Where the Wild Things Are [Archive] - Movie Fan Central Discussion Forums

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Bourne101

10-08-2009, 09:39 PM

http://l.yimg.com/k/omg/us/img/75/c3/3479_10308008731.jpg?y=660&x=616&q=75&n=0&sig=U0Wn6pe0Eacowp_as3m5oA--

Directed by Spike Jonze

Written by Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers

Genre: Adventure/Drama/Family/Fantasy

http://l.yimg.com/k/omg/us/img/fb/98/9152_238599096.jpg?y=660&x=616&q=75&n=0&sig=vz6_gF2Wpd2AUpbDNLuoZw--

Plot Outline: An adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, where Max, a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, creates his own world--a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler.

http://l.yimg.com/k/omg/us/img/20/76/8269_3152943710.jpg?y=660&x=616&q=75&n=0&sig=R2gw8_9yhVJpUnLggjd_sA--

Starring: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language.

Runtime: 100 minutes

Looks fantastic. Can't wait to see it.

Smiert Spionam

10-08-2009, 09:52 PM

This film is gonna fucking own. :cool:

Mr.HyDe807

10-08-2009, 10:09 PM

I'm there with bells and whistles. This movie looks incredible.

Cop No. 633

10-08-2009, 10:09 PM

If this isn't good, I'll lose my faith in everything.

drc5145

10-08-2009, 10:11 PM

This film is gonna fucking own. :cool:

Here, Here.

All the clips looks fantastic and the soundtrack is great as well.

I'm also on the edge of my seat right now because I'm awaiting word as to whether or not I may receive tickets to a screening of this monster tuesday.

ilovemovies

10-08-2009, 10:16 PM

I'm not as blown away by the trailers as most of you seem to be. But it does look good. I do look forward to it.

Frosty_86

10-08-2009, 11:01 PM

Any movie with a cast like Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Catherine O' Hara, Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, and the great Chris Cooper as to be worth the price of admission. Ive definitely got to go see this and plus it was one of my favorites as a kid.

echo_bravo

10-09-2009, 12:32 AM

Looks INCREDIBLE.

I hope its great and I really really hope its a box office hit.

FireCaptain4

10-09-2009, 12:49 AM

My fellow Schmoes, I think it's safe to say we're all going to have a blast with this one.

I hope it steals many of our Favorite Film of the Year (thus far) spots.

ericdraven

10-09-2009, 01:18 AM

This will be a massive fall hit. I am calling it.

Pffft

10-09-2009, 09:26 AM

drc5145

10-09-2009, 11:34 AM

Emmanuel Levy has put up a pretty good reivew of the moive.

http://emanuellevy.com/reviews/details.cfm?id=14615

Pentangeli

10-09-2009, 12:57 PM

This is probably going to bomb, because quality movies don't make money... Naaah. Looks good. Hope it's good. This HBO doc looks pretty good itself:

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/tellthemanything/

A handful of posts into your Joblo career and you've exhibited an interest in the following: Ayn Rand; Kant; laissez-faire capitalism; Lindsay Lohan; Where the Wild Things Are; Obama; Kissinger; and Harmony Korine.

Your clumsy parodying technique is apparent. I predict the persona of this character you've created is the exact opposite of your true self, furthermore I think you already have at least one other account on this site. To pinpoint your true self even further, I believe you to be one of three people who currently write on Joblo.

Are you really that bored? "pffft", indeed :rolleyes:

Chuck Katt

10-10-2009, 12:02 AM

Since I never read the book as a kid, I might not have the same attachment to the source material, but from the trailers & TV spots, this movie looks great. I'm looking forward to it.

Briare Rabbit

10-11-2009, 01:57 AM

I'm not as blown away by the trailers as most of you seem to be. But it does look good. I do look forward to it.

Indeed.

If I hear one more person say that the trailer moved them to tears or changed their life or whatever well, I'm going to be extremely upset.

LordSimen

10-11-2009, 02:06 AM

Indeed.

If I hear one more person say that the trailer moved them to tears or changed their life or whatever well, I'm going to be extremely upset.

Agreed. I'm sure the movie will still be wonderful though.

SteeleDude

10-11-2009, 01:27 PM

The Postmaster General

10-11-2009, 01:54 PM

Went to Toy Story 1 and 2 yesterday with my son and saw the trailer on the big screen for the first time. I had to hide my face so no one would see me crying. It was just a little, but you know, something about it really moved me.

My wife says it's the song that does it for her, and I think that really is it (she also gets teary with anything using Sigur Rós' "Starálfur") but I think it's also the realization of her beloved since childhood book, one that she also has also introduced to many children. Being pregnant probably doesn't make it less emotional either.

Mr.HyDe807

10-11-2009, 04:31 PM

Hell, just seeing this book, one that I'm not a big fan of, being presented in such a way that floors me in terms of the scope of the shots (that one shot where Max is running into that big hole cavern impresses me every time). Then, take the imagination aspect, something that I and probably many other schmoes can relate to when they were younger, and you got a movie that is right up my alley.

I'll be there at the midnight showing this Thursday at my nearby theater.

ilovemovies

10-11-2009, 08:49 PM

Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott loved it.

MarcoG

10-11-2009, 09:07 PM

I cannot WAIT for this film!

Ender

10-12-2009, 02:17 AM

Perhaps this makes me easily manipulated, but much of my interest from this film stems from the behind-camera controversy and conflict with the studio. It's nice that, from most accounts, Jonze (who I'm a big fan of) got his "vision" through the cutting process and made the movie he wanted, but now it's time to see if that was the right movie to make.

MarcoG

10-12-2009, 03:48 AM

AICN has posted a review, calls it a "Monsterpiece!"

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42677

Heisenberg

10-12-2009, 08:05 AM

The hype for this film is a little overboard. It looks good but the trailer bringing people to tears? Give me a break.

Smiert Spionam

10-12-2009, 12:00 PM

The hype for this film is a little overboard. It looks good but the trailer bringing people to tears? Give me a break.

Dude... I shit you not: when I showed the trailer to my mom, she cried. No bullshit.

You've gotta take into consideration how old this book is (1963) and realize how many generations of childhoods that this story was apart of. And more so, its something that plenty of people have forgotten about as time goes by, as you do with many of your childhood interests. But then, to suddenly see something like this that you probably haven't thought about in many years suddenly brought to life... the instant wave of nostalgia of remembering what it was like seeing the story for the first time and what like to have child-like imagination etc....

Its real.

MarcoG

10-12-2009, 02:24 PM

People saying the hype is unjustified for WTWTA because the trailer brought them to tears is no different than hordes of ppl leaving the theater from watching Paranormal Activity and shitting their pants and saying "OMG I can't sleep at night!!!11!".

Same shit, different smell.

But more so, the same shit.

Here are the reviews for WTWTA :

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42677

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42679

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid31639194001?bclid=1799152650&bctid=44289010001

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-motion-captured/posts/the-m-c-review-where-the-wild-things-are-roars-and-rumbles

LordSimen

10-12-2009, 02:57 PM

The hype for this film is a little overboard. It looks good but the trailer bringing people to tears? Give me a break.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g275/ShinyYellowTruck/thumbs_up.jpg

I concur sir. :D I'm actually looking forward to when it comes out so that the hype itself can stop grating my nerves and I can finally see it.

ericdraven

10-12-2009, 03:00 PM

Everybody ignore Lordsimen, he's failing at being a thread troll.

ericdraven

10-12-2009, 03:01 PM

AICN has posted a review, calls it a "Monsterpiece!"

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42677

I trust Harry Knowles.

I am glad that Spike Jonze might finally have the hit movie that his career has never given him as a director.

LordSimen

10-12-2009, 03:02 PM

Edit.

ericdraven

10-12-2009, 03:03 PM

never mind

LordSimen

10-12-2009, 03:04 PM

Edit: Nevermind as well.

MarcoG

10-12-2009, 04:32 PM

NY magazine calls it a "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" - http://nymag.com/movies/reviews/59897/

and CHUD.com gives it a 10/10 - http://chud.com/articles/articles/21103/1/REVIEW-WHERE-THE-WILD-THINGS-ARE/Page1.html

Heisenberg

10-12-2009, 05:28 PM

People saying the hype is unjustified for WTWTA because the trailer brought them to tears is no different than hordes of ppl leaving the theater from watching Paranormal Activity and shitting their pants and saying "OMG I can't sleep at night!!!11!".

Seeing a trailer and seeing a full movie are two different things mate.

I will just state, that I do inded think this will be very good. But I personally don't see why people are cumming in their kegs over it.

But, its all a matter of opinion. ;)

MarcoG

10-12-2009, 05:56 PM

Seeing a trailer and seeing a full movie are two different things mate.

What I am saying is that both the full movie of PA and the 2 minute trailer and clips of Wild Things have evoked strong reactions from people. Therefore, the PA people can't sit there and say Wild Things is being overhyped because people are EXPECTING a strong film when CLEARLY the trailers and clips have made a STRONG impact on ppl's reactions and emotions.

It's like people are thinking..........."I've seen PA and it's scary as hell! But because the trailer of Wild Things has made you excited, that doesn't count! You haven't seen the whole movie!".

