GO WILD…
Maurice Sendak’s classic book comes to the big screen in 2009. “Where the Wild Things Are” follows the adventure of Max, a mischievous young boy who is sent to his room with no supper.
The film is directed by Spike Jonze and looks to include some amazing live-action puppetry and computer animation.
Set for release in October, Where the Wild Things Are stars Catherine Keener, Benicio Del Toro, Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Noonan, Michael Berry and James Gandolfini. Music by Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Carter Burwell (Fargo).
To get you in the mood here is the Arcade Fire scored trailer and a brand new feature about the making of the film including an interview with Maurice Sendak.
TRAILER
BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURE
NEW TRAILER (ADDED 07/08/2009)
NEW TV SPOTS (ADDED 13/09/2009)
OPINION
Where The Wild Things Are
This is a film that will split audiences but Spike Jonze’s long awaited film version of Maurice Sendak’s much-loved 1963 children’s classic Where the Wild Things Are certainly won me over.
Expanding the brief original story to a full length feature has given us a a film that explores what it is to be a child and how we, as adults, become detached from that.
The film is the tale of Max, a young boy who feels frustration and rage at being ignored and lonely, surrounded by adults and siblings on the verge of adulthood who can’t spare the time to engage in childish games. This rage erupts to the surface after one confrontation before dinner with his mother and Max runs away. He eventually arrives at an remote land inhabited by the Wild Things. The first thing Max sees is the destruction of their home by their own hand. He is soon joining in the joy of destruction and is quickly promoted to king.
This is the point at which the audiences will go in different directions as this part of the film is slower and more ponderous, filled with dialogue that may mean something significant or may not. We discover that the Wild Things have their own relationship problems and that one of the Wild Things, Carol, is a kindred spirit for Max.
For me this works beautifully, incredibly shot sequences with wonderful creatures. The amazingly intricate constructions the Wild Things create show a side of them that goes beyond their wild looks. And it’s this that I think linked this story to me more than it does others. I see this as being a view on how we, as adults, take the things we create or collect and give them importance beyond their meaning. Look at those of us who have things that never come out of their boxes or get played with. For a child these things are not to be revered but to be enjoyed, played with and ultimately destroyed to make way for something new and more exciting. The idea that these Wild Things can build something so beautiful and destroy it so quickly is a powerful one.
But much like Max at home, the feelings of hurt and loneliness also begin to affect the Wild Things and Max’s place as leader is put in doubt as they realise that he is not some all powerful king with easy solutions to their problems, but someone just like them. This leads to a spilt between Max and Carol in a similar fashion to Max’s feeling about his mother at the start of the film and Max leaves to return to a home where his mother is waiting for him. A mother who despite everything still loves him.
Spike Jonze’s has created a world of wonder, in equal measures scary and magical, sad and joyful. It’s not your typical kids film and is not as bright and energetic as Wes Andersons recent Fantastic Mr Fox, but if you enjoy beautifully created worlds filled with amazing characters do yourself a favour and go Where The Wild Things Are.
In the end this is a film that will get under your skin, because at heart you still know what it’s like to be a child and to be loved.
Where the Wild Things Are
Credits –
Directed by
Spike Jonze
Based on the book ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ by
Maurice Sendak
Written by
Spike Jonze
Dave Eggers
Cast
Catherine Keener
Catherine O’Hara
Forest Whitaker
James Gandolfini
Lauren Ambrose
Max Records
Paul Dano
Orginal Music by
Karen O and Carter Burwell
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