John’s Movie Musings

Where the Wild Things Are first appeared on my “Must See” list from a single shot in the trailer.  A wild thing and Max were sitting with their backs to the camera at sunset and I thought, “Yes!  This is exactly how this movie should look.”  I couldn’t remember much of the story – just that it was a favorite of mine (and every other kid) growing up – but that single shot perfectly encapsulated every loving memory I had retained.  I just wondered how they were going to make a full-length feature out of a 20-page kids book.

That look comes courtesy of Spike Jonze.  You may remember him from directing Being John Malkovich.  That knowledge really serves no purpose here.  I just ran through his IMDB page and found one movie I recognized.  Thought I’d share.  Anyway, Jonze teamed up with the Henson company to make the wild things.  Going with a muppet + CG combo worked perfectly.  It added a presence and weight that doesn’t quite come with full CG yet.  That’s hard to explain in words, but trust me when I say everything looks right.

Most of my time spent with morality plays comes from Asian cinema.  Scratch away the ninjas and kung fu and you’re mostly left with a child’s parable.  Simple stories with deep meanings.  Where the Wild Things Are follows the same pattern.  It’s a morality tale wrapped up in a child’s imagination.  It’s simple, easy to follow, yet so very real and applicable. As a man who sometimes wants to wants to fix other people instead of just loving them, this movie hit home.

Where the Wild Things Are is a great ride with fantastic cinematography.  Go see it.  Your heart will come out softer.

Grade: A