The emotions people have from watching the 2 minute Wild Things clips and trailers is just as valid as the emotion of FEAR ppl seem to be experiencing while watching an hour and a half of PA.

And really, it's that simple.

The Postmaster General

10-12-2009, 06:05 PM

Seeing a trailer and seeing a full movie are two different things mate.

I will just state, that I do inded think this will be very good. But I personally don't see why people are cumming in their kegs over it.

But, its all a matter of opinion. ;)

I'm the type of person who'll cry at a commercial, and although this one didn't reduce me, I think I gave a pretty descent explanation over what it is about the trailer that is "getting to" some people. Others have as well, and I'm not trying to pick when I say it's a little more reasonable than saying, "This trailer didn't move me to tears, I don't get what the big fuss is." (nothing you said, just a summary) -- I think people have explained.

Then you have to ask yourself if you cry easily. There's a commercial about animal abuse that currently runs, and it blends Sarah Mclachlan music. My wife often tears up at that lady's music, and being a lover of animals, she turns that commercial off every time as to not reduce herself to an emotional state. I think with WTWTA it's the same thing, a blend of a song she finds very moving, with the realization of a story she holds dear, and probably other things going on like the appreciation of childhood innocence and other things we could go on all day guessing about.

Now, as for hype - I posted something on Facebook about this earlier and I am 100% anti-hype. I refuse to allow myself to be disappointed by a movie simply because I was expecting too much. Additionally, I don't want any spoilers from knowing if the opening credits were cool, to knowing if there's bonus footage at the end - although that one I usually have no choice since it seems common nowadays for theater workers to try and run you out of the theater as soon as the movie fades out.

I don't know people who are going ape shit over this trailer because I stay clear of talking about movie I plan on seeing (it was hard having to wait to see Basterds so long because the boards were blowing up on release day....) . The only reason I came into this thread to begin with was because I thought the movie had opened early or something and wanted to see what the score was - instead I ended up reading some stuff, seeing as it's more of an "upcoming thread" void of spoilers and the sort - there's where I came across this discussion and thought I should chime in.

So I totally agree with you about overhyping movies, but I think you are selling short how much people can be moved, and how beauty can move people. There's actually a psychological condition called Stendhal syndrome where people cannot look at works of art without becoming dizzy, fainting or having anxiety attacks. It's the same principal as why people faint at weddings, or why people have temporary madness when visiting Jerusalem on religious pilgrimages. I think if people can have those reactions, and seeing it first-hand myself, crying at a trailer for this movie doesn't seem so crazy.

Heisenberg

10-12-2009, 06:31 PM

The Postmaster General

10-12-2009, 08:29 PM

You see people. This is why Bubba is like, king of everything.

I am not being sarcastic either, you post made me think 'actually, yeah'.

I CAN now understand how the trailer could move somebody, I guess I just let my opinion of how overhyped it has got cloud my vision.

:o Thanks, man.

I do want to emphasize that I can understand how hearing it over and over again could be annoying (see: The Dark Knight is the best movie ever made)

SteeleDude

10-12-2009, 09:02 PM

Bubba, you and Smiert Spionam put it into better words than I ever could.

Shaggy89

10-12-2009, 10:38 PM

I saw it. I liked it. A lot will love it.

Strider

10-13-2009, 12:47 AM

I'm dying of anticipation to see this film. As a child, I adored the book. Actually, I still adore it -- it's a fantastic children's book. I'd be lying if I said I expected it to be adapted into a film, especially by a talented and imaginative filmmaker like Spike Jonze. And now we're only a few days away from the theatrical release of Where the Wild Things Are, something which stupefies me. The film itself looks magnificent. I only hope it lives up to its incredible, moving (yeah, you read that correctly) trailers. Needless to say, I will see this on opening weekend...on the glorious IMAX screen.

By the way, has anyone bought the soundtrack? I have, and I've already given it a full spin. It's simply wonderful. I would describe the songs as beautiful "alternative lullabies." The alt-rock goddess known as Karen O continues to impress me with her musical talent. She's amazing.

Strider

Ender

10-13-2009, 12:54 AM

You know, I think people are allowed to cry at the trailer (or anything else) if they want to, they don't have to answer to the rest of us for it.

MarcoG

10-13-2009, 02:02 AM

someguy

10-13-2009, 08:20 AM

lol @ people being contrarian for the sake of it

It's a well done trailer and the only reason I see people being critical of the movie here is because of people's reactions to the trailer instead of the preview itself. So far it has a 76% or so on RT and a 60 on Metacritic with a small amount of reviews so this is either going to be mixed/divisive or get a big bump once all the reviews come pouring out this weekend. Ever since reading that big article in the NY Times about the production I got the feeling that the movie was going to split people down the middle. The lower scored reviews seem to help support that (we all know that percentages usually go down or even out with more reviews) but hopefully they're just outliers.

MarcoG

10-13-2009, 01:23 PM

Well, there are still a lot of positive reviews I've read that have not been added to RT yet ;)

ericdraven

10-13-2009, 02:17 PM

17 reviews, and only 4 are bad. wow, that's a good sign.

Badbird

10-13-2009, 02:46 PM

I never read the book, so this movie has no interest for me.

I just came here to point out that there is a lot of CG in this movie, even though a lot of people have wrongly claimed there is none.

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/17-10/pl_screen

ericdraven

10-13-2009, 02:48 PM

athf1980

10-13-2009, 03:17 PM

i have never heard of the book until now so the movie is iffy for me

drc5145

10-14-2009, 03:03 PM

I got to see the movie last night at a private screening near me and here's my review (also on MY MFC Page):

After dwelling a bit on Spike Jonze's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, I can safely say not only is it a fantastic children's movie, frankly, it's simply a fantastic film period. Jonze, set with a wide array of talent collaborating together, including the original book's author himself, Maurice Sendak, crafts a film that deals with the pains of growing up as a child and the difficulty in adapting to changes to the world around you, as well as with the relationships one has with family and friends.

This stems from the first minutes of the film when we see Max (Max Records) and his real life family. His father is notably absent with no reason ever stated, his sister drifting away from him as she gets older and his mother (Catherine Keener), as she is seen dating a new man. After a series of events, Max is led to wander off and sail to a new land, inhabited by the Wild Things. Led by the temperamental Carol (James Gandolfini), The Wild Things begin to form new bonds with Max, crowning him King. It's after this crowning that the Wild Things must do some adjustments for themselves. It's from here that we see all the struggles of adapting, seen in essence, a mirror image of what Max struggled through with his real life family. There is next to no plot here, and it's not really about that either. It's about going through these experiences, journeying through this world, and reflecting back in the end. The film takes some darker turns, but it's that difficulty in adjusting that brings about the dark turns. It felt very real in what was presented and it's this challenge that is one of my favorite aspects about this film.

The films works fantastically on a number of levels. The Wild Things themselves, are very believable not only in the sense that they look real and not a figment of CGI (which works seamlessly in this film) but in that they have real, human personalities to them. Carol, Ira (Forest Whitaker), Douglas, (Chris Cooper), Alexander (Paul Dano), KW (Lauren Ambrose), Judith (Catharine O' Hara) and The Bull (Michael Berry, Jr.) are all solid in their voice acting and all sound absolutely fitting to their characters on screen, in their interactions with each other and with Max. Each wild thing has their little nuances and quirks that help them stand out, such as Alexander's constant drifting to the background or Ira's need to put hole in trees and deem them his property. They don't feel like giant but friendly man eating monsters. They feel like giant kids. Max, who has one of the most memorable child roles in some time, goes through a number of emotions with both his Family and the Wild Things and seemingly makes it look like a cakewalk. There is one scene very early involving an igloo, where at the scene's end, one can just feel his sadness and rage all at once.

Credit must also be given to Cinematographer Lance Accord, who is able to capture some beautiful and poignant shots throughout the film, capturing the scenery around Max's Kingdom. There are some diverse and beautiful settings in this film, which was shot in Australia, whether it be the seaside, forest or the desert. Some of it is already apparent in the teaser spots but it is still something to behold in the context of the film, on the big screen. (Something I hope to see again in IMAX) The camerawork, pace and editing of some scenes such as the wild rumpus, are reminiscent of MTV's Jackass, which Spike Jonze himself co-created, produced and participated in. It's got that similar, free wheeling and wild energy from the TV show. Karen O and Carter Burwell worked together to create a score with similar energy. While jarring in the opening scenes, it settles down to craft many different moods and senses hat perfectly complement what's on screen.

I discussed with someone the next day in that, I envy young kids now after this film. I envy them because of the opportunity to experience this film at such a young age, a film the will excite and challenge at the same time, with fresh, childhood eyes. But with that said, you don't need to be a young person to love the film. Wether you're 7 or 70 years old, which is about the age range of the audience at my screening, you can't help but be amazed and look with a sense of amazement and wonder, what Jonze, Sendak and company have brought to the big screen.

9/10

jbar1026

10-14-2009, 04:52 PM

great review drc5145. it make me want to see this movie even more

echo_bravo

10-14-2009, 11:09 PM

Then you have to ask yourself if you cry easily. There's a commercial about animal abuse that currently runs, and it blends Sarah Mclachlan music. My wife often tears up at that lady's music, and being a lover of animals, she turns that commercial off every time as to not reduce herself to an emotional state.

