Where the Wild Things Are

johnny_ultimate

What a wonderful film! I didn't know if it could live up to the trailer, but just a beautiful piece of work. Kind of like the anti-kids film kids film - while it captures that simple innocence and excitement of childhood imagination, the themes are rich, complex and dark with no simple resolutions. The barren but often stunning landscape are a welcome change of pace from the loud, colourful dreamscapes films often focus on (the Lovely Bones, for example, as the trailer suggests). I'm not at all surprised this ran into studio trouble -

there is barely any dialogue at all for the last ten minutes, and with an ending more rewarding and difficult than a mere 'happy' one.

If I had any issues with it, it may be that the Wild Things themselves take a while to get to know, as they are indeed extremely outlandish and difficult at the beginning. However, as it progresses and the parallels to Max's life become clearer, these bizarre furry monsters become very lovable creatures.

A very funny, very sad and finally very uplifting look at the ups and downs of one boy's childhood. Plus, you've got to love those owls!

Eirebear

Been looking forward to this all year!

I remember the book from when i was a kid, and add Jonze into the mix and youve got an exciting prospect.

So far the reviews are good, hopefully it will live up to my expectations as im far more excited about this than i ever could be for Avatar.

johnny_ultimate

Eirebear wrote: »

Been looking forward to this all year!

I remember the book from when i was a kid, and add Jonze into the mix and youve got an exciting prospect.

So far the reviews are good, hopefully it will live up to my expectations as im far more excited about this than i ever could be for Avatar.

Yeah this was definitely the film I've been looking forward to since that amazing trailer was released! Avatar (so far, I'm willing to be corrected) looks like just another Cameron action film to me. Where the Wild Things Are is a complex, unique artistic vision disguised as a simple children's film. I'm delighted that the Hollywood system has allowed such a film to be made (and I'm curious if Jonze had to make any compromises).

Superb cast too - always enjoy Catherine Keener's performances, and the Wild Things are full of character (although I could only pick out Gandolfini's voice for definite) but Max Records is astonishing - his performance captures the whole essence of the film, and perhaps could have been a far weaker experience without him.

JJ

I saw a special preview screening on Wednesday and there were a good few kids there but I couldn't help but think the movie was maybe a little too dark for younger kids. I think it's more aimed at grown ups who enjoyed the book when they were a kid (like me).

I enjoyed the film overall but I did think it was a little self indulgent and depressing at times. I know it's a story with little or no plot but it did have me wondering at times where it was going. However, the performances and special effects were top notch. Max Records and Saorise Ronan are probably two of the best young actors at the moment. After a few minutes I forgot that Carol is voiced by "Tony Soprano" and you just see him as a gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) giant. The special effects were also amazing. The facial expressions of the wild things looked perfectly natural and IMHO some of the best special effects don't look like special effects at all.

I think this review with Screen Click is spot on:

http://www.screenclick.com/Community/News.aspx?a=4822

though this review from Breaking News is a bit OTT:

http://breakingnews.ie/entertainment/film/where-the-wild-things-are-moving-uplifting-and-exciting-437750.html

but maybe you could make a good argument for WTWTA to win the special effects, music and costume Oscars and maybe a best actor nomination for Max.

PirateShampoo

Cant wait to see this myself, i vaguely remember the book from when i was a kid. The trailer was pretty awesome and was pretty touched by it.


Sorry Ive got to pull you on this line. Your making me spit my Coco-pops over the keyboard.

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

just another Cameron action film to me.

:eek:

Rhyme

Got all jazzed up to see it today but my local cinema weren't showing it (saw 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' instead)

Now I'm double-jazzed up, this was the book when I was a nipper.

johnny_ultimate

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Sorry Ive got to pull you on this line. Your making me spit my Coco-pops over the keyboard.

:eek:

Correction: just another Cameron action film with silly looking blue guys It is a film I'm not particularly excited about, but I won't judge until I see it next week. The excitement factor in particular was lower due to the presence of Where the Wild Things Are - it may just be me (and I wouldn't post this in the Avatar thread) but Spike Jonze is an infinitely more unique and interesting director than Cameron (not to diss Aliens or Terminator - great blockbusters, but that is about it).

JJ wrote:

I saw a special preview screening on Wednesday and there were a good few kids there but I couldn't help but think the movie was maybe a little too dark for younger kids. I think it's more aimed at grown ups who enjoyed the book when they were a kid (like me).

I have to agree that it isn't a film for younger kids. I loved it having not been familiar with the book from childhood, but the themes of childhood imagination vs reality would appeal to adults more. It feels like Jonze and Eggers reflecting on childhood, and I thought it was a very thoughtful film. None of the 'lessons' are explicitly explained - they need to be deciphered. A lot of that would likely be lost on a child.

