Sunday, October 18, 2009
Film Review: "Where the WIld Things Are"
Friday, October 16th, was the opening day for "Where the Wild Things Are," the movie-adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's book. Directed by Spike Jonze and co-written with Dave Eggers, this film is the epitome of young-meets-old...grandchild meets grandmother, young hipster meets long-time professional, son meets mother, daughter meets father...it's a beautiful clash of all emotional ages into one imaginative time and place. The movie makes you want to climb mountains, explore the desert, forests and everything in between; and who cares if you haven't showered? I'm sure the monsters won't mind one bit. The scenery simply compliments the friendships made and broken between Max and the monsters along his journey, which all-together provide an emotional roller coaster ride that you cannot bear to leave. The soundtrack by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, with the clanging of children's voices in the chorus, only makes your heart pump that much more in rhythm with their colorful chants to run and have fun.
Some have questioned the maturity level of the film and whether or not it is appropriate for children to see. NPR recently brought up the movie craze that has been created amongst a more mature audience of the young adults persona. To this I say the following: we are all children at heart, and if it attracts just as many adults as it does children, then all the better. Isn't it always a good things when adults are able to recapture their inner child and learn to appreciate (if only for a couple hours in a dark theater) the purity and innocence that they still maintain deep within themselves?
However, it is not all about making snow forts and starting mud-clot wars. "Where the Wild Things Are" oh-so-delicately examines the harsh realities that children must face in a grown-up world: divorce, hatred, loss, love and forgiveness.
In the end, it's a wonderful montage of lifelong lessons from a child's perspective.
Jacqueline's Rating: Five stars! (out of five)
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