Oh Dear Lord

That commerical is heart breaking.

I remember they played that commerical during an episode of SouthPark and it was a total buzzkill. So heartbreaking.:(

rilocay

10-15-2009, 09:25 AM

Due to finishing my own production i actually forgot that this is out in a pinch! Very excited to check it out, can't wait!

AspectRatio1986

10-15-2009, 11:10 AM

I loved this book as a kid and cannot wait to see it tomorrow on the big screen. Im hoping this rivals District 9 as my favorite movie of the year. I have off work tomorrow so I'm gonna catch a matinee.

Mr.HyDe807

10-15-2009, 02:26 PM

I'm checking this out tonight, I'll let you guys know how it is!

Raimo69

10-16-2009, 12:20 AM

Going to be seeing this right after work tommorow I can not wait.

Mr.HyDe807

10-16-2009, 05:35 PM

As a kid, I would delve in the usual imaginary adventures. Whether it would reenacting scenes from a book and/or movie, or creating my own unique scenario with friends, it was just a time of just letting yourself have fun. Now, as a 22 year old adult, I know that I have grown out of those things, yet it's always nice to look back on what you did, the feeling of just doing your own thing, without a fear of criticism or self-consciousness. this is the idea that Mauric Sendak invoked on his children' book Where the Wild Things are, to which Spike Jonze adapted to the big screen.

Where The Wild Things Are is more than just a kids movie about a boy who goes off to a imaginative land to meet and befriend monstrous creatures. It's a movie that can connect to people about the imagination of a child, the changes when were face from the ends of our childhood, and the feelings that come upon us when they do. All these themes are addressed wonderfully, and makes this movie among the ranks of District 9 and Up as my favorite movie this year!

Maurice Sendak's classic children book touched upon the imagination of a child, but director Spike Jonze decides to expands on the book's themes, introducing the central character, Max, within the rough changes that are occurring to his life that cause him to lash out. His sister is growing up to boys, leaving her brother in the dust. His father is nowhere to be seen, he's learning the inevitability of and his mother is dating a new man. These changes overwhelm Max, causing events to spur to lead Max to the land of the wild things.

It is here where Jonze introduces the fun, furry, yet emotion riddled Wild Things. From the emotion-filled Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini), to the pleasant Ira (voiced by Forest Whittaker), each of the wild things have a certain personality to themselves, thanks to the amazing work of Jim Henson puppetry and CGI, as well as the excellent voice acting from the actors. It's also here that we see how Max deals with his new world of the Wild Things, from excited and joyful, to solemn and confused. It helps that the young actor, Max Records, is able to evoke the fun filled personality of a imaginative boy, yet also convey the emotions of confusion and sadness when things go out of his comfort zone in a place that he can almost call his home.

Yet, what truly brings Where the Wild Things Are to a work of mastery and excellence is through the soundtrack of Karen O and the Kids, as well as the cinematography of Lance Acord. The way he shoots the changing landscapes of the island of the wild things is a thing of beauty, delivering the hectic fun that Max does in his own home, the tracking shots of Max running, and the subtle scenes of characters simply sitting, enjoying the sunset on a beach. It's all here, and it left me with a sense of wonder and amazement.

Yet, lets not forget the excellent soundtrack of Karen O and the Kids. Whenever there is a scene of ferocity and energy, the soundtrack picks up right along with it, going after it beat by beat. It also knows to take it down when it comes to the more subtle and emotional scenes, just as accompaniment to build upon what is being brought on screen.

Overall, Where the Wild Things Are was a perfect film. There is something for kids, as well as something that grownups could reflect on from their own childhood. The joys, anger, fear, confusion, and sadness that we all had to deal with as a kid, yet being able to get through them on our way to adulthood.

10/10

BakeTheMooCow

10-16-2009, 11:21 PM

The feelings this movie evokes are too personal to discuss in a public forum, but it is delicate and smart and mesmerizing.

Cop No. 633

10-16-2009, 11:28 PM

The feelings this movie evokes are too personal to discuss in a public forum, but it is delicate and smart and mesmerizing.

Somebody cried. What a baby. HAHAHAHA!

I bet it was that one part...

I'm just kidding...

echo_bravo

10-17-2009, 12:32 AM

Wow

Saw it with some friends and we were all blown away. The show was completely sold out. We had to wait for quite awhile to even get tickets/seated but it was definitely worth it.

I am so glad Spike Jonze directed this and not Tim Burton (like some people wanted him to). No offense to Burton but he has completely lost his magic. Jonze is the perfect director for this type of film.

Also, the voice work was fan fuckin tastic. James Gandolfini was amazing as Carol.

9/10

NuclearMisfit

10-17-2009, 12:33 AM

The feelings this movie evokes are too personal to discuss in a public forum, but it is delicate and smart and mesmerizing.

Wow thats an amazing quote, would love to see it on an actual commercial or movie review. I am really really looking forward to seeing this.

NuclearMisfit

10-17-2009, 12:36 AM

stuDent12

10-17-2009, 01:07 AM

it was very nice to see another one of my favorite childhood memories on the big screen. only this time, i went in with some doubts. first of all, the wild things themselves don't look very convincing at all. they had that half-assed henson feel to them. i was waiting for the woodland christmas critters from south park to show up to have a blood orgy with that annoying max kid. secondly, they keep on making the mistake of casting big-name stars for not very well known charectors. such as whenever carol spoke, in my head it was tony soprano as a monster. also, the so-called emotions are heavy-handed and obvious from the start. and plus, the music is almost unbearable to listen to, it's just too cutesy and cheesy for a unique story like this. and lastly, just like the dr. seuss movies that got kind of a shabby treatment for the big screen, the plot feels stretched out from a short book to 90 minutes of sentimental craziness. that said, this was another well done big-screen fall season feat. spike jonze did a terrific job of capturing the spirit and nostalgia of the book. it has sweet and funny moments here and there and fans will be very satisfied when it comes to a close, but families be warned, this is not another alvin and the chipmunks. it's dark, moody, creepy, saggy at times but never dull and pretty much intense towards the end with an arm being torn off and one of the wild things going through a hormone rampage because of a sudden twist of events. but it's another good time at the movies nonetheless. i give it a 7/10. hopefully the new christmas carol in 3D will be just as good.

JCPhoenix

10-17-2009, 01:47 AM

Just did a double feature of A Serious Man and this. I'd like to write something detailed but I have to wake up really early tomorrow so very simply:

It is everything I hoped for in a Wild Things movie. I really think WTWTA is one of those movies where you really get how much you put into it. There's a hell of a lot of thought behind this film and everything in the Wild Things section is a natural progression and visual expression of Max's internal turmoil from the first section. It is a complex, layered rumination on childhood and what it's like to be a kid. It captures that phase of a person's life like no other film I've ever seen. Spike Jonze's work in this film is like the polar opposite of David Lynch's work. He takes surreal things and makes them feel as organic and natural as Lynch makes the ordinary unnatural. This film is an absolutely visceral experience that jumps off the screen. It feels sentimental and dangerous and unexpected all at the same time - that kind of fresh-faced sense of discovering the world as a kid is here. And if Haley Joel Osment was nominated for Sixth Sense, here begins the campaign to get Max Records a nom.

To make a note - this was my most anticipated movie of the year but I am usually harsher on the movies I'm most excited for - and this still managed to live up to all my hopes. I got the same feeling that I felt after seeing Eternal Sunshine or Perfume for the first time, in a way. That same gut punch where I felt like I had seen something special, immediately that just took my breath away. I have no doubt this will climb up my favorite films list quickly.

poopontheshoes7

10-17-2009, 01:49 PM

9/10

Maybe a 10/10 after an inevitable rewatch.

Just a deep. rich, gorgeous, rewarding film. It captures the feelings and emotions of being a kid like no other movie I've ever seen. The way each Wild Thing represents Maxes emotions and feelings is genius. Carol, KW, Judith, and Alexander being the most prominent examples. Max Records is a damn revelation in this film. Truly one of the best child performances I've ever seen. The voice work is also top notch. Last but not least the special effects are breathtaking. The Wild Things are some of the most convincing creatures ever put on film.

Where the Wild Things Are is a gorgeous film on every level. It may not be for everyone, but it sure is something special.

Bourne101

10-17-2009, 04:01 PM

Where the Wild Things Are - 9/10

The first trailer was released, and I thought it looked like it could be one of the best films of the year. As the release date approached, the reviews were quite positive, but were a bit more mixed than I was expecting. That's not to say I was skeptical of the film, but it was always in the back of my head that maybe Spike Jonze did not create the astonishing film that I had hoped for. Worry not, as Where the Wild Things Are is an excellent film and one of the most accurate depictions of the childhood experience that I have ever seen.

