wayzim
17-Oct-2009, 04:26 AM
Saw the film version of 'Where The Wild Things Are. ' today, and a very cool interpretation of the Maurice Sendak classic it is.
While Spike Jonze slightly expands the basic storyline, Max's (Max Record) problems coming from more than simply being a bratty kid, thankfully it's drawn in broad strokes without tedious analysis.
It is Max's tale after all, being ignored by his older sister and a single mom overwhelmed by work and parental duties. After an angry demand for attention, jealous of mom's (Catherine Keener) boyfriend, Max flees across a violent sea to an island populated by fearsome Things.
At first, simply considered a tasty morsel, Max soon persuades the beasts (designed by Jim Henson's Creature Studios to be both fantastic and credible ) that he has the answers to their familial disfunction. Befriended by Carol (voiced by James Gandolfino ), a Wild Thing with serious anger management issues, Max is soon crowned King by this wildly diverse band.
This is where our boy in wolf's clothing discovers that ownership of a world comes with special responsibilities.
The film is an extension of the original premise, but it never departs from or degrades the child's point of view. The Things are unique individuals with all the love, fears, and petty insecurities of any siblings, especially Carol and Judith ( Catherine O'Hara )
Even with the small crew of mostly adult folk, the movie impressed, and one college age kid told a bud .. "If you talk trash about this film, I'll pop you one. "
Let the Wild Rumpus begin.
Wayne Z
While Spike Jonze slightly expands the basic storyline, Max's (Max Record) problems coming from more than simply being a bratty kid, thankfully it's drawn in broad strokes without tedious analysis.
It is Max's tale after all, being ignored by his older sister and a single mom overwhelmed by work and parental duties. After an angry demand for attention, jealous of mom's (Catherine Keener) boyfriend, Max flees across a violent sea to an island populated by fearsome Things.
At first, simply considered a tasty morsel, Max soon persuades the beasts (designed by Jim Henson's Creature Studios to be both fantastic and credible ) that he has the answers to their familial disfunction. Befriended by Carol (voiced by James Gandolfino ), a Wild Thing with serious anger management issues, Max is soon crowned King by this wildly diverse band.
This is where our boy in wolf's clothing discovers that ownership of a world comes with special responsibilities.
The film is an extension of the original premise, but it never departs from or degrades the child's point of view. The Things are unique individuals with all the love, fears, and petty insecurities of any siblings, especially Carol and Judith ( Catherine O'Hara )
Even with the small crew of mostly adult folk, the movie impressed, and one college age kid told a bud .. "If you talk trash about this film, I'll pop you one. "
Let the Wild Rumpus begin.
Wayne Z