Where the Wild Things Are Movie Review

With Urban Outfitters selling Where the Wild Things Are apparel and Arcade Fire remaking one of their songs for the movie trailer, it's no wonder that the movie topped the box office the opening weekend with $32 million in revenue. For most young adults, the film is a glimpse back at childhood when our mothers used to read us Where the Wild Things Are before leaving us to dream of creatures and imaginary deeds. Both the film and the book are popular because the story awakens the part in us that still believes in adventures yet to come.


Although this film is one of the better ones to come out this year, it was hard to ignore the disappointing feeling after leaving the theatre. (When hype doesn't live up to expectations, the movie- goer feels cheated.)

Where the Wild Things Are was beautiful and had an art with it's cinematography with the scenes and metaphors. It was definitely original, unique, and a wild ride. What was disappointing is that it seemed to promise a warm good feeling after watching it, of the sweet things of childhood, of what the book always provides. Instead, the movie had a depressed and lonely theme. The young boy, Max, seemed to always be distressed and a little on the bi-polar side. One minute he'd run away from home distraught, only to return completely happy and smiling. He seemed alone, sad, and kind of left to be on his own with his imagination throughout the film.


Let's not forget that Spike Jonze is an incredible filmmaker and is easily compared to Tim Burton or Wes Anderson, but when high standards are set for a film of one of the most memorable childhood books, people often expect the same emotion and theme to come alive in the film. There's enough sadness in life so when we watch a movie that has a lot of significance to most young adults it can be hard feeling more sad than when we walked into the theater. 


Katie Cervantes
Live OC Magazine
www.LIVEOCMAG.com