October 19, 2009

Where the Wild Things Are

Kiki might want to chime in here (I'm guessing with more negative comments), but personally I'd say it was a very good. Until Max meets the Wild Things I'd say it might be one of the best movies in recent memory. It captures Max and his "real" world brilliantly. And the land of the Wild Things is stunning. Technically this film is exceptionally well-made. But then there's the matter of the Wild Things themselves. Up through sleeping in a big pile ("I like to sleep in a big pile" - love it) all is well. And parts thereafter are very fine - for example, Carol's creation is so beautiful and moving, the big dog and Richard are funny, the voice work is great. But fundamentally the Wild Things are so depressed and depressing. And yeah I can get reasons for that, drawing from Max's world. But either because that's not the movie I wanted to see or because of personality/mood stuff I left the theater less pleased than I wish I had been when I left. I think this is a very good movie - but not everyone is going to enjoy it.

Posted by armand at October 19, 2009 09:09 AM | TrackBack | Posted to Movies


Comments

Another quick thought - I loved Douglas and Alexander. But as to Judith and Ira, was anyone else taken aback that they made them look so stereotypically Jewish?

Posted by: Armand at October 19, 2009 11:44 AM | PERMALINK

Um... I agree. Max's real world was, well, real. Max is a real kid with real problems. The world of the Wild Things was not what I was expecting. The whole point of the book is that Max loves it there and only goes home when he gets homesick. That WT world would have made me go running back to my real world, problems and all.

That being said, James Gandolfini was an excellent choice for the voice of Carol. Then again, Carol was basically a CGI/monster version of Tony Soprano, mood swings and all.

Posted by: kikimonster at October 19, 2009 03:52 PM | PERMALINK
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