djingodjango - Posted - 10/18/2009:  06:40:21

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My wife and 15 year old and I went to the movies last night to watch the newly released "Where The Wild Things Are", and when the lights came up after, we sat there stunned for a few minutes.

I don't think I have ever experienced such emotions brought forth by one movie in a long, long time.

Spike Joenz took a 10 page book with very few words from American illustrator Maurice Sendak that was published back in 1963 and turned it into a work of (in my opinion) cinematic art.

I will not spoil it by giving away the plot, but, frankly, if you've read the book, you know as much as you need to know.

There were some changes, after all the movie must run the obligatory hour and a half, but all in all it adhered to the premise of a little boys' perception of the world of adults and his feelings of loneliness and alienation.

Don't go expecting to see a goofy, Jim Carey, Tim Allen feel-good flic. It is dark. Much darker then Warner Brothers expected apparently, because they gave Jonez a few extra million bucks to re-shot and edit some scenes. But some things are disturbing.

And the boy who plays "Max", oddly enough with the real name of Max Record, is charming and will beguile the socks off you. If you wear such things.

I think, though, besides the magnificent 'monster' costumes (yes, they were costumes, but brilliant in their assembly and use) the music was one of the stars of the show.

Written especially for each scene by silky voiced Karen O from "The Yeah Yeah Yeahs", it captures the wild exuberance of youth and the heart breaking sorrow of personal pain.

Go see it. Walt Disney it ain't. Good movie making it is.

Peace
Geo

"Keep it small." - Pete Seeger

pandjlocke - Posted - 10/18/2009:  06:56:07

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Gee, George. I wasn't going to go see it, but after that review, I feel I must. Have you ever thought of changing your profession from curmudgeon to movie reviewer? Or maybe you could just do it on the side, if curmudgeonry (or is it curmudgeonism) pays well. Thanks for the heads up.


Beware of the urgent crowding out the important - C.E. Hummel

Paddy

SJL - Posted - 10/18/2009:  06:56:58

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Geo,

I saw it with my six year old. I completely agree with your assessment. I would like to see to go see it again. I guess that I will wait for it to come out on DVD.

It would be interesting to see the scenes that were re-shot.

I think it is much better suited to children older than mine, but he seemed to enjoy it.



"If the woman is alive at the end of the song, it ain't Bluegrass".

2007 Hatfield Walnut Custom

1976 (?) Aria Pro Tree of Life

dingo - Posted - 10/18/2009:  07:01:42

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I was wondering if it was going to be good. Now I know and will have to check it out. After all some of the best movies made have been with puppets, What was the one called Crystal or something, I always loved that movie.

Jill

What Happens in the Corn Field, Stays in the Corn Field.

KE - Posted - 10/18/2009:  09:41:38

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Well - - I wouldn't have even considered it -- not I might have to check it out.

SJL - Posted - 10/18/2009:  10:20:02

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I will say I thought that the first ten or fifteen minutes seemed a bit hokey, but they were essential to the plot.

"If the woman is alive at the end of the song, it ain't Bluegrass".

2007 Hatfield Walnut Custom

1976 (?) Aria Pro Tree of Life

rteale - Posted - 10/18/2009:  17:18:14

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My favourite kids book - I've bought several copies over the years. Hard to see how it can be made into a film (although I know it has been made into an opera in the past).

Is it a suitable film for kids (say 6 years and up)?

Ray

pete hobbie - Posted - 10/18/2009:  19:02:51

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When my first born was 2 I got that book and wore it out thru him and the next three, we had skits and songs and danced to the wild rumpous. He's 20 now and leaving tomorrow morning for the Airforce . Last Friday night the whole family went to the theater and watched it together and loved it. Was it the same as the book? No. Was it a great way to spend the evening with family? Absolutely yes!!
Pete

Things are more the way they are now than they've ever been.

Life is tough, it's even tougher if your stupid.
John Wayne

fivestring2 - Posted - 10/18/2009:  19:16:15

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Pete, it sounds like you had a special night with the family. I read the book to my kids too but wondered how they could make a full length movie out of it. My curiosity is piqued now so I may have to see this. Good luck to your son! My brother was in the Air Force and loved it!!

barbie

Check out www.banjoholler.com I double dare you!!!

brokenstrings - Posted - 10/18/2009:  20:18:06

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A number of critics thought it was more a film for adults, especially those who had been kids when this book came out. Our local critic panned it. The heck with him, what does he know? I'm going to see it anyhow.

Jessy

Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!

10gauge - Posted - 10/18/2009:  21:20:42

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I love that book and Sendak. I'll see the movie for sure now.

Jonathan O'bug

pandjlocke - Posted - 10/18/2009:  21:54:39

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The sets of the Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of The Nutcracker were all designed by Maurice Sendak. He is fantastic.


