A congratulatory roar of appreciation and tears on my face as I left the theater after seeing Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" placed to film for our visual delight. The film will not appease all the Wild Things out there, but I must say "Thank You" to all those involved for taking the time to stay true to the book, while imagining and creating a new world for Max to flourish in.
This movie is not your typical Hollywood please. The pace is different, the dialogue subtle and youthful--though highly poignant--and on all accounts this is a psychological insight into the mind of a youth on the edge of transition. The movie presented the internal struggle and fight Max has in realizing he can't just be a boy anymore. It is the fight we all face in growing up with retaliation, regression, and movement from and within ourselves.
Thus far, I have heard mixed reviews. I agree with those that say this is not a movie for little kids. A few critics have said the fantasy Max creates is based to much in reality and doesn't bring the sense of whimsy, but to this I must disagree. The development of fantasy is always based around our reality. One sees what is in front of them and makes changes to meld an environment to the one that is desired. It is an act to control, to create, to escape, and also to destroy. And I must say that the setting of Australia worked beautifully for this. The subtle fall of petals, of snow, and of dirt, created a world that was very much pleasing to the eye and fantastic in quality, which provided a balance to the vision of the monsters.
The Jim Henson Company has hit yet another home run. The creature creations were amazing--and I must add, thanks for using puppets, it gave a full quality to the movie and belief in Max's imagination. Puppeteering should not become a lost art just because of CG. The two mediums of art meld so well together. I wish I saw more of it in movies these days. And whoever made the diorama--stunning!
Images aside, the dialogue of this movie is very poignant, but in subtle moves. It is true that "small things can slip through the cracks," and we must all remember how small Max is, not in size but in age. And one day the "son" will have to become the man. This is Max's time to forge through the forest, experience the battle in order to understand--most of the time when we lash out at others, we are truly lashing out at our self.
I wonder what will be thought of the movie by those that at one time attempted to censor the book due to Max's disobedience to his mother? Maybe I will never know, but I do know that I already want to see the movie again.
