Are movie is a work of art. It’s different than any movie you’ve ever saw in this sickening modern era of pop cinema. It is original, odd, offbeat, methaphoric, weird, and engaging. It leaves the crapfest that is New Moon (the new, new Star Wars trilogy) in the dust [I'm sorry, I just don't get Twilight, okay?].
And… it’s not for kids of today. It’s for the adult Baby Boomers and Generation X’ers who read the book when they were kids. The movie has a warped melancholic tone and dark mood since the opening scene. Of course, I thought Wall-E was dark, but kids liked that. Kids like the Harry Potter and Narnia movies, and they seem pretty serious as well. So I guess it all depends on your children. The good news is that there’s no sex, violence, or cursing, so it’s all about tone, and if they will find it entertaining.
Where the Wild Things Are is kinda like a throwback to The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, or The Princess Bride and other 1980’s fantasy movies. One refreshing aspect of WTWTA is that the human scenes can take place in any era- there’s no fad technology that would instantly date the movie; it is a timeless tale about a lonely child wanting the attention of his mother, sister, and non-existent friends.
Child actor Max Records blew me away. That kid has super talent.
“Tony Soprano” does the voice of Max’s best monster friend and did a fantastic job.
The Mother reminded me of the neglectful mother archetype from the Amazing Stories anthology TV show in the 1980’s.
I thought the special effects would have been the most controversial aspect of the film, but after I just checked out Rotten Tomatoes while typing this review, I see that the target audience mystery and that the movie didn’t follow the book were the major issues naysayers had. For those critics who attack WTWTA for being over the heads of kids- how about just reviewing the movie for yourself? Did you like it or not?
Where the Wild Things Are is an imagintaive film with comedy and seriousness, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see the world through the eyes of a 9-year old single child. I can vouch for the kid.
Oh yeah, the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack by Karen O and the Kids totally blew me away. I need to get my -ahem- hands on Where the Wild Things Are music TODAY.
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In regards to Harry Potter — each movie/book gets darker and darker. It made me cringe how dark Goblet of Fire was when I first saw it. I mean, Child Services would arrest Dumbledore and the teachers at Hogwarts for how they take care of their kids — letting them eat sweets like crazy, dangerous and deadly magic spells all over the place … I mean, it's insane!
As for Where the Wild Things … I vaguely remember the book, but I'm sad to say I don't have any fond memories or attachment to the book. G. said we have the book and I've read it! I'll have to look for it and read it again.
Glad you enjoyed the movie!