By CAL & LYNN MASSEY
NEWS-TRIBUNE MOVIE CRITICS
THE FIRST HALF -- The meaning is less important than the journey in "Where The Wild Things Are," co-writer/director Spike Jonze's dark and magical adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic book.
This strange tale of a land of huge beasts and their newly-arrived child king is seen by many as the child's invention of the many sides of himself and those around him. That's perfectly valid, but I simply fell into the world's mesmerizing oddness, and its characters' close resemblance to grown-ups in the real world.
This is not a happy place, full of anger and doubts and depression, but there is also room for great joy and tenderness and dreams. They need a king to give them purpose, and the young boy Max (Max Records) needs a place where he can control all the things that are wrong, like a mother who has a new boyfriend, and a sister who's growing up and leaving him behind.
But in this imagined land where Max is king, things still go wrong, and kings before him have been eaten. If there is a message here, it is that life is never perfect and not always fun, and we try the best we can to be happy and forgiving and loving and strong.
The beasts are remarkable physically and emotionally, thanks to the skills of the creators and a cast that includes James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper and Catherine O'Hara.
Director Jonze brought complicated weirdness to the screen in previous films, including "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation." Here he brings simplicity and wonder and truth. Four-and-a-half Hearts.
THE BETTER HALF -- Unfortunately, this reviewer can't give you any insight into whether director Spike Jonze has successfully adapted the award-winning 1963 children's book "Where The Wild Things Are" because that's right, you guessed it, I never read the book.
As far as the film goes, I'm not jumping on the "instant classic" bandwagon like some critics. I'm more in the middle on this one.
The technique Jonze uses to tell the "Wild" tale -- with humans in giant furry costumes rather than typical animation -- is beyond brilliant, and at times very engaging and touching.
My main problem is with the story and its so-called life lesson. There's too little change in the main character, Max, after his big adventure. After all is said and done, he still operates only in a kind-of bratty high gear, with very little room for introspective thinking.
Sure, Max learns that home is not as terrible as he once thought, but there's certainly no classic, grateful, "no place like home" Oz moment found here.
As a child of divorce, Max (Max Records), is having a tough time. His loving yet working mom (Catherine Keener) is stretched thin, and his teenage sister has new friends and less time for play.
One night, when everything doesn't go his way, Max throws a tantrum and heads out the door. He steals a boat, crosses the sea and ends up in a strange world.
There, amid a ragtag group of seven large wild creatures, Max learns some things about anger, love, loss, fear and independence from Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini) and K.W. (Lauren Ambrose), to name a few.
I'm just not sure he learned enough that he won't wake up just a bratty kid tomorrow. Three Hearts.
Until next time, keep walking down the aisle .¤.¤. Married to the Movies.
NEWS-TRIBUNE MOVIE CRITICS
THE FIRST HALF -- The meaning is less important than the journey in "Where The Wild Things Are," co-writer/director Spike Jonze's dark and magical adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic book.
This strange tale of a land of huge beasts and their newly-arrived child king is seen by many as the child's invention of the many sides of himself and those around him. That's perfectly valid, but I simply fell into the world's mesmerizing oddness, and its characters' close resemblance to grown-ups in the real world.
This is not a happy place, full of anger and doubts and depression, but there is also room for great joy and tenderness and dreams. They need a king to give them purpose, and the young boy Max (Max Records) needs a place where he can control all the things that are wrong, like a mother who has a new boyfriend, and a sister who's growing up and leaving him behind.
But in this imagined land where Max is king, things still go wrong, and kings before him have been eaten. If there is a message here, it is that life is never perfect and not always fun, and we try the best we can to be happy and forgiving and loving and strong.
The beasts are remarkable physically and emotionally, thanks to the skills of the creators and a cast that includes James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper and Catherine O'Hara.
Director Jonze brought complicated weirdness to the screen in previous films, including "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation." Here he brings simplicity and wonder and truth. Four-and-a-half Hearts.
THE BETTER HALF -- Unfortunately, this reviewer can't give you any insight into whether director Spike Jonze has successfully adapted the award-winning 1963 children's book "Where The Wild Things Are" because that's right, you guessed it, I never read the book.
As far as the film goes, I'm not jumping on the "instant classic" bandwagon like some critics. I'm more in the middle on this one.
The technique Jonze uses to tell the "Wild" tale -- with humans in giant furry costumes rather than typical animation -- is beyond brilliant, and at times very engaging and touching.
My main problem is with the story and its so-called life lesson. There's too little change in the main character, Max, after his big adventure. After all is said and done, he still operates only in a kind-of bratty high gear, with very little room for introspective thinking.
Sure, Max learns that home is not as terrible as he once thought, but there's certainly no classic, grateful, "no place like home" Oz moment found here.
As a child of divorce, Max (Max Records), is having a tough time. His loving yet working mom (Catherine Keener) is stretched thin, and his teenage sister has new friends and less time for play.
One night, when everything doesn't go his way, Max throws a tantrum and heads out the door. He steals a boat, crosses the sea and ends up in a strange world.
There, amid a ragtag group of seven large wild creatures, Max learns some things about anger, love, loss, fear and independence from Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini) and K.W. (Lauren Ambrose), to name a few.
I'm just not sure he learned enough that he won't wake up just a bratty kid tomorrow. Three Hearts.
Until next time, keep walking down the aisle .¤.¤. Married to the Movies.