The first twenty minutes really set the tone for the film. We are introduced to Max. A lonely and misunderstood boy, whose sister ignores him and whose mother has a new boyfriend. Right away we know that this film is not going to be lighthearted, is not for little kids and is going to be a much deeper and more meaningful film than many people could have imagined. When Max runs away after getting into an argument and biting his mother, he finds a small boat where he sails off to the land where the Wild Things are. The Wild Things are a mess. A true cast of characters, but like Max they are held back by dozens of problems. The Wild Things each represent a piece of Max. A piece of the many problems that consume him. The metaphors and symbolism that Spike Jonze uses in this film are devastatingly effective such as when Alexander gets very upset during the dirt clod war relating to the igloo scene at the beginning. The feelings and emotions that this film evokes are, like Bake said previously, far too personal to even discuss and are often truly gut-wrenching. I'm not trying to sound "tough", but I never cry during films and there were two instances in this film where I came awfully close. Let's just say "igloo" and "C" and I think those who have seen it will know what I mean. I would never have imagined that Spike Jonze, as great as he is, could create a film so emotionally deep and engaging.

Max Records was a terrific find. The kid had no previous acting experience, but he just completely owns this role. The reviews may not be good enough for him to get an Oscar nomination, but there's no doubt that he deserves one. His performance is so raw, real and authentic. Catherine Keener is also great in the few scenes she is in. As for the Wild Things, James Gandolfini is just amazing as Carol. Even though he is in a costume, the performance is still just fantastic. Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Michael Berry Jr., Chris Cooper and Lauren Ambrose were all great as well. Someone that may have slipped through the cracks though is Paul Dano. His character was essential in the symbolism between the Wild Things and Max, and Dano really nailed the role.

Spike Jonze has really done it again from a directorial standpoint. It is clear that he put a ton of effort into this film, making sure that it was done perfectly. He made sure that the film was not bloated or too short, and that he maintained a strong narrative focus throughout. When the film gets to the middle portion, it may seem like it starts to lose focus a bit, but it really doesn't at all. If you're looking at the surface, it may seem this way, but Jonze's intentions were never to make this a completely basic and straightforward film. All through the middle we are introduced to situations that let us delve into Max's inner emotions and the relation these emotions have to the Wild Things. The film really is just a giant bunch of really well thought out and meaningful symbolism and metaphors incorporated into a really creative and interesting story. If you take it simply as Max goes and plays around with the Wild Things and that's that, then you're missing out on the many layers underneath the surface. I am very glad that Jonze stuck to his guns and made the film he wanted to make. It is obvious that he is one of the best directors working today, even if he has only really made three films.

The screenplay is brilliantly adapted. To adapt a children's book that consists of ten run-on sentences into one of the most meaningful and emotionally involving films of the year is quite a feat. The characters are developed to perfection, the narrative and focus always strong, and the dialogue unbelievably rich and authentic. The soundtrack also deserves some props. Each song fits well perfectly with each scene. Karen O really did a great job and there are a couple of songs I could see getting a couple of Oscar nominations.

Overall, Where the Wild Things Are is a truly phenomenal film. It's a film that I think will be better appreciated with time. It is certainly not a film for young kids. Not because it's rude, crude or inappropriate, but because of its dark, depressing and deep nature. I think a good minimum age for this would be around 9 or 10, the age that Max is. These kids will be able to relate to him and may be able to understand the film to a certain degree. Younger kids (like some at my showing) will get restless, looking for more action and a more basic story to engage it. Some may enjoy it, but it seemed that the older kids and adults at my showing were the ones enjoying it more, while the young ones were fidgeting, making noise and dying for it to end. Also (sort of on the same topic), while the film is extremely moving, it's also very dark and depressing at the same time. It's probably the most depressing film I have seen this year. The "C" moment followed by Carol trying to make his way through the water as Max sails away was completely heartbreaking. Anyways, enough of this tangent. I highly recommend Where the Wild Things Are and I imagine my rating will go up with further viewings. There are no obvious flaws that I can pick out, I would just like to see it without any kids around so I can delve even deeper into this fascinating film than I already have.

corran horn

10-17-2009, 06:59 PM

Just saw it a couple hours ago. I want to think about it a little before I write a full review, but here's my initial reaction: amazing!

LordSimen

10-17-2009, 08:57 PM

Cute little children's movie. Spike Jonze perfectly captured the mind of a child well and portrayed it on screen fantastically through his choices in score, cinematography and some great casting. The "Wild Things" were fantastic characters, I loved the heck out of 'em. Big props to all three the CGI team, the puppet team and the voice actors for bringing those big loveable bastards to life. My big problem? I didn't dig at all how the movie ended. Not the final scene/shot, that was perfect. But the way the "Wild Thing's" story ended. Ah, well. Still a very adorable movie. 8/10

sbunn10

10-17-2009, 09:34 PM

A touching and beautiful film... I'm waiting to write a review until I see it once more, I might as well have watched it in a nursery.

As of now, 8/10, but I can see it going up once I have a proper viewing. I will say that the soundtrack by Karen O and the Kids was perfect.

Highspeed

10-17-2009, 10:53 PM

Wow my anticipation is growing with every post I read in this thread, I can't wait to see this.

MarcoG

10-18-2009, 11:11 AM

Where The Wild Things Are has left my eyes, ears, and heart wide open. This film is a staggering achievement in storytelling and film making. It boldly goes where other kids films dare not go, and it never apologizes for it. This is for any adult who used to be 9 years old. And for anyone not affected by this film, you're clearly from another planet. I fear we won't ever see a film like this again. A modern-day masterpiece that will stand the test of time.

5/5

drc5145

10-18-2009, 12:38 PM

Something to throw out there...How great was the voice acting for this movie? I saw it again last night and it just really floored me how smooth it all is. for whatever reason, I really liked Catherine O' Hara's role as Judith. It's the little moments such as this scene that I loved.

The Dirt Clod fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy-eIYqWoWc

jbar1026

10-18-2009, 06:42 PM

7/10

maybe i was just expecting to much but i found the movie to be a bit boring!
now im not saying that it wasnt wonderfully shot and acted because it was. also i think this movie is about as far from a kids movie as you could get. the themes are way outside of what a normal child would pick up on.

so in the end i sort of enjoyed where the wild things are but am not sure if it will end up in my dvd collection

BankaiZaraki

10-18-2009, 10:12 PM

Yea I really did not like this film at all. I especially hated the kid. Im sure there is something wrong with him. Dressing up,howling at certain animals, biting his mom. What kind of devil child is he? I certainly never did any of that. I wanted to punch the shit out of him halfway through the movie.

Also when the shit hit the fan, the kid just ran away to go back home. Guy cant man up and admit he got in over his head? ALSO! How on earth did he manage to get back home? Are we to believe that he could actually sail all the way inland? Like he knew EXACTLY where he was going?

Mainly, I had a big gripe with the kid. Everything else was fine.

BakeTheMooCow

10-18-2009, 10:16 PM

Hah, BankaiZaraki, tell me you're joking with your spoiler questions.

LordSimen

10-18-2009, 10:37 PM

A lot of what Zaraki expressed in his spoilers would actually coincide exactly with what I had a problem with in the movie. However, I did not actually have a problem with the kid himself. He felt like a kid to me, I dig kids.

BakeTheMooCow

10-18-2009, 10:40 PM

A lot of what Zaraki expressed in his spoilers would actually coincide exactly with what I had a problem with in the movie.

Wait, can you specify what you mean by that? What did you have a problem with?

LordSimen

10-18-2009, 10:53 PM

Wait, can you specify what you mean by that? What did you have a problem with?

I found the ending to the "wild things" portion of the movie, I.E. when the kid decides to leave after fucking everything up, to almost make the rest of the movie feel pointless. The kid shows up, screws up, then does nothing what so ever to fix it. It was really, really stupid and gave absolutely no closure to the other characters.

BakeTheMooCow

10-18-2009, 11:07 PM

Well,

I thought the point of leaving things as they were was that Max realized the extent to which his temper tantrums caused disruptions because his actions were paralleled by Carol. Also, he couldn't fix everything because not being in control is a huge part of childhood.

And to BankaiZaraki:

ALSO! How on earth did he manage to get back home? Are we to believe that he could actually sail all the way inland? Like he knew EXACTLY where he was going?

Obviously, he wasn't actually sailing and it was a fantasy. Come on, dude. You really thought a kid went to the woods in the middle of the night and sailed off in a boat that looked exactly like the miniature boat he had in his room and made his way to an island?

LordSimen

10-18-2009, 11:11 PM

Well,

I thought the point of leaving things as they were was that Max realized the extent to which his temper tantrums caused disruptions because his actions were paralleled by Carol. Also, he couldn't fix everything because not being in control is a huge part of childhood.

For me, it just felt like him running away from the problem pretty much mirrored him running away from his mom earlier in the movie, and it just felt as if the kid hadn't really grown at all from when he got there. It was if he was showing growth and then all of a sudden backtracked.

BakeTheMooCow

10-18-2009, 11:20 PM

For me, it just felt like him running away from the problem pretty much mirrored him running away from his mom earlier in the movie, and it just felt as if the kid hadn't really grown at all from when he got there. It was if he was showing growth and then all of a sudden backtracked.

He realizes how much he loves and needs his mother from his talk with K.W. (when he takes refuge in her stomach/womb) and when he returns home, he is no longer angry because he sees how petty and disruptive his outbursts can be when he observes them in Carol. That's as much growth as you can expect a little boy to make after a couple of hours away from home in the middle of the night.

