Wild Things Truly Captures Childhood

Where the Wild Things Are began as a book by author Maurice Sendak, whose publishers made it quite clear to him that his book was utter crap and would never become popular. Now, almost fifty years later, it has been made into a movie that was anticipated highly by old and young alike, and delivered in an emotional and strikingly visual experience, courtesy of director Spike Jonze.

Those of you who know the book may have considered the difficulties of adapting a book that is merely ten or so sentences long into an hour and forty minute long film. Screenwriter and Bay Area native Dave Eggers, elaborates on the original narrative and shares new insights that help the viewer understand the original story’s appeal. We meet the troublemaking protagonist Max (played by newcomer Max Records) right before he tells his mother he wants to eat her.

After he stirs up trouble in his house and embarrasses his mother in front of her boyfriend, he runs away until he reaches a small forest on the side of the road. He tears through the foliage and finds a small sailboat bobbing in a vast body of water. He jumps in and sails off into the unknown waters until he comes upon an island full of terrible creatures, the titular Wild Things. After convincing the beasts that he is a powerful king destined to rule over them, he befriends each of them and begins to learn a little bit more about himself and the importance of being a loving human being.

Some other magic elements of the film, such as the emotional or exicting scenes, were completely disrupted and destroyed by the use of bad computer generated effects.

Where the Wild Things Are began as a book by author Maurice Sendak, whose publishers made it quite clear to him that his book was utter crap and would never become popular. Now, almost fifty years later, it has been made into a movie that was anticipated highly by old and young alike, and delivered in an emotional and strikingly visual experience, courtesy of director Spike Jonze.

Those of you who know the book may have considered the difficulties of adapting a book that is merely ten or so sentences long into an hour and forty minute long film. Screenwriter and Bay Area native Dave Eggers, elaborates on the original narrative and shares new insights that help the viewer understand the original story’s appeal. We meet the troublemaking protagonist Max (played by newcomer Max Records) right before he tells his mother he wants to eat her.

After he stirs up trouble in his house and embarrasses his mother in front of her boyfriend, he runs away until he reaches a small forest on the side of the road. He tears through the foliage and finds a small sailboat bobbing in a vast body of water. He jumps in and sails off into the unknown waters until he comes upon an island full of terrible creatures, the titular Wild Things. After convincing the beasts that he is a powerful king destined to rule over them, he befriends each of them and begins to learn a little bit more about himself and the importance of being a loving human being.

Some other magic elements of the film, such as the emotional or exicting scenes, were completely disrupted and destroyed by the use of bad computer generated effects.

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