"Where The Wild Things Are" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Lord Dalek]

THERE'S ONE IN ALL OF US.



"Don't go. I'll eat you up, I love you so." - KW

Release Date: October 16, 2009
Studio: Warner Bros./Legendary Films/Village Roadshow
Director: Spike Jonze
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Super 35)
Starring: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Voices of: Lauren Ambrose, James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Dano

Plot Summary: Maurice Sendak's classic book comes to the big screen in an adventure tale for every generation. "Where the Wild Things Are" follows the adventure of Max (Max Records), a mischievous young boy who is sent to his room after rebelling against his mother (Catherine Keener). Max's imagination is free to roam, and it soon transports him to a thriving forest bordering a vast sea. Delighted, he sets sail for the land of the Wild Things, where mischief reigns and Max rules. In bringing this imaginative fantasy to life, Jonze leads a team of filmmakers incorporating the most dynamic elements of voice performance, live-action puppetry and computer animation.

COMMENTS?

[Discloner]

It'll for certain be a polarizing film. There are going to be TONS of parents bringing their kids to this who'll wind up leaving the theater wishing they hadn't spent the time or money; and there'll be some who genuinely enjoy it. The kids themselves are sure to enjoy the romp regardless of content.

Going in I was fully aware of the indy world from which the film was born - after all Spike Jonze was spear-heading the project. Yet, in the end, I was still very surprised by how non-mainstream the film wound up. It's very talky, very philosophical, and at times, just plain bizarre. Yet in pure 'outside-the-mainstream' fashion it all has a point, and with a little digging you've got one helluva deep, wonderful, and well made movie.

Who knew Bob and Terry were real? Their Knock-knock joke was definitely a highlight for me. As was Douglas' twig arm towards the end. Classic.

I'd watch it again just to watch those Wild Things tumbling around. The blend between suit and animation is breathtaking. Hell, visually the movie is stunning - it all makes me want a massive modern-art style beehive made out of twigs to live in.

Good stuff. Just know you're not getting into a typical move and you're sure to be fine.

[Blackstar]

I'm always a tad wary when some director turns a short children's book into a 90 minute movie (I still haven't been able to make myself sit through the entirety of Horton Hears a Who). There's always that visible strain to keep it interesting and the inserting of irrelevant mush for a plot and characters who aren't deep enough to sustain an audience's attention for over an hour.

I won't be seeing this one in theaters, but it will be interesting to see how this film will be received.

[Baseball]

Where the Wild Things Are is a children's film for adults who need to remember what it was like to be a child. It will resonate most strongly with those who remember the melancholy and loneliness of their childhoods. It is beautiful and probably the best film I've seen this year. Spike Jonze really went against the typical Hollywood tactics for making a film based off of a children's book and instead created a work of art. Max Records is an amazing actor, and I couldn't see this film being done without him.

It'll for certain be a polarizing film. There are going to be TONS of parents bringing their kids to this who'll wind up leaving the theater wishing they hadn't spent the time or money; and there'll be some who genuinely enjoy it. The kids themselves are sure to enjoy the romp regardless of content.

This isn't a film for everyone. I can't argue that it's a movie for children either. But it's better that way, I think. Nobody else would have ever made a movie like this.

I'm always a tad wary when some director turns a short children's book into a 90 minute movie (I still haven't been able to make myself sit through the entirety of Horton Hears a Who). There's always that visible strain to keep it interesting and the inserting of irrelevant mush for a plot and characters who aren't deep enough to sustain an audience's attention for over an hour.

I won't be seeing this one in theaters, but it will be interesting to see how this film will be received.

The movie's narrative is thin, but the characters themselves are very deep. Each one of the Wild Things represent a different aspect of Max's childhood. There's so much sadness though, it's almost unbearable at times. In a good way, though. This film isn't your typical "children's movie," and you would be missing out if you decided not to see it. Though it depends on what kind of movies you like, really.

[Goodfellow]

Excellent movie that gets a 4/5 from me. I really cannot talk about anything else though, other than the movie just holds the spirit of the book.

[blazecat]

There's so much sadness though, it's almost unbearable at times. In a good way, though. This film isn't your typical "children's movie," and you would be missing out if you decided not to see it.

My college friends went to see the movie on opening night...and they forgot to invite me. That sucks big time.

[Tomato Surprise]

This was deep. Really, really deep. The director made at least a PG-13, maybe R-rated movie with very adult and serious themes. It's just in a fuzzy costume.