LordSimen

10-18-2009, 11:21 PM

He realizes how much he loves and needs his mother from his talk with K.W. (when he takes refuge in her stomach/womb) and when he returns home, he is no longer angry because he sees how petty and disruptive his outbursts can be when he observes them in Carol. That's as much growth as you can expect a little boy to make after a couple of hours away from home in the middle of the night.

I think you've actually given me a new respect for that ending. :p

therealjohng

10-19-2009, 12:31 AM

Pretty disappointing movie. Score was great as was the cinematography. But movie's sense of wonderment went away once Max went to the island and I really didn't care for anyone in the movie. Everything before Max went to the island gets a big thumbs up. Once he goes the island, the movie just loses all interest and becomes complete boredom.

6/10

BankaiZaraki

10-19-2009, 01:31 PM

jbar1026

10-19-2009, 03:06 PM

JCPhoenix

10-19-2009, 06:40 PM

If it was just a fantasy, then where was he exactly? We all know he wasnt in his room. Certainly wasnt down the street. In my head, he saw a boat, got on it and sailed to an island. Sure I can suspend my disbelief for a movie but this one i was very pessimistic about. I just dont like people who run away from their problems and not deal with them head on. Kid is a pussy imo.

On the contrary, the second section is, imo, the kid working through his problems. The whole middle section is obviously a story that the kid is dreaming up and telling himself, and through this story, he ends up working out some of his conflicted feelings and problems. That's why so many of the wild things reflect emotions and feelings that he feels and has felt in the past; that's why some of the wild things reflect characteristics of his mother, and some reflect characteristics of his sister - notably KW who I think is basically his sister whom he wishes to stay with him in his "childhood world" rather than (in his pov) leave to be with her friends (Bob and Terry) in the adult world. Carol is also a thinly veiled version of Max himself. I'm really surprised by some of the reviews that say nothing happens in the wild things section. I was constantly analyzing the film as I was watching and I felt like it was quite complex and the accusations of it being a simplistic movie actually surprise me a great deal. It really is a natural progression of the storytelling from the first section to the second. It's the same story, except now it's the internal conflict that Max is going through in the first section externalized into a story about wild things. And of course, at the end, Max works his way through it and matures a little bit. The tagline is "There's one [a wild thing] in all of us" and part of that is about the inner child, but I think they are referring more to the wild emotions that everyone suppresses that children do not. And the wild things in the movie are a reflection of these pure, direct emotions.

Mr.HyDe807

10-19-2009, 06:58 PM

JC Phoenix and Bake's awesome interpretations just reinforce my love for this film even more.

SteeleDude

10-19-2009, 07:42 PM

I don't know how to do spoiler tags, so I'm just going to say:

SPOILERS

Am I the only one who saw the Wild Things as manifestations of Max's emotions, for the most part? Carol was his jealous angry side that blew up at his mom, that was angry at his sister for leaving with her friends (like KW leaving for the Owls--KW would be a good representation of his mother or sister, leaving for friends or leaving for that guy she was dating).

The little ignored guy was a lot like Max in how no one noticed him so he would act out and become Carol to get noticed.

The bull represented Max's fear of how everyone viewed him.

Ira was his creative side ("I put the holes in the trees") like when Max created forts and things like that.

The other female was his insecurity.

All these things were just manifestations of himself, except KW who represented the women in his life.

Carol was the most important aspect of himself though because he learned to change by seeing himself in Carol.

And the ending to me was just heart breaking, especially for the bull. How he asked if Max would say good things about them, as if he knew they ruined their reputations. Then when you view the Wild Things on the beach they're all standing together, except for the bull, always alone. No love from anyone.

BakeTheMooCow

10-19-2009, 07:52 PM

SteeleDude, use [ SPOILER ] and [ /SPOILER ] without the spaces.

And good stuff.

MarcoG

10-19-2009, 08:26 PM

Fantastic analysis guys!

I saw this film twice now, and I seem to pick up something new and different each viewing.
I am really pleased with this piece of work. It's so touching and real. I still have a very lively child within me, and through that I can relate to Max even in today's terms as an adult.

And I completely disgaree with whatever critics said the movie is about nothing.
To quote one of the critics, who sumed it up perfectly, "Some may view this film about nothing, when in fact it's about everything".

SteeleDude

10-19-2009, 08:58 PM

SteeleDude, use [ SPOILER ] and [ /SPOILER ] without the spaces.

And good stuff.

Got it, thanks!

Lat er al

10-19-2009, 10:35 PM

I knew this movie was getting a good deal of hype, but woah... I'm surprised at how many people were/are excited to see it and how much people love it.

I'm definately not going to spend a penny to see this movie, but that's probably because I do not like kids. I did read the book when I was a kid, but it made no impression on me and I barely remember it. In general I do not care for family movies. They just don't possess the qualities I look for in a movie. Two friends of mine saw it with their girl friends...1 said it was "meh" other said it was like "nails on a chalkboard bad" -- but he tends to over-react to movies he doesn't care for.

This weekend I spent my money on Zombieland and Sorority Row. Both fun films.

BankaiZaraki

10-20-2009, 12:18 AM

On the contrary, the second section is, imo, the kid working through his problems. The whole middle section is obviously a story that the kid is dreaming up and telling himself, and through this story, he ends up working out some of his conflicted feelings and problems. That's why so many of the wild things reflect emotions and feelings that he feels and has felt in the past; that's why some of the wild things reflect characteristics of his mother, and some reflect characteristics of his sister - notably KW who I think is basically his sister whom he wishes to stay with him in his "childhood world" rather than (in his pov) leave to be with her friends (Bob and Terry) in the adult world. Carol is also a thinly veiled version of Max himself. I'm really surprised by some of the reviews that say nothing happens in the wild things section. I was constantly analyzing the film as I was watching and I felt like it was quite complex and the accusations of it being a simplistic movie actually surprise me a great deal. It really is a natural progression of the storytelling from the first section to the second. It's the same story, except now it's the internal conflict that Max is going through in the first section externalized into a story about wild things. And of course, at the end, Max works his way through it and matures a little bit. The tagline is "There's one [a wild thing] in all of us" and part of that is about the inner child, but I think they are referring more to the wild emotions that everyone suppresses that children do not. And the wild things in the movie are a reflection of these pure, direct emotions.

I really didnt look at it like that. Im not the type of person to analyze movies though. But thanks.

MarcoG

10-20-2009, 12:24 AM

Cop No. 633

10-20-2009, 03:24 AM

I saw this tonight and thought it was a very touching film. I enjoyed it. I'm pretty much on the ball with most of your guys' opinions about the monsters, their representation and how Max essentially grows up by watching them interact. It was a great metaphor for self reflection.

Max Records delivers a very good performance. It's nice to see a kid be a kid rather than a mouth piece of exposition or the writer's conscience. The creature performances are all excellent. They all felt like living, breathing beings. I loved Gandolfini's voice mixed with Carol's body and face... it was a perfect match. He became this huge, vulnerable creature that you just want to hug the hell out of. Lauren Ambrose is also great as KW. She really brings a lot of warmth and tenderness to the role. Catherin O'Hara comical performance was a perfect fit. I always dug her work, especially with Christopher Guest and I think Jonze saw that gift of gab she possesses. It works perfectly as Max's vocal double.

It is Jonze' ode to childhood and he played all the right notes. It's mature, melancholic and comforting all at the same time. It's all about the confusion and the loneliness of being a kid. It made sense to me why Max was the way he was. I enjoyed the undertones about his lack of a father which is only hinted at and how the monsters were always in search of a king. It was a nice parallel that they don't hit you with over the head. I loved the way the story progressed with Max and the monsters. The performances were magical. The actors do a brilliant job at making you believe the monsters are alive.

I have a feeling this will be a movie that will linger in a lot of children's minds. It's very different from many films involving children. It's not exactly a children's film in the way that the Land Before Time isn't a fun ride for kids. It doesn't give you easy answers. It doesn't give Max a big reunion with Carol. Kids will question it and probably wonder a lot. And I think that's a good start.

9/10

Sigur509

10-20-2009, 06:50 PM

This film could have been terrible if not in the right hands. Thankfully, it was in the right ones.

9/10

Could go up when I see it again this weekend. I had a few annoying people behind me that were MY AGE. Some asshat anwsers his phone during the scene with Max and the goat and starts to chat away. The kids in the theater were not a problem at all.

Other than that amazing expierence, and I was very surprised at how emotional it was. Very deep and moving.

athf1980

10-20-2009, 10:16 PM

4.5/5

unquie kids movie that older folks will enjoy more.

Danger^Cart

10-20-2009, 11:10 PM

This movie is a psychology professor's wet dream.

8/10

Moviefreek

10-21-2009, 05:34 PM

Where the Wild Things, based on the children's book by Maurice Sendak, was released into theaters this past weekend. The film is about a young boy named Max who runs away from home and creates his own world where the wild things roam. The film is created from a source material that contains about 50 pages, all pictures, and a sentence per page story. Many wondered if it would be possible to create a feature length film based on short children's story. Not only is it successful but it is a wonderful film at that.

Director Spike Jonez, who directed such films as Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, creates a engrossing dark children's film. The film looks wonderful and moves at a very brisk pace. He manages to create characters that everyone can relate to and packs the film with every possible emotion that can be experienced. The film contains moments of happiness, sadness, and fear. The director took a chance here in creating a film that is very dark at moments, some may argue that the film is too dark for a film that many children will see. I would disagree with this as I think children will be captivated by the world created in Max's imagination.

