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WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE |
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When I was a child, I quite vividly remember the first time I saw the book Where the Wild Things Are sitting on the bookshelf in
the classroom. Back in those days many of the elementary grade classrooms had small libraries filled with books that the teachers usually purchased with their own money,
for us to read. Of course, there was the obligatory (and sometimes extra credit) of a book report. I eventually got around to reading the book, which was interesting because it resolved two of the problems I had with reading: 1) it was mostly pictures and
2) it had only about nine sentences in the entire book. Perfect. But it also required me to use something that, at the time I was reluctant to use: my imagination. I was to use the same imagination that the
protagonist used when he created the fantasy land of giant creatures. |
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I probably should have known then I would be a movie buff and leave the imagination stuff to the directors and script writers. Spike Jonez latest production "Where the Wild Things Are" once again knocks off two things of which I have become an avid believer: 1) If a book is
any good it will be made into a picture, thus why read it; and 2) why strain my imagination when a director can do it for me. The good thing about Jonez is he has demonstrated the ability to demonstrate his imagination with "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation".
Boy did he show imagination. Now after a $100 million bucks and nearly ten years of work Jonez has transformed that brief book with 9 sentences into a 90-minute
fantasy of Max (Max Records) a boy whose imagination takes him to a place filled with wonderful - and sometimes dangerous - beasts. Max is a boy who clad in a wolf's costume arrives on the island of Wild Things lead by Carol (James Gandolfini)
who flips between angry and sweet in milliseconds. His island mates include KW (played by Lauren Ambrose) who is fairly free-spirited but generally sad, enjoying
the group but also needs time alone. Douglas (Chris Cooper) an energetic rooster-feathered critter. Judith (Catherine O'Hara),
as the sarcastic, negative and domineering one with the best lines. Ira (Forest Whitaker) is Judith's modest and patient companion Ira,
who's good at punching holes into things. Alexander (Paul Dano) is the diminutive goat-horned Alexander, only eight feet tall,
which makes him feel he's never taken seriously enough. |
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Max is a brat. Much as the book implied, he is all over the place creating mischief. His mischief leads his mother to
scold him and him to bite her. After biting her he runs away. His running brings him to a smal sailboat which he expertly sails - through a storm - to the Wilds
Thing Islan.d He encounters the beasts while Carol is throwing a tantrum (much like Max does) because KW has left camp to be
with to estranged friends (Owls) that everyone else can understand but Carol. It is during the tantrum that Max joins in the destruction and bonds with Carol. |
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After introductions Max tells the group he is a king of Vikings - whom he conquered - and should be feared. The beast believe him and
don't eat him... which was the other option. To say more would only spoil the film. Needless to say there is much more than the books nine sentences. Each critter
develops a personality that was missing from the book. But keep in mind the book was meant for second graders who basically could care less about complex
characters in book form. But in this made for young and old adaptation, the development is welcomed and wonderful.
"Where the Wild Things Are", like the book, is not a peachy keen film. Max is the poster child for brats.
Yet, it maintains the whimsical nature of the book to dismiss the behavior. Max will learn. Spike Jonez has done it again. For an escape for the family during Halloween horror season, "Where the Wild THings Are" is perfectly wild! --GEOFFREY BURTON
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