Now, you all can laugh at me, but think about it. Carrol's tantrum, the sun burning out, the good guy/bad guy conversation, the arm being ripped off, Carrol's model, the clot fight. Think of what it all means and you have an unnerving, thoughtful masterpiece.

10,000/10

Thoughts?
Tomato

[HG Revolution]

This was deep. Really, really deep. The director made at least a PG-13, maybe R-rated movie with very adult and serious themes. It's just in a fuzzy costume.

Now, you all can laugh at me, but think about it. Carrol's tantrum, the sun burning out, the good guy/bad guy conversation, the arm being ripped off, Carrol's model, the clot fight. Think of what it all means and you have an unnerving, thoughtful masterpiece.

10,000/10

Thoughts?
Tomato

That stuff doesn't make it deserving of an R rating. It just makes it a very mature movie.

[Flame Alchemist]

I was blown away by this movie. I loved this book and I knew from the second I saw the trailer that it was going to be great like the picture book it was based on. It's not a children's movie... it's a movie about children. It's absolutely stunning. I want to see it again!! I'm 15, almost 16, and I want to be Max.

I loved how the movie wasn't to be taken at face value - a story about a kid who runs away to be with monsters. But these monsters reflect aspects of Max's personality. We don't even know if the land of the Wild Things is real. In the book, it was slightly more obvious that his adventures were a dream, but the film is just magical...are there Wild Things out there somewhere?...well, yes. The poster says "There's one in all of us."

The music was amazing, too. Maybe it'll be the first movie soundtrack I buy! (Unless you consider A Hard Day's Night a soundtrack.) I can't stop listening to The Arcade Fire's "Wake Up". It fits the movie perfectly. I saw a trailer for some forgettable movie before the Wild Things started and it used Green Day's "Know Your Enemy". Really? It probably doesn't fit the movie at all, it's just there because it's popular to like Green Day.

The best part(s) - the sense of danger - the Wild Things aren't Care Bears. They have claws, and they almost eat Max. There's a scene where they're all running around, and one of them almost pushes Max (accidently) off a cliff. Then there's the final few scenes with Carol, which are amazing. Carol wasn't even a monster or a Wild Thing at that point - he was a person. I also enjoyed the opening scene where Max is chasing his dog with a fork, like in the book! "WOMAN! FEED ME!"

Anybody know where I can buy a Wolf Suit like Max's?

10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000/10

"I'll eat you up, I love you so."

[HG Revolution]

I'm 15, almost 16, and I want to be Max.

Really? His life seems pretty depressing; I don't think I'd want to go through all of that confusion and anger (again).

My full review of the film is on my blog. In short: most daring film of the year by far, and only behind Basterds and Sita for the title of the year's best.

[SurgeV1]

Absolutely beautiful and well done movie; oh my god.


"When you go back...will you say nice things about us?"

[TheVileOne]

If Where The Wild Things are should be PG-13 or R rated than Transformers 2 should be XXX or NC-17.

[mumbo]

It was just a wonderful, thoughful, thought-provoking, beautiful film. Held my attention the entire time, and invoked real emotion. It wasn't schmaltzy in the least, either. Love it.

The characterizations were very real, too. They didn't make the mother or sister some ogre or anything, they were very realistic. Even the sister's friends. It just hit home for me in a big way.

Not really for kids actually. I didn't even see many kids in the theater. It's more for adults looking back on their childhood. It really struck a chord with me, since I am the youngest with two older sisters and I kind of went through the same feelings with how they wouldn't play around with me anymore.

Some critics have criticized it because it's not really for kids, and some have praised it for that exact same reason. Kind of your own call.

The worst part of the film was that about halfway, the projector went black for a few minutes lol

[DisneyFan]

Rotten Tomatoes has it at a 68 percent rating. They are pretty strict when it comes to rating movies. That seems kinda a very low rating to me but, I am probably gonna end up seeing this anyway. I work at a movie theater and get free tickets. So what would really be the harm in seeing this movie anyway? I'm looking forward to seeing it.

[Juu-kuchi]

I thought the movie was too disturbing and inadvertently meanspirited for its own good. It kindof disowned me when I saw the kid brandishing a fork while 'playing' with his dog. Am I supposed to relate to this kid when he starts conflicts, acts like a total animal, doesn't really apologize to his parent for his actions (And don't tell me that a long gaze says it)? Then there's the fact that it was kinda a cold ending for this movie when at least some clear resolution should have been made.

