Monday, October 19, 2009

At The Movies: Where the Wild Things Are




Like most people of a certain age, Where the Wild Things Are was one of my absolute favorite books when I was a child. So it stands to reason I would go alone, on date night, to ensure I saw the Spike Jonze live-action film adaption as soon as possible.

I loved it. Everything about it. The performances (especially that of young Max Records as Max (how fitting) and James Gandolfini as Carol), the look, the liberal story adaptation, the articulate nature of the Wild Things. It made me laugh and cry (a lot...like seriously, through the entire damn thing. I may have a problem). In short, it was effing beautiful. See it...now.

P.S. I also watched Tell Them Anything You Want, a biography of WTWTA author Maurice Sendak, on HBO this weekend. Lovely. Add it to the list of reasons you need HBO, silly monster.

7 comments:

MJenks said...

This one looks like a thumb's up.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was actually entertaining and enjoyable.

Maybe Hollywood should just take books that are 30 pages long and adapt them to the big screen, that way they can't really screw up the story too much.

Anonymous said...

It was my favourite book too as a kid. I loved it to death! The illustrations were beautiful. I can't even IMAGINE it being a movie - I mean you can read the book in five minutes, there's so little dialogue. How on Earth did he stretch it to movie length? I'm intrigued to see it although part of me's all indignant because I truly believe not every wonderful book needs to become a movie. I'm sure it's a great film, though. And if you think so well.... No one argues with Red!

Red said...

I wondered that, too, Veg. How they would make it a full length film, but they did a good job and use the book more as a visual inspiration than anything.

Liz said...

The trailer seemed so designed to get educated white people between the ages of 25 and 35 into the theater - based on a beloved Childrens book! Directed by Spike Jonez! Written by Dave Eggars! Ser to a song by The Arcade Fire! - that I almost didn't want to see it on principal. But since you're sayings its good, I will bow to my lords and masters in the advertising world.

words...words...words... said...

If it makes you feel any better, I always thought Saturday was date night.

And I don't have HBO. I am teh lame.

Red said...

As far as I'm concerned, Saturday night IS date night. I never feel like a loser if I'm home on a Friday; Saturday is another animal. EG and I didn't catch it last weekend, but it's playing at one of our favorite theaters, so we'll probably see it soon. I'm psyched!

Red said...

My BFF always called Friday Night "Date Night" because the only people out are couples. Saturday night you see more same sex groups.