Where The Wild Things Are - Review

So, we've read the book, today we went to see the movie. I've seen a few reviews of Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers' interpretation of Maurice Sendak's classic book but here's ours.

It starts with a crashing thump on an out of focus camera. Then you see life through a ten year old's eyes. It's fun being ten. It's great to have no cares in the world. Life's a one sided snowball fight. Except when life becomes far from fun and other people's cares take over yours. And your igloo gets trampled on. You really see Eggers' influence here. The first ten minutes try to make you cry, and probably would have succeeded if it wasn't for a 9 month old blowing a raspberry as Karen O's music kicked in.

If you've seen the monsters on the trailer you'll know that they are believable both as puppets and real monsters. They act and live the way an adult imagination would want them to. I went with Aidan who was too young to judge if this worked for children. But I had his 3 year old cousin in mind and then thought of a ten year old like Max. Would he like it? Basically, the film makers could learn from good pantomine; entertaining adults who take their children to be entertained. This is a childlike film for adults who loved being children so much, even though they now pay taxes, a little piece of them wants to be running around like a maniac until the end-of-lunchtime bell goes.

It's about hope and hopelessness, family and family break-ups, building relationships and letting people down, lying and truth finding. While the adults who take their kids should be dreaming about what life could be like if it wasn't for responsibility, they will probably be worrying if their children are enjoying it.

Aidan loved the chases and fast music but there wasn't enough, for him or older children too. He entertained himself, though. He climbed the steps of the movie theater.

It's fun then serious and not at all as scary as I expected but definitely a wasted opportunity for the kids. Like me at school when I was Max's age, it could do better.

Moral of the story: If you want the best viewing, don't take the kids. Read the book to them and when they are old enough they can take themselves.