The cast is top notch around the table. Mark Ruffalo(Zodiac, Blindness) and Catherine Keener(Soloist, 40 Year Old Virgin) do well in their brief screen time. Max Records, who plays the main child character Max, does a wonderful job with all required displays of emotion. This is saying a lot as it is hard enough to find a good child actor but even harder to find one that carries the entire movie on his shoulders. The voice cast for the wild things is great. It contains such notable voices as James Gandolfini, Catherine O'hara, Chris Cooper, Forest Whitaker, and Paul Dano. All voices fit perfectly with the personalities of each wild thing.

The special effects here are nothing short of amazing. Using the combination of costumes and CGI, a wonderful cast of characters are created. The CGI used to create the faces of the wild things is some of the best I have seen. Each face displays emotion that I've never seen in a CGI created character. In the closing scenes of the film you will know exactly what I am talking about as you experience one of the most touching scenes I have seen in film this year.

The film is a very unique experience and one of the best non-animated children's films I have seen in a long time. It is also a film that a child of any age can enjoy, young and old. There are moments in the film I believe everyone can relate to as a part of growing up. I enjoyed the dark atmosphere of the film and chances that were taken with the direction of the film. A film I can see being loved and experienced more widely in the next couple of years. Where the Wild Things Are is a wonderful film and easily one of the best of the year.

10 out of 10.

----------------------------

My review of this film along with others at:

http://www.examiner.com/x-6010-New-Orleans-Film-Examiner

MarcoG

10-22-2009, 05:05 PM

double post (edit)

QUENTIN

10-22-2009, 06:03 PM

Jim Emerson described perfectly how I felt about the film with the one exception that as "Indie™" as the soundtrack was, I quite liked it. I was totally underwhelmed by the movie, never felt joy or exuberance during it, and despite being quite impressed by the stunning visuals never connected to it on any narrative or emotional level. Max is kind of a brat, not particularly sympathetic, and all the wild things are so unrelentingly mopey that I got bored and bummed. I'd give it a very reserved 6/10 because the performances by the Wild Things are great, they look incredible, and so does the movie.

Where The Morose Things Are (http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2009/10/where_the_morose_things_are.html#more)

Spike Jonze's "Where the Wild Things Are" (aka, "The Decline and Fall of the Wild Thing Empire") is not Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are." It's only fair you should know that in advance. The book's illustrations and nine sentences have been turned into a surprisingly (some might even say shockingly) literal-minded 90-minute motion picture about the misery of being a kid. Jonze and co-scenarist Dave Eggers are clearly in touch with their inner-miserable child; they seem to vividly remember all the daily turmoil that childhood is heir to -- the tantrums, fights, scrapes, bruises, fears, anxieties, insults, hurt feelings, bossiness, cruelty, rejection, confusion, heckling, bullying, bragging, pouting, moping, testing, haggling, crying, rage...

Those aspects of childhood trauma are acutely and accurately portrayed in the movie. Every time the fun starts, somebody goes too far (like a puppy who hasn't learned his soft mouth yet), and someone gets hurt or scared or angry or sad or all of those things. The movie's adulterated sensibility is that of an alienated grown-up looking back at the (somewhat romanticized, over-intellectualized) misery of childhood and denying or downplaying the equally real fun stuff -- the in-the-moment joy, the exhilaration of being and imagining and doing and playing. So, in some sense it's a corrective to all those stupid "Isn't it wonderful being a kid?" movies that remember childhood through equally distorted rose-tinted lenses.

Parents who spend all day dealing with their kids' bickering and fleeting, unpredictable emotional outbursts will immediately recognize the verisimilitude of Jonze's "Where the Wild Things Are," but you can't really blame them if they don't want to sit through it. Again. Or take their younger kids, who won't necessarily be frightened but will likely wonder why everybody is so morose. Especially the Wild Things, who aren't so much wild as the very opposite: neurotic, overgrown, overanalytical, dysfunctionally domesticated. They don't need a fake boy king, they cry out for group therapy.

That's the source of my ambivalence about the movie as a whole: It's so transparently an adult's diagnostic reinterpretation of childhood ("Will you keep out all the sadness?"). Tempestuous feelings don't just pass over and through these kids (I'm including the Wild Things as big kids -- more in a moment), as they do with most children of Max's age (that is, of the age when they still wear soiled hooded terrycloth animal peejays). Torments aren't soon forgotten, abandoned for more pleasurable activities; they hang around all day like wet blankets, wrung out, mulled over, discussed, overanalyzed, brooded upon. There's a preciousness to the film that treats commonplace childhood agonies (and they are agonizing in the moment) as something "special." One of these days, the movie seems to say to itself, you'll look back on your childhood and remember the torture you went through on your way to becoming... an artist! (A filmmaker, that is. And a writer.)¹

The problem is not that it's so "dark" or "adult," just that it's emotionally monochromatic, leaving out almost everything else. Most kids can handle more real-world "darkness" than adults are comfortable with. Your kids may not have any problem instinctively understanding that this movie is about the rotten stuff in their everyday lives. They may, however, regret that seeing it left them feeling so bummed afterwards. But then they'll move on to something else.

wtwta2.jpg

Maybe you remember the Sendak book. The mischievous boy Max gets rambunctious, out of hand, yells "I'll eat you up!" at his mom, who sends him to his room without supper. He sails off to where the Wild Things are, and proclaims himself their king, proving his worthiness by staring them down. They go on wild rumpuses, and Max sends them to their rooms without supper. Then Max gets hungry and lonely and decides to give up his royal position to return home, where someone loves him best of all. The Wild Things cry, saying they love him so much they could eat him up. When he gets home, his supper is still hot.

In the movie, Max (Max Records) is not punished by an adult for any of his wild behavior. His mom is one of those wishy-washy, boundary-less parents who encourages him to tell her stories and probably thinks of him as her best friend. He plays with her feet when she's trying to work, and she seems to think it's cute. His absent dad (no explanation) has left him with a globe bearing a "Scarface"-like inscription, telling Max the world is his. His older sister doesn't pay enough attention to him, and his mom (that's the great Catherine Keener) has a date (Mark Ruffalo) over for dinner one night. Max gets jealous when mom won't come up to see the fort/spaceship he's built in his room. He doesn't just ferociously growl, "I'll eat you up!" -- he actually bites her on the shoulder. He doesn't get sent to his room, he runs away (filmed so that you expect him to get hit by passing traffic). When he gets home, there are no repercussions. His soup is still hot. He doesn't fall asleep first, his mom does.

That's a really different story, but obviously Jonze and Eggers had to do something to stretch nine sentences into 90 minutes. The book (in modern child-rearing language) was about Max using his imagination during a time out, working through some boundary issues and struggling to pull himself together after he's allowed himself get too far out of control. The movie is about Max doing whatever he wants, including biting his mom, and getting away with it unscolded. It's all OK, Max, whatever. There are no rules or limits on your behavior. Nobody cares what you do. (In a few months, this Max will start torturing small animals as a cry for help...)

Ah, but the Wild Things -- the physical fact of them as realized on the screen -- are so wonderful and amazing that I wondered if the filmmakers just figured they didn't need much of anything else to justify their movie. They're almost right, too, except that these incredible beasties behave like they're clinically depressed so much of the time that even they become a drag to hang out with after a while. Everybody's so listless, and so sensitive.

As living creatures, however, they're fantastic to behold. You can tell that they are biologically related to little kids and big dogs who rarely bathe. From their matted fur, runny noses and goopy eyeballs down to their canine foot pads and claws, they are so meat-and-hair real you can almost smell them. (There's a real physical intimacy to the, too: When one of them hides Max in her mouth, he finds himself in a womb-like sac that appears to be made out of slimy '70s shag carpeting, and he's not the slightest bit grossed out.) It's as if somebody took the latex foam creations of H.R. Pufnstuf, made them flesh and bone, and then threw dirt clods at them. The Wild Things live outside (or in "houses" that are really spherical forts made out of sticks) and sleep in the comforting (but nearly asphyxiating) safety of piles. Nearly everything they do has some direct correlative in Max's home life, including the messy sleeping pile that almost crushes him the way his front lawn igloo did when his sister's friends jumped on it and smashed it during a snowball fight when he was taking refuge inside.

In the movie, unlike the book, the Wild Things have individual names and personalities. Max's best bud (the one most like him) is Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini -- an effortlessly masterful performance), who also has problems with his temper and his desire to bite. He lives with several others, including the kvetchy Judith (Catherine O'Hara -- genius, as always) and somnambulant Ira (Forrest Whitaker), Carol's birdlike best-friend/appendage Douglas (Chris Cooper), the introverted goat-like Alexander (Paul Dano), and KW (Lauren Ambrose), who's been taking off on her own a lot recently (just like Max's sister) to hang out with a pair of owlish creatures named Bob and Terry (after former longtime Warner Bros. heads Bob Daly and Terry Semel) she thinks are a lot cooler and more interesting than her own clan.

