Where the Wild Things Are (2009) – Max is a nine year old boy whose life is turning upside down. Max likes to pretend he’s a wolf, chasing his dog and howling. His older sister doesn’t really want
him hanging around, his teacher scares him by talking about the sun dying and his mother has a new boyfriend. When things just get too stressful he ends up lashing out, biting his mother and running away. He ends up on an island filled with fantastical Wild Things (voiced by James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara and Forest Whitaker among others). They proclaim him king and proceed to build an enormous fort. Slowly conflicts arise. Max has to try find a balance among his new friends and what his heart really desires. Based on the Maurice Sendak book of the same name.
Why I Like It: This was a movie that took some chances. Early attempts at bringing the book to the screen struggled with how to create the Wild Things. They looked at full on animation, CGI, mixes of live and animation. In the end they settled on full live action with the animatronic bodies supplied by the Jim Henson’s Creature Shop crew. In the end director Spike Jonze brings an interesting visual experience to the project. At the same time it felt ponderous at times and the sadness of the story just ground down on me. The movie adds extensive material to the original 330+ word story. Sendak fans will either love or hate the additional material.
Why You Will Like It: Sendak fans will certainly love the meticulous translation to the screen. The author himself was a big fan of the story. It is a fantastical journey that is fully committed to the vision. Visually, the movie is very impressive.
In the end, 100+ minutes of such sadness just becomes more than the visuals can overcome.
Rated – PG
Rating: ***1/2 Recommended
Stories Are My Life 
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