Where the Wild Things Are Review.

Is it odd to say that I'm finally updating this because I just saw a movie? If that's so, then read no further. I guess because it's also the holidays that I find it obligatory that I update. Hey, I need to spread the holiday love as well. Anyways, let's talk briefly about the movie I just watched. It's Where the Wild Things Are and it's directed by Spike Jonze.

Before I get into my personal thoughts on the film, I'd like to take a personal look back on Mr. Jonze's career thus so far. First, I'd like to point out the many, many, many music videos that this man has directed. If you have any doubt of his talent, I suggest you watch the music video for Island in the Sun by Weezer. Clearly, Spike Jonze knows what he's doing, and best of all? He does it well. Despite his wonderful direction in this arena he has failed to direct many full length films. However, the three films that he has done, he's done beautifully. These would be: Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation (2002), and, what I'm reviewing today, Where the Wild Things Are (2009).

Now, as you probably know, Where the Wild Things Are is derived off of a book that most of us probably read during our childhoods. I personally found it absolutely amazing as a child, and still have massive respect for it today. Seeing as Where the Wild Things Are was the absolute equivalent to the bible to me in my younger years, I immediately jumped when I heard that director Spike Jonze was to be adapting it into a film. Having seen Jonze's work before and being familiar to his style, I was thrilled and comforted in knowing that he would be the one directing it. Later, when I discovered that Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs was to have the musical direction of the movie, I felt that my life was completed. Now, down to the actual outcome...

Well, what can I say? Spike Jonze did not disappoint yet again. He got a very short story and added length and deepened the plot. Normally, knowing that, I would be highly upset. However, he did, in the end, capture the overall childlike essence that the book delivers so remarkably. Now, if you have not seen the film and actually do plan on seeing it, read no further. Yes, this is a SPOILER ALERT. THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

As the movie begins, we take an intensely close look at the personal life of our main character, Max. At a young age, he is left to deal with divorced parents, an older sibling who is positively rude and uncaring to him, and a mother who not only doesn't give him the full attention he needs, but is dating men. (I apologize for the run on sentence there.) At his age, how is he to know how to deal with things like that? Well, of course this plants a seed of fear, loneliness, and anger into him, which provides a lack of stability to him emotionally. That being said, this is how the beginning clearly goes: kid has no friends, kid tries to play with sister and her friends, kid's sister's friends hurt him, sister doesn't do a thing, kid gets upset and destroys her room, kid tells mom when mom gets home, mom gets upset and neglects kid. (Again, run on, but I'm done apologizing for it) So, how does he deal with his problems? He does what every child does at that age; run away.

He then finds a sail boat and sails on aimlessly for days and lands on an island. Yes, he has no map or food. No, I don't know how that works out. Whatever. Anyways, on the island live a group of beasts. They threaten to eat Max, but he gets his way out by setting out a nice trap of lies and saying he's a king of some kind with amazing powers. They agree for him to be their king and the party begins.

Now, time for some real, thick plot. The Wild Things have problems. The infrastructure of their little group is collapsing. As one would predict with a small group living in close quarters together, they begin to fight and become angsty with one another. Max's job, as king, is the pull these Wild Things back together into friendship.

After a series of events, the Wild Things come to discover that their "king", Max, was no king to begin with. This upsets the Wild Things, and in particular, Max's favorite Wild Thing, Carol. In the end, Max leaves the island to return home, and the Wild Things have joined back together in their mourning over Max's departure. Then, he returns home, and there is a nice embrace between he and his mother.

Now, time for everything else. Although plot is important, you need to look at other things. The CGI was particularly good and detailed and all, but what I like most about this film that the book does not achieve is character development. I feel that this adaptation was written very well. They dropped extensive hints as to the character's conflicts, emotions, etc. They even have a Wild Thing couple. (They were together when the movie starts, but that's still great in my eyes.) Also, I enjoy how the movie creates parallel conflicts in its plot. In order to help less-than-bright viewers to see that, they further developed the characters, and, in the end, practically flash it in your face. (Seriously, it was like,"HELLO! THE CONFLICTS WITH THE WILD THINGS ARE LIKE MAX'S CONFLICTS AT HOME!!!! GET IT?!") Clearly, This film ranks top in books adapted into films. This film is highly recommended for any one of any age. Now, if you have not seen it and chose to read this far anyways, what are you doing? You shouldn't be reading any further. Watch it NOW.

By the way, the above is a picture of my favorite Wild Thing, Alexander. Although he seems to be undeveloped for most of the film, Spike Jonze pulls through and actually makes him one of the few characters that really ends up turning the plot around. That, and does anyone else notice the startling resemblance to Seth Green? Maybe it's just me.

Anyways, Happy holidays, and I hope you do well this upcoming year!