I can't say enough about what splendid creations these Wild Things are, in appearance and vocal characterization. The few moments when the movie approaches unfettered joy are when it allows them to let loose and rumble with Max: the beginning of a dirt-clod fight (even after the hurt feelings of choosing up sides, but before the wounded pride and physical abrasions that come from actual dirt clods), or tumbling down a sand dune, head over heels.

So, although I found much to admire and appreciate in "Where the Wild Things Are," I was also perplexed at what a downer the movie is. (The anemic Karen O. indie™ songs don't help.) It makes sense, I guess, that a skateboarder and "Jackass" producer would direct a film that gets such a kick out of down-and-dirty physical reality. But how did he manage to leave out the fun?

* * * *

¹ As I said in reply to a comment below: The movie practically wears a bumpersticker that says: "I'm Proud of My Extra-Sensitive Child." It privileges Max's pain -- as if every kid doesn't go through it one way or another.

Shockwave

10-22-2009, 07:09 PM

I honestly think this is the best movie i have seen all year. 10/10.

There was so much to take in, from the scenes where Max was at home, and themes repeating themselves on the island, as well as the way many of the Wild Things represented people/emotions to Max in the real world.

Did anyone else think the owls were supposed to represent the boyfriends to the mother/sister? The way Carl(the violent/possessive side of Max) could not get why she hung around them, or the jealose nature it brought out in Carl. He also could not understand them at all, same as Max. That was my take on it anyway.

MarcoG

10-23-2009, 08:41 PM

I wrote a thesis on Wild Things...........

Care to read? It's a bit long, lol.

http://www.marcogennuso.blogspot.com

Heavy spoilers, so please read if you've already seen the film.

ScaryFreak1827

10-23-2009, 10:27 PM

I just got back from seeing it, having been anticipating it since seeing the teaser trailer, and I'm honestly kinda torn. I loved the opening moments with Max and immediately felt sympathy for him (being the youngest in a line of siblings, I could relate to him in many ways.) Max Records is a terrific young actor and his angst seemed realistic, making the moments that follow all the more meaningful. The look of the film was beautiful, I dug the indie music, the Wild Things themselves looked awesome (I'm so glad they didn't take the "strictly CGI" route) and I liked their individual personalities (each representing a certain part of Max). Carol especially was a fun creature and probably the most multi-layered of the beasts (aside from the goat).

However, the reason I'm on the fence about this film is it felt it was lacking something. I don't want to say "heart" because I felt it had plenty of emotional moments yet I just felt like it could've been something more. It wasn't necessarily boring but certain scenes didn't seem to be going anywhere and I wanted more "fun/adventure," even if that wasn't necessarily what Jonze was going for. It certainly wasn't a bad film but I have to say I was disappointed.

6-7/10 (although I bet a rewatch could possibly raise the score)

Crazy Dud

10-25-2009, 04:11 AM

Where the Wild Things Are

***1/2 out of ***** (7/10)

Let's get one thing straight: Where the Wild Things Are is an art film, and it isn't for children. It is a movie for adults about childhood. It is slow and moody, and those looking for typical Hollywood junk food won't find it here. Most of this film is highly symbolic and metaphoric. I know I will pick up on much more of the symbolism in repeated viewings. This film also contains beautiful visuals, stunning camerawork, top-notch special effects, and one of the finest performances from a child actor I have ever seen. This is a film rich and deep in meaning and beauty, but it could have been more compelling and entertaining than it is. Max isn't as well-developed as he should be, and the middle section of the film drags in several spots. This does make the film frustrating at times, but the film is something VERY different and risky from Hollywood, and that doesn't happen too often. If you're looking for Hollywood escapism, look elsewhere. If, however, you appreciate a film of artistic beauty and a script rich in subtext, than this film comes recommended.

SteeleDude

10-25-2009, 11:12 AM

Wow...Jim Emerson is a terrible reviewer. I can understand why some people don't love this movie, but that guy goes on way too long trying to justify why and starts saying some ridiculous crap.

Like this gem: "I'm Proud of My Extra-Sensitive Child." It privileges Max's pain -- as if every kid doesn't go through it one way or another.'

Yeah? Has he forgotten that movies aren't about, at least primarily, creating stories everyone HASN'T gone through? Often times we go to movies to, I don't know, identify with the main character. If we've all been through Max's issues (which funnily enough, a few chapters up in his review he seems to say that Max goes through different things than the rest of us), then that would mean we identify with him in this movie. And that's what makes it so uncomfortable. Like the dirt clod fight that ends in hurt feelings and kids storming away. Everyone leaves that fight feeling awkward.

Another beauty from that review was that Max has a wishy-washy mom because she encourages him to tell stories or because she allows him to play with her feet! How dare a parent indulge imagination in her children! If my four year continues to tell stories I guess I'm going to have to put a stop to it.

MarcoG

10-25-2009, 08:20 PM

DaMovieMan

10-25-2009, 11:12 PM

Just came back from seeing it. I'm from the camp that never heard of the book until the news of Spike Jonze's "risky" kids film hit the web, so my thoughts about it are not as empassioned as somes. It's an excellent film if only for the fact that it's one of the few that is at the same time perfect for adults and children. Gotta love those Wild Things and how they looked in the film; even though it's supposedly riddled with CGI the Wild Things' puppet-look really made me appreicate the non-computer manipulated side of filmmaking. The voice work was terrific with an inspired voice-cast for once which is another breath of fresh air next to mediocore animated films that seem to be competing with who can load it up with more star-power.
Max was certainly very bratty, the way most kids are at that age, but he goes through a nice growth from beginning to end, which was inspiring to watch (and one of the reasons I'm going to be showing this film to my kids one day probably).
It was a little too purposefully tear jerking at points, where I felt Jonze and co. were relying a little too much on "sappy" moments to pull the audeince forward. The soundtrack, though I like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many other names featured, was a little jarring to say the least.

But these are just minor thorns for an otherwise smooth flower. It's miles away from Adaptation and Being John Malkovich so it's great to see Jonze show his versatility. I'd recommend it whole-heartedly and that last scene of the Wild Things at the beach saying their goodbyes won't be something I'll soon forget.

8/10

bigred760

10-29-2009, 05:40 PM

I enjoyed this movie in that I think it kept the book's fantasy aspect. It handled the monsters really well, the cinematography and direction are excellent, and I really liked how it showed that this was Max's imagination. I have a 5-year old nephew and I can see him acting in a similar fashion when imagining some fantastical world like Max did. Him coming up with stories and saying how others should act is how I see somebody of that age acting. That being said, I wasn't always interested or fascinated by what was going on in the movie; I felt it dragged a bit at times. But other than that, it was a really fun, fascinating movie to watch.

7/10

silentasylum

10-29-2009, 10:43 PM

I enjoyed it very much. and it was the first children's movie I have seen in a while that wasnt animated but was still great. This movie exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it to just about anyone.

9.5/10

Dr.Frankenstein

11-07-2009, 04:22 PM

Just back from the Saturday matinee-neat film-leaves one with a day dream like experience. I rate it- ***1/2 (outta 5 stars)

TheCanadian

11-07-2009, 07:16 PM

I am in the minority and not entirely blown away...It gets extra points for being built from a story that is only 12 lines long...but I feel the moral was just not there...don't want to get into details/spoilers but the above posts (criticizing) pretty much sum it up...

AWESOME visual journey and great soundtrack...voice acting was mostly ok, but I couldn't get over the Tony Soprano patented fat guy breathe-talking...

just wasn't as awe inspiring over all as I hoped it would be, but decent effort

7.5/10

corran horn

11-26-2009, 12:23 PM

http://snarkerati.com/movie-news/files/2009/07/wherethewildthingsareclip.jpg

If there is one problem that I have with modern family entertainment (aside from Pixar), it's that it's too unrelentingly cheerful. The best family films always included an element of darkness, and Spike Jonze returns to this tradition.

Firstly, credit must go to the amazing voice cast. Whenever one thinks of potential cast members for a family film, James Gandalfini and Chris Cooper generally don't come to mind. Yet, they fit perfectly in the world Jones and Eggers created. The same goes for Forrest Whitaker and Paul Dano.

Something should also be said about Max Records. For someone who has never acted before, he is a natural. If he pursues a career in acting, I see a lot of potential for him.

When it comes to CGI, one of the chief complaints is that characters created with it (aside from Gollum and a few others) lack emotion or expressiveness. With the help of an amazing FX team, Jonze has created some of the most expressive and authentic CG characters to date.

Lastly, a word about the film's tone. I knew going in that the film would have a darker tone, I just didn't expect it to get as dark as it did. When I saw this back in October with some friends, there were a number of small children in the theater. When a certain scene came along, I was stunned, and I'm sure a number of those kids had nightmares the following night. Kudos to Jonze and David Eggers for having the cojones to pull that off.

All in all, an excellent film and one destined to become a beloved, if somewhat cultish, classic.

9.5/10

BadCoverVersion

12-11-2009, 08:10 PM

I saw it tonight on my 30th birthday...and it made me feel like a kid again...the joy, the pain, the reckless abandon.

I felt so strangely drawn to Alexander...added poignancy because this is the surname of the two people in this world I love the most, my Son and his Father.

Just a beautiful film...little Max is so real and brave and the voice work is unbelievable and the set pieces/cinematography are breathtaking.

