Comments on: “Where the Wild Things Are” dominates box office, disappoints families

By: original kate

original kate — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:33:44 +0000

i don’t understand why parents don’t check reviews of movies before bringing the kiddies, especially since there are many movie sites especially for that purpose. i mean, the whole world isn’t geared for children, and spike jonze does not generally make kid-friendly movies. i am on the fence about seeing it, but i probably will as i loved the book and spike’s previous movies.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Huma

Huma — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:50:42 +0000

I think it’s a film for us young adults (or adults, of course) that loved this book when we were growing up. I think that’s what they sold it as, too, and I can’t wait to see it.

I like angry, angst-filled, postmodern messes. Not too sure how I’ll feel about seeing ‘live-action’ wild things, but whatever.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Listosed

Listosed — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:46:18 +0000

My 6-year old daughter and I both really enjoyed the movie. It was beautiful and interesting. The wild things were very cool — their faces were so expressive and their personalities/feelings real. The child actor who played Max was terrific.

My daughter wasn’t scared at all and enjoyed it. I think it depends upon the child (and the adult). My daughter is mature for her age and isn’t easily scared.

WTWTA kept my attention on a Friday night (unlike some children’s movies…zzzz). I didn’t find it depressing — but to each his own, I guess.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: gg

gg — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:43:23 +0000

I remember being perplexed yet fascinated with the dark book and illustrations, which made me really love it through the years. I will go and see it (I don’t have kids so that’s never an issue).

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: birdie

birdie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:11:04 +0000

I did not feel that Max was a cliched child of divorce or that he was broken or disturbed. He got angry when his mom dated? His teenage sister was self absorbed? He ran away from home?

I feel like Max is a character any child/former child can relate to. Things happen and you don’t understand them so you get angry. Some kids choose to run away. My parents are still together and I fought with my mom and ran away from home quite often as a child. In fact, I had a little pink suitcase packed up and ready to go tucked under my bed should my mom get angry with me.

I found the film imaginative, vibrant and Max was a sweetheart. He learned about love, about lying, about compassion and forgiveness and about family. I thought it was a really beautiful film and I loved it.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: WTF?!?

WTF?!? — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:04:55 +0000

“It’s like “My Dinner with Andre,” with puppets. Snore fest.”

ROFL, MSat. Brilliant.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:57:21 +0000

I saw it and didn’t love it. My main problem was the Max had anger issues and went to where the wild things are and found depressed wild things, it was a HUGE downer. and nothing was resolved IMO. My kids weren’t scared but they laughed only once.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: mollination

mollination — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:49:56 +0000

I can’t wait to see it – they captured the little boy and the main wild thing perfectly. This was my favorite book for a year straight, and still one of my favorites forever after that. It looks mesmerizing.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: MSat

MSat — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:49:06 +0000

My kids loved it, but I thought it was boring as hell. I couldn’t wait for the thing to end. It was repetitive, meandered all over the place and took way too many liberties from the original book.

I don’t think the problem is that it’s not a kids’ movie. It’s just not very good, period. It takes every “child of divorce” cliche from every other crappy kids movie and exaggerates it. I’m so sick of movies that depict children of divorce as broken, mentally disturbed people with bad parents. Ugh. Enough already.

Visually, the film was beautiful. But once you get over the wonder of the “Wild Things,” it’s a downer and a talky, angst-filled mess. It’s like “My Dinner with Andre,” with puppets. Snore fest.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:29:04 +0000

My 8 yr old Daughter hated it, she doesn’t like conflict, only likes to sit back and be entertained. My husband felt the same way.

My 7 year old boy LOVED it. Was mesmerized. It was as though it tapped directly into his imagination. He adored it. I liked it because I was captivated by the clever way that it explored the mind of a child during divorce.

NOT for children under 7, that is for sure.

Report this comment as spam or abuse