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Haha, FI and I had a similar reaction. Definitely left with some depression there. Here was our take:
The Wild Things were each various aspects of Max's personality. Our belief is that he didn't really "learn his lesson" because it wasn't that kind of movie. I think that it was more that he realized WHY he did the things he did, and how much he needed his Mom. That at the end of the day, he can't get away from the problems and complexities in his life.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized just how alike the movie and the book are. And if you think about it, didn't it perfectly encapture the life of a little boy? One who is dealing with a lot of change, and has lots of people in his life that love him, but also feels lonely. You feel bad for Max, but you want to scold him too. It's not nice for him to bite his Mom and run away but it's not nice for his sister not to defend him, or come look at his igloo. The movie isn't nice.
All in all, for a movie full of Wild Things it was pretty realistic. I think that's why the reviews are raving; they managed to capture the imagination and life and perspective of a complex little boy.
And again yyyyyeah. Bit depressing!
It is based on the children's book. Have you read it? Just curious if it is anything like the book
It's interesting that you say that. For some reason the commercials make me really uncomfortable and creeped out. My sister has been dying to see this, but I think I'll be skipping it in favor of Paranormal Activity ;o)
Ha. I know it is based on the book! But the book is much less in depth than the movie.
I like the idea of all the Wild Things being aspects of his personality.
But it really did have a horrible ending. That look he gives his mother at the end? It kind of left me thinking that he is going to grow up to be a sociopath.
I was watching an interview with the director the other day and this is how he explained it: The "wild things" are all the emotions that Max is currently going through. They are wild, out of contol, sometimes a little bi-polar, and always over-the-top because he hasn't really learned to control or work through his emotions yet. The director explained that it's a kind of "coming of age" story than a traditional "learn your lesson" story. It's more about Max learning to recognize that life isn't happy all the time and that he doesn't always feel happy about things that are going on in his life than learning to work through every emotion on the spot.
I haven't actually seen the movie yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, going in with a little context will make it easier for me to like it! I really loved the book...
Well I really wanted to see the movie because I love the book. But sounds a little more then what I want or care to see.
Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can't wait to see the movie. That was my favorite book when I was little.
I really enjoyed the movie and was crying at the end. I think the relationship with Carole and Max helps Max to realize the impact of his own emotions on other people. I chalked the creepy look at the end to child actor trying his best to show love for his mom.
One thing that might help in understanding the movie is to read David Egger's book, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius". I feel like he injected a whole lot of himself into the screenplay... and I think it helped form the lens through which I saw the movie.
By the way, the costumes and sets were off the hook!
i'm really intrigued with all of your reactions to the movie. I really want to see it, cause I loved the book. For those of you who have seen it, would you recommend it? or wait until it comes out on DVD?
lol, i am gonna wait this one out for DVD...like a rainy day movie, perhaps in the spring =D
i honestly cannot remember reading this book as a child, though i know i did...
@hotchildinthecity - i went to watch paranormal activity last night...let me know what u think!
Beautiful, amazing movie, but one that may not resonate with females as much as males (at least it didn't with me). Both my fiance and his brother loved it to the point of near tears. I thought it was beautifully shot and so well acted (Max was so cute), but I couldn't relate to those feelings of anger and wanting to destroy things like so many little boys do.
My fiance said it was the yang to Coraline's yin. Not sure I totally agree, but I got the point.
This movie was amazing and it has been 10 years in the making and 3 years to film. "max" was 6 when it started and 9 when it ended.
The characters are animatronics and only the faces are computer generated. The people in the animatronic suits worked closely with the actors who did the voices.
@hotchildinthecity- This movie was creepy, the first production company actually dropped it because it was too creepy. Ps- did you get your "name" from that sex and the city episode?
I LOVED IT!!! I've been listening the the playful soundtrack all day. I think the reason people don't like it is because they are expecting a children's movie. It is not a children's movie. It is a movie about child life for adults. It is directed by Spike Jonze and screenplay by Dave Eggars so that should give away the fact that the movie is not going to be a happy -go-lucky pixar film. GREAT movie!!!
Here's a great review that expresses things better than I can:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574475112377652766.html
First of all, I always feel bad when people think they are not "_____ enough" to understand or appreciate something. Trust your feelings and your intelligence! It's ok if you didn't like it or didn't think it was all that.
