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Where the Wild Things Are

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Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

October. 16,2009
|
6.7
|
PG
| Adventure Fantasy Drama Family
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Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.

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Reviews

Matialth
2009/10/16

Good concept, poorly executed.

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Teringer
2009/10/17

An Exercise In Nonsense

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Afouotos
2009/10/18

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

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Erica Derrick
2009/10/19

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

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joseph574
2009/10/20

Terrible. Just terrible. I just wasted two hours of my life on this depressing, weird and inappropriate movie "fir kids". Sucked.

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Python Hyena
2009/10/21

Where the Wild Things Are (2009): Dir: Spike Jonze / Cast: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Pepita Emmerichs, Steve Mouzakis: Based on the children's book about emotion. Max is out of control and his lack of friendships allow him to retreat to his imagination. After running away from home he ends up on a remote island where he encounters numerous friendly beasts whom believe him to be their King. Interesting and detailed relationships within these creatures with director Spike Jonze backed with convincing creatures. This is not the inventive achievement that his Being John Malkovich is. Max Records as the boy is the one broad performance. We sense his need for friendship but he also begins to see where responsibility sets in. Why he isn't punished for running away is beyond me. Catherine Keener is too brief as his mother who tries to deal with her son's behavior. We see nothing of her until the conclusion. Mark Ruffalo is a talented actor underused greatly as Keener's boyfriend. He seems to disappear after Records runs away. Pepita Emmerichs should have had more screen time as Records' sister. Steve Mouzakis plays Max's teacher, which is nothing above standard. The special effects are top notch with these creatures and the world they inhabit but the story is nothing to go wild over. Strong message of self control but the film is way too intense for young children. Score: 6 ½ / 10

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italianredneckgirl
2009/10/22

How unfortunate that Maurice Sendak's Caldecott winning sorry book was twisted and perverted to something unrecognizable. This film is not for young children. Frankly, my 11 year old child had a difficult time with the way the storyline drifted from the book. As an adult, admittedly in my 40's, I would never have suggested this film for a fun "movie night" adventure, knowing Jonze's adaptation was so twisted. The child actor who plays Max does so well. He seems to convey many emotions with just a look. The problem is the storyline. Sendak created a Max that was mischievous, not one in need of in depth family counseling. The trouble with making something so pure and child like, up to date, new or fresh, is the unfailing willingness to project onto the characters situations that were not intended. The familial dynamic, for example, Max is a neglected little boy full of misdirected energy and fueled by an active imagination. Not one hint of the depressed, destructive, physically abusive behavior that is shown on the "big screen." Catherine Keener and Mark Ruffalo could have, just as easily been husband and wife, not boyfriend/girlfriend. Honestly, it left too many unanswered questions. Where was Max's father? Was he divorced from his mother? Dead? There's no clear storyline to explain why Max had begun to behave so violently. But we all sense it had something to do with the missing father. Max physically abuses his mother, after verbally abusing her. This is attributed to the presence of the mother's boyfriend in the home. Again, confusing, underdeveloped storyline. We are lead to believe that no one in this troubled boy's life recognizes or cares about him. He is a sensitive boy, absorbing his science teacher's musings about the sun dying and the human race falling victim to any number of calamities. Realistically, this would never have happened in the public school system. There would be a huge backlash and the teacher reprimanded. But, this just seems like a platform for Jonze's social awareness and activism. Adults recognize it. Children are confused by the laundry list of failures awaiting humanity. Finally, Max gets whisked away to the Land of The Wild Things. Finally Max has a say, he is in control. Although a very touching relationship begins to develop among Max and The Wild Things, the viewer isn't really as engaged as they should be, having been struck dumb by the opening portion of the film. The Wild Things are quirky and visually similar to Sendak's book version. James Gandolfini is heartwarming and, as an adult, I was heartbroken all over again. Soon, it becomes clear that things are going to be more difficult for Max, the King. Judith, in particular, adds a lot of dissension and frailty to the rest of the film. One of the other Wild Things says that she is "a downer" and it's laughed off. But, not true for the viewer. We wholeheartedly believe Judith will bully Max and eventually eat him, wild suit and all. The scene with the owls is particularly telling. "How do I make everyone OK? " The answer is not going to be clear. Ever. The underlying message is unclear and confusing for younger viewers. For tweens and adolescents, the message is muddy. Life is full of pitfalls. Make sure your decisions are sound. Either way, all in our party preferred the originality and pureness of the literary version. The "updated" Max 2.0 is not something the world needs. Truly, preview and be ready to have discussions before viewing with young children.

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jessegehrig
2009/10/23

Just entirely too much stuff. The plot should have been the book, instead it's all this divorce crap, and childhood angst mess. Worse, all the monsters are stripped of their enigma and portrayed as boring ordinary creatures. I mean the drawings in the book are indelible and mysterious, the monsters are almost iconographic, then Spike Jonze gives the monsters girlfriends and hobbies. The book, Where The Wild Things Are, is a masterpiece, the drawings and the words are simple but every bit the stuff of genius. Its that simplicity that allows for the fantastic elements of Max's journey to easily flow. The movie complicates this simplicity with unnecessary dialog and additional plot, making for an inferior story.

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