Beware of the urgent crowding out the important - C.E. Hummel

Paddy

MTBanjo - Posted - 10/19/2009:  07:15:04

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An NPR critic had nothing good to say about it, either, but I will see it regardless. I like the authors response to a question about parents being concerned it might be too scary for their kids. Can't actually repeat it on the hangout, but let's just say he told those parents they can go to heck!

There's an article/interview about it in last weeks Newsweek (the one with Joe on the cover). It's got the director, author, and screenwriter all in the interview.

Zach

twayneking - Posted - 10/19/2009:  07:57:32

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If an NPR reviewer didn't like it, that's actually, for me, a high recommendation. I'd like to see it now. I'll need to see if I can find a kid to take since my youngun's have not seen fit to provide me with proper grandchildren yet.

I'm just sayin'

Tom King

Check my latest blog entry, "The Perils of Going Viral".
Just click on my avatar...

jreyes - Posted - 10/19/2009:  09:24:44

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partyofone - Posted - 10/19/2009:  09:26:16

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I saw the movie this weekend with my 5 year old and I can't say that I loved it. It was neat, well done, and interesting, but a little over her head. I also didn't like how some issues were not explained well.

One song that I wish had been included is by two friends of mine. They wrote a song based on the book several years ago. You can see a video of them at www.twoofakind.com

Good film, but not my favorite.

If we weren't all crazy, we'd all go insane. -Jimmy Buffett

MTBanjo - Posted - 10/19/2009:  09:47:41

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quote:

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Originally posted by twayneking

If an NPR reviewer didn't like it, that's actually, for me, a high recommendation. I'd like to see it now. I'll need to see if I can find a kid to take since my youngun's have not seen fit to provide me with proper grandchildren yet.

I'm just sayin'

Tom King

Check my latest blog entry, "The Perils of Going Viral".
Just click on my avatar...

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Jeez

Actually most reviewers on NPR are guests who review professionaly for one newspaper or another. But I agree in my own way. I've listened to reviewers before, and I usually find that if nothing else, their standards were a lot higher than mine, so just because they didn't like it doesn't mean anything.

Zach

Compass56 - Posted - 10/19/2009:  10:41:14

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It sounds interesting, creative, and ususual. I'm going to see it this weekend

Brian T - Posted - 10/19/2009:  13:40:51

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Sendak's skills and vision are extraordinary. The Nutcracker ballet productions are, in fact, adaptations of a book now set to music with ballet. A dark story that I have no plans to read twice (25 years ago, can't be bothered to remember the title). In that day and time, set designs in the east were nearly painfully conservative but acceptable. When the Pacific Northwest Ballet company opened their production, Sendak's set design work was "over the top."
However, it was realized quite quickly that his bold innovation enriched the entire experience. Nobody attempts to copy Sendak: the approximations are all too obvious. His work encouraged set designers everywhere to color outside the lines, most of the time. And most of the time, it works.

I first dressed the Mouse King's army in riveted, shining aluminum armour. That was one aspect of my designs for a Nutcracker Ballet production which now has been on stage in front of a symphony for more than 20 years.

Where The Wild Things Are. I can't possibly miss it.

We do not know where we are going.
Nor do most of us care.
For us, it is enough that we are on our way.
Le Matelot

meadowlark - Posted - 10/19/2009:  20:44:25

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I saw this with my son this weekend. I liked it and he said he did, too, he's 9. Catherine Keener is one of my favorite actresses, even though her part was almost a cameo. I thought the issues of relationship and separation were more adult themes, but I could see how the film addressed a child's view of adult relationships and divorce. My son didn't get that at all and just said it was "dramatic."

Maybe it will take another watch to feel the impact djingodjango described. I didn't see it as dark and disturbing. It could have been, but it really didn't go that direction for me. I enjoyed the visual art of the film and the music did compliment it. Don't go expecting a real plot, the film is more like a dream and I think that should have been played up more to add dimension to Max's experience, like a "Wizard of Oz," or "Alice in Wonderland," sequence.

............Lay back, relax, get back on the human track.....

MTBanjo - Posted - 10/20/2009:  06:49:41

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I decided to see it last night after this post (and since it was cold & rainy). It was good. Much better than the review I heard. Definitely glad that I saw it. I agree, it could have been much darker...there were a couple places where even with just a little scary music, it would have been really creepy, but they avoided it. I think that was because it definitely was a movie aimed towards kids, so they kept it toned down.

I don't think I've seen a "childrens" movie yet that didn't involve adult themes (relationships etc.), so that's nothing new.

I do remember some movies from when I was young that I still think are creepy...and in that sense I think he could have made the movie a bit more creepy, but I guess it's good that he didn't. Even the Secret of Nihm and the Dark Crystal were creepier..

All in all I liked it.

Zach