Yesterday afternoon I got to share a late brunch with my friend Sergio who flew back home to Detroit last night … his time was limited in town but I’m glad I got to see him all 3 days he was in town. Last night I met up with Kirsten, Josh and Darion and the 4 of us made our way to the ArcLight Theater in Hollywood, CA to see Where the Wild Things Are:
Because I loved this storybook as a child I had high hopes that the movie version would be just as good. I have to admit that I really liked the movie … up to a point. Let’s start out on the positive … young actor Max Records, who plays the lead boy in the film, was a revelation. He was so enjoyable to watch on the big screen … for me, he really made the character in the book come alive. Never once it look like he was acting — he really became the character. Spike Jonze‘s direction was superb … the visuals were just outstanding and the movie really is a sight to see. For me, the movie was only half good. It started out strong and held me rapt for the first half of the run time … but once the Wild Things started to show how emo/whiny they were made out to be, I quickly lost interest. For me, the story held such wonder and imagination as a child … and visually, the movie does as well … but the “poor me”, self-loathing, whiny bullshit that the Wild Things started to spew was such a turn off. I was totally bummed out by the time the movie was over. I was sure one of the Wild Things was gonna commit suicide … and I’m utterly convinced that some of them are emotional cutters. Dude, I get that this film was meant to be an emo masterpiece but it got really heavy-handed midway thru. Once the main Wild Thing named Carol ripped off the arm of his best friend out of self-hating frustration, I was pretty much checked out. I personally felt that casting James Gandolfini as the voice of main Carol was a huge mistake. All I could hear was Tony Soprano … his very audible nasal breathing-while-talking manner was hugely irritating. So yeah … the movie is really, really good for the first half and almost just as equally bad for the second half. Because the book is only like 13 sentences long, the director really had to take liberties with the extrapolation of the story … IMHO, he got it half right.
Not sure what the plan is for tonight … David and I are expecting his sisters for a visit later on this week and we have LOADS of cleaning to do before they arrive. Depending on how much work we get done will determine if I will be able to get outside and see the sun.
I’ve read a few reviews like this that makes me think I’m going to wait and rent it.
I was so excited to see this movie since seeing the trailer back in the summer and I have to agree it didnt really live up to my expectations! It was rather depressing and didnt seem to really have any strong message except that Where the Wild Things Are is in a constantly depressed state and will never be helped…..
LMAO OMG I thought the SAME thing about James Gandolfini & the heavy/loud/nasal breathing. And you’re right the lead boy was amazing & it was visually amazing as well. But… ehhh it seemed to go on a bit long – you nailed it w/the emo wah-wah-wah’ing of the wild things just turned me off.
Hearing Tony Soprano in the trailer is what made me not rush out to see this movie.
I can almost hear “Christuhfur”.
I have good things about this movie! I am excited to see it!!
It’s not even meant to be seen by small children… I admit to having heard some reviews (TV) & reading a few others that say “It’ll scare small kids; they won’t understand it; leave them at home”, etc.
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I couldn’t get into the book as a kid – Don’t know why but I just never liked it.
I’ve never even heard of the book until I heard about the movie itself. It looked kind of cool judging by the trailers but I think I’ll wait on DVD or something. : )
Hm, I liked this movie. I mean its not a really GREAT movie to where all you think about after leaving the theater is the movie. But it was an enjoyable movie to watch for passing time. I don’t regret going to see it, because before going I kind of got the feel that it would be more emotional then one would expect.
It also definitely isn’t a child’s movie(well..maybe ten and up but no younger then that) I kind of got the feeling that each of the Wild things, were meant to be one of Max’s emotions or something of the sort. Each character, held something that I thought he was feeling or dealing with all the issues in his normal life.
I also think the boy who played the main character was an amazing actor. He could act like a brat, to a thoughtful young boy in no time. He really pulled you into the movie, and let you feel his emotions without having to talk much. Which is always good :)
@Ama — I think you give a very insightful interpretation of the plotline, my guess is that you are correct in surmising the different Wild Things were manifestations of Max’s emotions. Your assessment actually makes me like the film a bit more.
i couldn’t stop laughing when you thought that one of the adorable things would commit suicide, or that you thought some of them were emotional cutters! but i really loved the movie, i thought judith was hilarious, and i almost cried at the end. and the soundtrack was awesome!
I actually hated it. I found it slow, and boring and like you said, lacking a message. I felt the movie was def missing something. Kinda wish I had seen cloudy with a chance of meatballs instead!
I find it funny that people say that kids won’t understand the movie. If anyone will understand it, it’s kids. You have to tap into a very primitive, emotional state that kids live in to make sense of those characters. The reasoning they have behind half the stuff they do, and how they articulate that reasoning…my best friend’s 5 year old little brother possesses the same mannerisms. If he had seen the movie, it would become his new favorite movie for all the wild, terrible behavior and amusing little details like the replacement stick arm and random “dog” in the desert. I loved it and felt that everything had the right tone and pace, I wish I could be 15 years younger and had seen this movie, it would have been amazing, I would have torn down my spy base/fort in the bushes and aspired to build something like theirs in the movie, haha.
Loved WTWTA. Thought it was awesome. There’s a pretty good interview with Spike Jonze, David Eggers and Maurice Sendak in Newsweek too. In it, Jonze points out that he sought to make not a children’s movie, but a movie about childhood. Sounds about right.
Trent, try reading the book by Dave Eggers, based on the screenplay, I read it and totally felt the way Ama feels, the wild things are Max’s emotions. The book ends beautifully, hope the ending of the movie is the same. Haven’t seen the movie yet but am dying too!
I just saw the movie and i thought it was great? I will admit that I guess I really don’t remember the book. I seem to remember him going into his closet and finding the monster world? So I guess I didn’t have any cemented ideas in my head. In any event, I was not at all prepared for how fucking heavy this movie is. Very emotional. Anyone can relate to Carol’s jealous ways – very weird way of showing an honest truth.I think I’d have to see it again to fully understand all that is going on in it. Carol made me cry just looking at him. And who was that big Bull head guy – he was great!!!
you completely missed the point of the movie.
@mark — No, I think I can recognize emo angst when I see it.
We are not talking about Sergio Arthur are we?
Doesn’t a late brunch = lunch?
@Roger — Hahahaha … well, if you want to get technical about it. I like thinking any meal before sunset on a Sunday is brunch :)
Trent, I’m genuinely surprised to hear you descibe the film as “emo/angsty” – I didn’t get that impression at all but I guess it’s all about personal perspective.
I definitely agree with other commenters who’ve said that the Wild Things represent the various aspects of Max’ personality ie the one who gets angry and lashes out, the one who feels ignored, the one who always tries to be supportive etc. I did get the feeling that KW might actually represent Max’ sister ie she literally and emotionally checks out of the family situation because she can’t handle the drama.
Max is meant to act as the parent to the Wild Things – he initially pledges to make everything right so that the children are always happy. Through his experiences with his new family, he discovers that parents are just regular people that don’t have super powers and, though they try their best, can’t always protect their loved ones from hurt and pain. In the end, he recognizes and appreciates his own mother for the loving, caring person that she is.
@ Nicole – I think you hit the nine inch nail on the head my dear – But who was the BULL GUY !?!?! – what did he represent?