I thought the movie was totally beautiful. I liked it because I thought it was a more realistic portrayal of childhood, and I thought it was respectful of children's emotions and imagination. Yes, it was depressing and a little freaky, but I think childhood can be depressing and a little freaky. There are things going on in Max's house that he doesn't understand, he feels unappreciated and unnoticed, and he has a lot of energy and imagination. And he is a little boy so he doesn't know what to do with all that information.
There is the scene where he is SO EXCITED to throw snowballs at his sister's friends, and even more excited when it seems like they are engaging him, playing back. And he's super psyched because it helps with his lonliness (which I thought was a major theme in the movie). But then he realizes that they are patronizing him, and they crush his fort, and it is crushing to him.
That scene to me was really what the most difficult parts of childhood are like. Negotiating relationships, being hurt, losing innocence.
It was a depressing movie. But I thought it had a lot more to do with children (though certainly not a movie FOR children) than anything that Disney does. Disney deals with fantasy. Sendak deals with emotion and imagination.
Or, that's what I took from it anyhow. What do you think?
Nice summary JMC! I did definitely think that the ending gave an opening for hope. Both when Carole saw the heart on the ground and came out to say goodbye to the boat and when Max smiled at his mom.
Those were the moments that brought me to tears.
I hate to add this but my son went to see it on saturday when he was visiting with his little sister at the x's house.
He didn't like it and said Max did some scary stuff and that it wasn't like the book.
Just the opinion of an 11 year old boy (barely).
@bellenga: I wouldn't recommend it for an 11 y.o. That is the confusing thing about the movie.
In thinking more about the scene with the snow fort, compare it to the giant group sleeping pile when he is with the monsters. Whereas the snow fort incident it painful and scary and traumatic, the scary pile of monsters turns out to be loving and comforting and protective. If I had seen this movie as a child (which I am glad I didn't!) I would have been all over sleeping in a giant pile of fluffy monsters, all cozy and protected.
My man fell asleep towards the end, but I loved it! Especially the first part in the "real world." The second part was a bit draggy. The only part I really didn't like about the movie was the ending (spoilers): Max goes home, and his mother, who apparently did nothing to find her child, feeds him chocolate cake. Ummmm, no.
There's a lot of emotional truth in the movie, about being a child and how scary that can be. Very real. Crying when your older sister's friends crush your snow fort? Biting people when you get mad? I could SO relate to that. (I will gladly admit that I was a "wild thing" who bit people and got angry and wanted to break things when I was upset. It's human.) Children watching the movie would probably identify on a different level, since Max is a peer, whereas adults immediately connect to the emotional experience.
Of course, I also want to write children's books, so I was completely wrapped up in adaptation comparison while watching.
MinMan: *stuffs face with his beloved popcorn*
Minutiae: *leans over and whispers* Oh, oh! He's going to say 'Let the wild rumpus start' here!
MinMan: Huh?
Max: Let the wild rumpus start!
Minutiae: YEAH!
Overall, a good movie, and it was great to see a film about kids that didn't patronize them or Disney-fy their experiences.
Oh, I can't wait to see it!!! I loved loved loved the book and the commercials make me so happy (but that might be the Karen O. song...)!!
And I totally dig Spike Jonze.
hated the book, but from what I'm reading, def. glad I didn't consider seeing the movie!
Hrm - I still haven't seen it ... and I'm still planning on it despite these mixed reviews ... I love that book so much! Though, I will admit, movies made as adaptations of books usually crush my soul.
@alishaneva: Did you see the adaptation of Ella Enchanted? Aaaaaagh! *rips hair out* That was my FAVORITE book growing up, and they tore it to pieces! Same thing with The Golden Compass...totally ruined it. :(
However, I think they did a good job of staying true to the feel of the book in this case. There are so few words in Wild Things that they didn't have to alter a lot of details. They just decompressed a few lines of text into a complete story.
Agreed re: the Golden Compass - way to take one of the best books ever and mangle it!!
I'm very excited to see this one, it was one of my favorites growing up!
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The new husband and I went to a movie for the first time in a really long time. We were so excited.
We left the theater wondering what just transpired before us.
Seriously, am I not deep enough or hip enough to get it? Is my inner child dead? For the life of me, I couldn't tell you what the movie was supposed to be about, yet it still left me depressed and uncomfortable when I left.
It is getting such great reviews. WHAT AM I MISSING!?