Where The Wild Things Are
Spike Jonze directed this adaptation of the beloved kids' book by Maurice Sendak. I love the book; it's pretty close to perfect. Great story, iconic art, spare and elegant writing. Most kids seem to enjoy it even now. However, I don't think I read it as a kid - not a particularly young one, at least. So maybe I came at the book with a more adult perspective, and (he said, getting to his point at last) so does the film.
There's really only two ways to make a film of Where The Wild Things Are; a short film faithful to the book, probably animated, or a long one which fleshes out the story. This does the latter, and mostly does it well. Max, a troubled and lonely boy, runs away from home and (in a dream? in his imagination? it's not clear, and doesn't really matter) finds the island of the Wild Things. They too are troubled creatures, melancholy and anxious and unable to communicate their feelings; they are reflections of course of Max himself. He unites them, brings joy for a while, until trouble erupts again to a climax and conclusion. The mood gets quite dark in places - for instance, if you remember the line "We'll eat you up!" from the book, well, imagine what can be done with that.
Some of the middle parts of the film dragged a little and felt a bit directionless, but mostly it holds together well. Max Records is excellent as Max, the Wild Things are wonderful - their facial animatronics are top-notch, so expressive!
But don't go expecting the same feelings you'd get from the book. This movie is the book, in many ways - but equally, it ain't.
There's really only two ways to make a film of Where The Wild Things Are; a short film faithful to the book, probably animated, or a long one which fleshes out the story. This does the latter, and mostly does it well. Max, a troubled and lonely boy, runs away from home and (in a dream? in his imagination? it's not clear, and doesn't really matter) finds the island of the Wild Things. They too are troubled creatures, melancholy and anxious and unable to communicate their feelings; they are reflections of course of Max himself. He unites them, brings joy for a while, until trouble erupts again to a climax and conclusion. The mood gets quite dark in places - for instance, if you remember the line "We'll eat you up!" from the book, well, imagine what can be done with that.
Some of the middle parts of the film dragged a little and felt a bit directionless, but mostly it holds together well. Max Records is excellent as Max, the Wild Things are wonderful - their facial animatronics are top-notch, so expressive!
But don't go expecting the same feelings you'd get from the book. This movie is the book, in many ways - but equally, it ain't.