Everybody's snarling at one another, lamenting it up, being rather churlish toward one another, while this 'king' tries to keep things together but gets rather uppity at times. What am I supposed to think when it starts getting sentimental after those rather disturbing and at times uncomfortable spectacles?

In short, the movie just didn't click with me. The effects were great, the acting was good, and was an overall high-end product... yet it was just too disturbing for something that didn't seem so in the trailers and promos and given Max's attitude, not very endearing.

That and there wasn't a lot of Douglas. There needed to be more Douglas.

[mumbo]

Rotten Tomatoes has it at a 68 percent rating. They are pretty strict when it comes to rating movies. That seems kinda a very low rating to me but, I am probably gonna end up seeing this anyway. I work at a movie theater and get free tickets. So what would really be the harm in seeing this movie anyway? I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Critics either love or hate the movie for the same reason - it's not really for kids, and kids probably won't really enjoy it - so that split results in a lower overall rating.

Pretty much it's got a bunch of 10/10s and a bunch of 4-5/10s.

[Baseball]

I thought the movie was too disturbing and inadvertently meanspirited for its own good. It kindof disowned me when I saw the kid brandishing a fork while 'playing' with his dog. Am I supposed to relate to this kid when he starts conflicts, acts like a total animal, doesn't really apologize to his parent for his actions (And don't tell me that a long gaze says it)? Then there's the fact that it was kinda a cold ending for this movie when at least some clear resolution should have been made.

When you were a kid, don't you remember doing things just for the hell of it? Regardless of whether or not they were good or bad, kids will do things out of sheer curiosity and because they want to. That's how I saw the dog scene, anyways. As for Max's apology, I don't think that we as an audience should expect him to. Not only is he a child, but it was his way of dealing with his parents' divorce. It's something he doesn't want to accept, and he goes out of control and throws a tantrum. That doesn't necessarily justify it, but it's rationale at the least. And the cold ending is true to life--why should all of Max's problems be solved in 96 minutes? Life doesn't work that way. Sure, his experiences have changed him--but not in a complete 180. We don't need verification that everything is going to work out in the end because truthfully, sometimes it doesn't.

[Juu-kuchi]

I wasn't asking for all of Max's problems to be solved nor for him to turn a complete 180, I wanted a more better denouement (that was probably a bit more clearer, but didn't need to be TOTALLY concrete). I just wanted a good resolution on that regard, not a complete "Oh Max is now a good kid." or whatever moment.

And maybe the dog scene rang true to real life in some ways, but that fork just creeped the hell out of me.

[BrendaBat]

Overall, I really liked this movie. It has a really unique theme about a child learning to cope with his emotions. Max is a sweet boy but, like most kids his age, he's also prone to tantrums when faced with stress, disappointment, and being deprived of his mom's and sister's attention.
Then he essentially becomes the parent of all the monsters on the island and gets a taste of his own medicine when he can't keep all of them happy anymore.

I was surprised at how intense and violent some of the scenes in this movie were! Especially the scene where Carol ripped off Douglas' arm! Though, thankfully, only one of the many kids that were in the theater with me started to cry at the scary parts.

The gloom and doom teacher at the beginning of the movie seemed to come out of left field ("YOU'RE ALL GONNA DIE, CHILDREN!! REPENT NOW BEFORE THE SUN EXPLODES!!"). I know the lecture about the sun dying paid off later in the film. But when I watched the scene for the first time, it was a hilariously random WTF moment.

I wish the ending had a slightly better payoff/resolution than Max and his mom just staring at each other until the credits rolled. Oh well.


Don't be afraid to watch this movie in a theater with a bunch of kids. Their comments can be hysterical! One little girl behind me wondered how Max found food on the island and how he survived without eating!
And all the kids in my theater did the Max howl when the credits started rolling. It was so cute! :anime:

[Tomato Surprise]

I wasn't asking for all of Max's problems to be solved nor for him to turn a complete 180, I wanted a more better denouement (that was probably a bit more clearer, but didn't need to be TOTALLY concrete). I just wanted a good resolution on that regard, not a complete "Oh Max is now a good kid." or whatever moment.

And maybe the dog scene rang true to real life in some ways, but that fork just creeped the hell out of me.

See, that's where the magic is! There are no heroes or villians here, just people.

Tomato