Review: "Where the Wild Things Are"

"Where the Wild Things Are" was a big book of my childhood. Now a movie has come and i couldnt imagene how the book can be stretched into a 2 hour film. Glad to say is that they accomplish this task in flying colors. It does what most childrens movies lack these days, and thats an idea of a film that doesnt talk to children and contains real emotions. What has been made is what i call a art house childrens film.When a movie makes me laugh, cry, and feel awe inspired, then it is really something special. Considering it was rumored to have reshoots done because it didnt test well with kids in early screening, im a glad the studio stuck to the the original vision.


Considering the story of the book has a total of 10 sentences, the movie expands on it and really captures the real spirt of the book . Yes, the story of "Where the Wild Things Are" is very, very simple, but it contains so much emotions that every child or anyone who was younger felt. Every character, especially Max, feel so real and you sympathise so much with them. The choice of director turned out to be a perfect one with Spike Jonze as he does a spectacular job showing what a talented filmmaker he is. He really deserves a lot of awards attention later this year. Same can go with the writting that was better than i thought it would be. It was actually funny and incredibly deep. A truely magnificant and almost perfect study of childhood.

Max Records is the main actor of this film and he turns in one of best proformances ive seen from a child. He was perfectly casted in the role. The rest of the performances are mostly voice work of the wild things but the underrated actress, Catherene Keener does great job with very limited screentime, playing the mother of the Max character. The voice work is top notch , especially Lauren Ambrose and James Gandofini. Other voice work by Paul Dano, Catherine O'Hara, and Forrest Witaker is impressive as well.

"Where the Wild Things Are" is beautiful on the outside as much as it is on the inside. This film is visually stunning in nearly every aspect. There's some beautiful and award worthy cinmeatography. The score is wonderful and the set design and great. Only the facial reactions are cgi, but good cgi. The rest of them are done by having suits created by Jim Henson's group and have people inside of them. That is a genius touch. To top it off, this movie has some of the best music ive heard all year. "Where the Wild Things" is a real special kind of film that takes risks and gets extremely rewarded. To tell the truth, the film is often depressing and a some times scary. Yet, this doesnt take from it all. Please dont miss out on one of the best, if not the best of the year. "Where the Wild Things Are" the total package of what you qualify as all around winner, no matter how different and deeply emotinal it is for a childrens movie. LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!!!

****, A

Awards Buzz (Award worthy):
-Best Picture
-Best Director (Spike Jonze)
-Best Actor (Max Records)
-Best Adapted Screenplay (Davis Eggers & Spike Jonze)
-Cinematography
-Editing
-Art Direction
-Score
-F/X
-Costume Design
-Original Song