I love the book, I love reading it to my little one. I found the film moving and absolutely inspired and I may get round to writing a full review when I'm a little less light-headed, full of brockwurst and dizzy with excitement.

Monotreme

12-13-2009, 07:44 AM

My (belated) review - and I just wanted to mention that the analysis of the film going on in this thread is fantastic and really in line with what I was thinking. I totally see this becoming a classic and much-discussed film. Glad to see others enjoyed it as much as I did:

After watching Spike Jonze’s latest masterpiece, I find it hard to comprehend just what kind of studio would have the audacity to invest $80 million in it. It’s definitely not your typical film – if Jonze and co-writer Dave Eggers were to submit their screenplay in a screenwriting class, they would be ridiculed for the rest of their lives. It is a structure-less film whose plot can be summed up in no more than 5 minutes of actual action: Max has a fight with his mom, runs away from home, thinks about what he’s done and returns. Not that the film didn’t have its share of problems. Warner Brothers were expecting a family-friendly film and they got a philosophical, rambling rumination on the inner psyche of the child with scary monsters and an indie rock soundtrack by Karen O. After the future of the film seemed to be in jeopardy, Warner Brothers eventually pulled through and proved just what a fantastic studio they are and how much faith they have in their auteurs, and they shifted the direction of the film and the marketing, realizing that this wasn’t a kids movie at all – it was a movie for adults who reminisce on their childhoods – which is pretty much everyone, so they were in luck. In the end, it all worked out – the film was a box office success, and we the audience got the pleasure of enjoying Jonze’s unique and incredibly beautiful vision, the way we were intended to see it.

Script-wise, this really is somewhat of an anomaly. Its actual plot, as I explained, is fairly simple, and it spends most of its time in Max’s head, or more specifically, in the magical world he’s created – it might be one of the longest narratives that take place in the dreamscape of the human subconscious. The film starts off with a bang, portraying just what it feels like to be a kid, ignored by his mom and sister, no one to play with, and left to go on adventures in his imagination by himself. I love the fact that Max is a genuine, full-fledged child, quite unlike the wise-for-their-age depictions of children that we often see in movies: he cries, he screams, he has tantrums, he thinks that the world revolves around him, his imagination runs wild and he doesn’t think of the consequences of his actions. All of these elements and emotions are crucial for understanding of what we see Max experiencing with the Wild Things. I was really impressed that the film didn’t take a simplistic approach to the monsters – Jonze and Eggers could have gone the direct route, had every monster represent an aspect of Max’s life, be it his absent father, his busy mother, his sister or the friends he doesn’t have – but they are too smart to do that, and instead, the Wild Things as a collective serve as an extension of Max’s inner emotions. They also cry, scream, have tantrums over trivial things, think the world revolves around them, and of course, they too run wild – literally! It’s just such a majestic and beautiful allegory as, through the monsters and their own conflicts and feelings, Max starts to realize that actions do have consequences and that he made a mistake.

Aside from its incredibly rich emotional palette, the film is also a technical marvel. The cinematography is loose, lively and, well – wild; Jonze goes the indie route despite his major studio budget and shoots low-key with lots of frantic, handheld shots, coarse jump cuts and just a very loose visual style altogether with the camera jumping around, tracking different characters and, like Max, having a difficult time to capture the full picture thanks to the chaos going on. The production design is also spectacular and really imaginative; almost all of the imagery in Max’s imaginary world is inspired directly by subtle visual cues from his real life: the straw ball on his bedside table becomes a massive fortress, the model in his room made of egg cartons becomes Carol’s model of his dream city, and the list goes on. The entire package is topped off by a simply magical soundtrack with original songs by Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and frequent Coen Brothers collaborator Carter Burwell that totally captured what the film was about, the childlike nostalgia. Another really impressive technical achievement is the creation of the Wild Things. I have no doubt that most directors these days would go the full CGI route; Jonze, the classicist that he is, insisted on using physical, tangible models – suits created by the Jim Henson company. Originally the faces were meant to be animatronic but the heads proved to be too heavy, so Jonze and crew opted to create the faces in CGI – and it couldn’t have paid off more. I am a huge supporter of traditional puppets and animatronics, but the Wild Things need to convey so much emotion, and animatronic faces would have just felt lifeless.

Also worth mentioning is the incredibly rich and truly fantastic voice work done by the eclectic and talented cast, most of which I didn’t even know were involved in the film. Instead of recording them separately, Jonze put all the actors in the same room and had them interact with one another, wearing headset microphones to record their dialogue. The result is a really noticeable flow and dynamic in their scenes together, with a lot of spontaneity and little, subtle details and moments that would never have been captured had the sound been recorded separately. Front and center is James Gandolfini, who delivers the most tender and heartwarming performance as Carol – which is especially surprising considering that this is Tony Soprano we’re talking about. But really, everyone delivers equally wonderful turns. That said, the star of the show is none other than Max Records, who truly delivers just the most adorable, magnificent, beautiful performance as Max. I think it’s amazing to see child actors actually act like children but still have the intelligence and range to depict really genuine and raw, strong-rooted emotions.

With this film, Spike Jonze has achieved something truly incredible: for an hour and a half, he made me feel like a child again. And I don’t mean superficially – he didn’t just make me sympathize with Max and feel for him; Jonze genuinely made me remember what it was like for me to feel what Max is going through. Obviously, my circumstances are different than his, most people’s are – my parents aren’t divorced, I don’t have older siblings, and so in regards to that, perhaps I’ve never really felt Max’s pain. But I still saw a lot of myself in him. I used to pretend that the carpet was lava, too. I used to play with LEGOs and build models and forts and feel that my parents were too busy to give me the proper attention that, at age 10, I felt I deserved, especially with two younger brothers hogging it from me. I, too, imagined fantastical creatures and lands and wrote stories about them. The film portrays enough very general and universal feelings and emotions a child often emulates that I think anyone can potentially have the same nostalgic reaction. In all, Jonze’s film is a totally unique emotional experience unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in another film; I was transported to a time that everyone always looks back on in nostalgic longing, and, perhaps for the first time, I realized just what it was that I felt back then, and how it influences me now.

RATING: 9/10.

The Heart Collector

12-16-2009, 11:37 PM

that big bird... i like the big bird
9/10

The Heart Collector

12-16-2009, 11:40 PM

On a more serious note, I really enjoyed the movie, too bad the plot was almost non-existent since I think that type of art design with a more 'conventional' movie plot would have resulted in an instant, unquestionable classic. As it is, it's a pretty peculiar movie though not for everyone. I really was mostly amazed at the special effects and the personalities of the monsters, they really went all out in making them believable.

Conz

12-19-2009, 11:27 AM

Watched this yesterday. I can tell this was a movie that went through production hell and was re-cut, b/c it just didn't feel complete. I dont know, i was left wanting more. I hope we get a really good Director's Cut dvd, b/c I had heard Spike originally shot it much darker, and I want to see that. I definately got lost in some parts though, pretty beautiful movie.

7/10

Jig Saw 123

12-19-2009, 02:35 PM

Monotreme

12-21-2009, 12:44 PM

Finally caught this thing, and my only complaint was Max, I sensed he didn't learn anything from going to the island or the trouble he caused. Otherwise, the film is beautiful, and the voice actors did a phenomenal job.

8/10

Really? Because I think that was kind of the point of the movie. He traveled to the island, behaved like he would and did whatever he wanted with the monsters - rumpus, piles, dirt fights, building forts, etc - but through his interaction with them he DOES learn that his actions have consequences, he sees how Carol is irrationally hurt by KW's finding new friends, he hears KW explain her feelings, he sees Alexander feel left out because nobody listens to him, and most importantly, he sees how Carol's behavior really is "out of control" and that it really does hurt the people around him - Carol obviously being an extension of Max - so when he returns home and gives his mom a warm hug, that's all the explanation I needed to see that he DID learn something from his journey.

Just.. such a beautiful movie. And I've been listening to the soundtrack in a loop for the past week and it may just be the best soundtrack of the year.

Reigh Kaufman

12-21-2009, 01:03 PM

Really? Because I think that was kind of the point of the movie. He traveled to the island, behaved like he would and did whatever he wanted with the monsters - rumpus, piles, dirt fights, building forts, etc - but through his interaction with them he DOES learn that his actions have consequences, he sees how Carol is irrationally hurt by KW's finding new friends, he hears KW explain her feelings, he sees Alexander feel left out because nobody listens to him, and most importantly, he sees how Carol's behavior really is "out of control" and that it really does hurt the people around him - Carol obviously being an extension of Max - so when he returns home and gives his mom a warm hug, that's all the explanation I needed to see that he DID learn something from his journey.

Just.. such a beautiful movie. And I've been listening to the soundtrack in a loop for the past week and it may just be the best soundtrack of the year.

This.

I watched a lot of movies this year, but this was my number one. This film understands children - how spiteful, petty, lost, loving, imaginative, selfish and confused they are. Seen it three times now, and I still get weepy when Carol walks into the sea and howls.

MisterTwister

12-21-2009, 01:20 PM

Brilliant little film that almost made me tear up at the end. A must see.

9/10

Cosimo

12-21-2009, 04:20 PM

really well made, but ultimately too depressing for me to enjoy it

7.5