Gibbers Siemon Depressing, confusing rubbish. The cinematography is lovely (although I will forever hate the "you're-part-of- the-scene" jerking and weaving camera technique), CG effects are stellar, and the actors absolutely deliver, but the storyline is from Mars. I'm going for a pun and referring to the Roman god, Mars, because this movie is at war with everything - the original story, imagination, adults, siblings, giving instead of always taking...! If you're not one hundred percent paying attention to Max, you're against him. I kept wondering who was this move made for? Who is the audience? It's certainly not the little kids who are introduced to this venerable story in library readings or by loving parents, other family or similar. I have loads of fond memories reading this to my eldest nephew because he loved nothing more than to wrestle and we had great times growling and howling as we read the book together and then ran and wrestled to our hearts' content. So how on earth this story was taken and made into the complex, depressing, socio-anthropological "remark" that it is and only made me think of the dreaded "Lord of the Flies," story... I don't know! Fortunately the DVD cost me only $5 and it's going into the trash. Not even going to donate it to some charity. Rubbish it is, into the rubbish it will go. P>S> The DVD extra having to do with getting a dog to bark and run was MUCH more fun and rewarding to watch. That bit felt more like the childhood the book captured - lost in a world separate from the real one, than the movie did.

Tweekums Max is a lonely nine year old boy; he feels ignored by his busy mother and his older sister. After his sister's friends smash his snow-fort with him inside his anger gets the better of him. After an argument with his mother he bites her and runs away from home. He then sails away to an island where he discovers strange creatures. One of then seems rather like Max; he is a troll like creature named Carol who is smashing the houses of the other creatures. He is upset that female Wild Thing named KW has left. Max starts to help him and understandably the others aren't pleased and threaten to eat him. He tells them that he has powers and once was a king of the Vikings… this leads to them making him their king. As king they expect him to make things okay. Shortly afterwards KW returns which pleases Carol. He tries and initially things go well; they build a huge fort where they can all live and play games. Things don't go as planned though; feelings are hurt and jealousies emerge and KW leaves again; Carol blames Max.This film is quite delightful despite being distinctly downbeat at times. As it opens it looks as if Max will be an unlikeable protagonist as he is clearly out of control. The fact that he wears a wolf costume and bites his mother only emphasises this. Luckily once he gets to the island where the Wild Things live he gets more likable. The events on the island nicely mirror events in his life with Carol being the one out of control. The Wild Things are well designed; I like the fact that director Spike Jonze chose to use people in suits rather than the CGI that seems ubiquitous these days. This gives then a physical presence. Early on I thought this was very much a children's film but despite the young protagonist and the sort of creatures one finds in children's story's it does include grown up themes. There are moments that may scare younger viewers… most notably when Carol threatens to eat Max and he end up hiding in inside KW's stomach! The cast do a solid job; young Max Records does a fine job as Max and the Wild Things are voiced by a variety of well-known actors including James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara and Forest Whitaker. Overall this is a bittersweet film that I enjoyed far more than I expected.

jordanhulett1996 Maybe as a young child watching this film wouldn't really interest me but watching this as an adult, when I can really understand what the film is about makes me realize how amazing this film really is. The director of this film is a very talented man and he can truly create a beautiful story and image. This film has deep meaning about families and the troubles of living and just growing up in general. As someone who commonly lives in his mind most of the time I can actually relate to Max and how he imagines this world to escape but even his imagination isn't perfect. It brings warmth to my heart to see something as artistic and beautiful as this. As a fan of the original book as a child growing up and as an adult this story has brought comfort for many years and I'm happy it exist. It's sad it didn't do much better at the box office like it deserves. With newer films by the same director like Her which is also one of my favorites I think the directors future is going to be very, very successful.

italianredneckgirl How unfortunate that Maurice Sendak's Caldecott winning sorry book was twisted and perverted to something unrecognizable. This film is not for young children. Frankly, my 11 year old child had a difficult time with the way the storyline drifted from the book. As an adult, admittedly in my 40's, I would never have suggested this film for a fun "movie night" adventure, knowing Jonze's adaptation was so twisted. The child actor who plays Max does so well. He seems to convey many emotions with just a look. The problem is the storyline. Sendak created a Max that was mischievous, not one in need of in depth family counseling. The trouble with making something so pure and child like, up to date, new or fresh, is the unfailing willingness to project onto the characters situations that were not intended. The familial dynamic, for example, Max is a neglected little boy full of misdirected energy and fueled by an active imagination. Not one hint of the depressed, destructive, physically abusive behavior that is shown on the "big screen." Catherine Keener and Mark Ruffalo could have, just as easily been husband and wife, not boyfriend/girlfriend. Honestly, it left too many unanswered questions. Where was Max's father? Was he divorced from his mother? Dead? There's no clear storyline to explain why Max had begun to behave so violently. But we all sense it had something to do with the missing father. Max physically abuses his mother, after verbally abusing her. This is attributed to the presence of the mother's boyfriend in the home. Again, confusing, underdeveloped storyline. We are lead to believe that no one in this troubled boy's life recognizes or cares about him. He is a sensitive boy, absorbing his science teacher's musings about the sun dying and the human race falling victim to any number of calamities. Realistically, this would never have happened in the public school system. There would be a huge backlash and the teacher reprimanded. But, this just seems like a platform for Jonze's social awareness and activism. Adults recognize it. Children are confused by the laundry list of failures awaiting humanity. Finally, Max gets whisked away to the Land of The Wild Things. Finally Max has a say, he is in control. Although a very touching relationship begins to develop among Max and The Wild Things, the viewer isn't really as engaged as they should be, having been struck dumb by the opening portion of the film. The Wild Things are quirky and visually similar to Sendak's book version. James Gandolfini is heartwarming and, as an adult, I was heartbroken all over again. Soon, it becomes clear that things are going to be more difficult for Max, the King. Judith, in particular, adds a lot of dissension and frailty to the rest of the film. One of the other Wild Things says that she is "a downer" and it's laughed off. But, not true for the viewer. We wholeheartedly believe Judith will bully Max and eventually eat him, wild suit and all. The scene with the owls is particularly telling. "How do I make everyone OK? " The answer is not going to be clear. Ever. The underlying message is unclear and confusing for younger viewers. For tweens and adolescents, the message is muddy. Life is full of pitfalls. Make sure your decisions are sound. Either way, all in our party preferred the originality and pureness of the literary version. The "updated" Max 2.0 is not something the world needs. Truly, preview and be ready to have discussions before viewing with young children.