I enjoyed the film overall but I did think it was a little self indulgent and depressing at times. I know it's a story with little or no plot but it did have me wondering at times where it was going. However, the performances and special effects were top notch. Max Records and Saorise Ronan are probably two of the best young actors at the moment. After a few minutes I forgot that Carol is voiced by "Tony Soprano" and you just see him as a gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) giant. The special effects were also amazing. The facial expressions of the wild things looked perfectly natural and IMHO some of the best special effects don't look like special effects at all.

I liked that it was an unpredictable plot. The characters weren't typical archtypes, they were more multi-layered. As I said, I do think the Wild Things were very difficult to get to know as characters for a while, but thinking back on it perhaps this was meant to reflect the very strange nature of the creatures.

Totally agree about the visual effects though - very tricky to tell what is CGI (probably some of the facial expressions) and what is a costume. Mostly, the Wild Things have a very physical screen presence, which can't be said of most computer generated characters. They feel real as such. Think the visual highlight for me was the

dirt clod 'war'

- surprisingly visceral and violent, but that is exactly what a kid imagines when playing - a more exaggerated, exciting version of reality.

S.M.B.

I thought the film was pretty much perfect. I could see other people not liking it as much as I did but I was amazed.

My film of the year.

Eirebear

Finally got to see it last night, what an absolutely wonderful film.

The Wild Things where fun, cute yet big and scary and that pretty much sums up the whole film. Watching Max as he grows in this big scary world, and realises that everything that happened at home with his mother was as hard and scary for her as it was for him is brilliantly put across.

As "kids" films go, this is a classic for me.

johnny_ultimate

Sorry for bumping the thread, but after watching this again last night I honestly think this is one of the most underrated, underappreciated films in years. If you haven't seen it yet, honestly check it out, you may be pleasantly surprised!

*spoilers ahoy*

Most kids films are all about innocence and imagination, the simple joys of being a child. Where the Wild Things Are recognises this, but is also about growing up and the sometimes harsh nature of reality. In one of the first scenes, a teacher gives a surprisingly frank description of how the sun is going to die someday. I think this conversation dictates a lot of what follows - Max doesn't quite understand the difference between reality and imagination, and yet is constantly trying to negotiate the confusing landscape.

Watching again, it's remarkable how much the 'Wild Things' world echoes what is going on with Max's home life. Carol is of course the closest comparison to Max, disgruntled and jealous at how K.W. has - in his eyes - abandoned him in favour of new friends (the owls are so very cool, though!). This obviously is very similar to how Max reacts selfishly when his mother has her new boyfriend over. The other Wild Things also reflect parts of Max and his personality, and different reactions to problems - some are withdrawn (Bernard, Ira), some obnoxious & aggressive (Judith). Visually, too, most of the characters and landscapes are inspired by Max's own private world, and his possessions in the opening scenes - full of forts, hiding places, teddy bears and dirt clods. The little details, narrative contrasts (Carol destroying the Wild Things' homes, for example) and visual echoes definitely stood out on a second viewing.

I said it in an earlier post, but this film ignores easy resolutions. Max learns some difficult lessons - imagination isn't quite so wonderful as it's imagined, and you shouldn't push people and friends away. None of the Wild Things have resolved their issues - Carol is still distant, his relationship with K.W. still damaged. Douglas has no arm, after a surprisingly violent outburst with Carol (similar to Max's violent reaction after the destruction of his igloo). Only Bernard seems to have come out of his shell, finally speaking. Max sails away, more damage done than good perhaps. And yet when he runs home to his mother, it is a touching moment - the lessons he has learned aren't explicitly explained, but he has realised the important of his family and reality, and perhaps isn't quite so scared of the sun anymore.

I'm not sure if this film is for kids. I'm extremely glad Jonze recognises that children's cinema isn't all about sugar rush visuals and cheesy bubblegum pop. This is a very muted film visually, imaginative and playful yet full of greys and browns. The themes may be too complex for younger audiences too. But for adults, this is something else entirely - the antithesis of what a 'family' films is expected to be. It reminds me of a darker version of My Neighbour Totoro - embracing the wonder of imagination, and yet constantly reminding us about the harshness of reality. Heavy themes, yeah, but it makes for exciting, thoughtful cinema. It's very poignant, little moments like Max's igloo being crushed, to his regret at having destroyed his sister's room, through Max and Carol howling as Max sails away, and of course his final reunion with his mother. Too dark for children, too full of cartoonish characters for some adults, too slow-paced for others - Where the Wild Things Are seems destined to be misunderstood. I hope that this film isn't forgotten, as it's one of the most memorable, intelligent films I've ever seen.

Yoda

What I kept thinking after seeing the film in the cinema was that it was so very rare to find a film which was essentially about feelings. Not with characters who feel... but about feelings.

Remarkable.