The American Business Journal: Where the Wild Things are

Where the Wild Things are
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admin on 25 November, 2009 04:08:00
 
DIRECTED BY Spike Jonze
WRITTEN BY Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers
The highly anticipated Where The Wild Things Are hit theatres October 16, 2009.
This raucous tale— based on Maurice Sendak’s 1963 classic
children’s book—was brought to life by the wildly imaginative
director Spike Jonze (Adaptation and Being John Malkovich).
The story is about Max, a rambunctious and disobedient boy who, after being sent
to bed without his supper, feels misunderstood and escapes to a mysterious
forest. There, he encounters a band of fearsome-looking but surprisingly gentle
creatures, who later crown Max as their king.
The film encapsulates the dreamy world of childhood imagination with ease, but
while the film achieves its vision aesthetically, through puppetry and computer
animation, it falters in the writing. Adapted by Jonze and David Eggers, the
script fails to kept viewers intrigued for the full 101-minute run time. And
although children might enjoy the brilliantly crafted monsters and exciting
adventure, some scenes may be too intense for younger viewers. In addition, the
easily digested moral lacks depth, occasionally making it feel like an
after-school special.
The voice actors are suburb; they embody their characters, and help to create a
world of fantasy and magic. James Gandolfini is especially great as the pack
leader, who looks to Max for the key to the purpose of life. His character is
perfectly juxtaposed by his admiring champion, the pessimistic Judith, his polar
opposite, played by Catherine O’Hara. However, even with exceptional voice
acting and wonderfully imaginative visuals, the film seems to fall flat and
leaves the audience somewhat dissatisfied.