Some thoughts on Where The Wild Things Are

Not a review per say, but here be my opinions.

I'm not entirely sure why WTWTA has been deemed not suitable for children, as I didn't really see anything you'd call "frightening."
Then again, I grew up in an era when it was perfectly fine to make fucked up kid's movies like The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz, so I guess children are used to slightly different things now.

To enjoy this movie (as I certainly did), it's best to embrace your inner child, if you'll pardon the expression. I'm an adult with an interest in movies who is able to appreciate things like mise-en-scene and lighting and so forth, but you're really going to get the full impact if your mind adapts to what it's like to be a little boy who is jealous of his mom's new boyfriend and is devastated when big kids destroy his snow fort.

This is true for identifying with the Wild Things as well - as they are ultimately the creation of this young boy, they look upon situations with a child's logic, and you'll only end up finding it odd if you scrutinize with an adult's logic. Wild Thing Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini, who, sadly, does not whack anyone or call them a mortadelle, but it's a testament to how good he is in this movie that after a while you stop picturing Tony Soprano completely), as the creature who most resembles Max, is wont to temper tantrums and crushing disappointments when his dreams are dashed. After trying in vain to create a universe with no disappointment or pain, Max's naivete is echoed by that of the Wild Things as well. Through a series of events it becomes clear that this is impossible, but what is possible is to be happy despite issues when you love and are loved. For me, one of the most powerful moments in the film is when Max discovers firsthand that his own temper tantrums are hurting those who love him.

I hated most of the music, but then again, hipster acoustics and Karen O shouting isn't really my cup of tea. But she's banging the director, so what are you gonna do.

Visually, it looks lovely, and the slightly shaky handheld camera effect works because it's used very sparingly and thus doesn't come across as a gimmick. I thought the Wild Things look great, and it was a fantastic idea to only CGI their faces (everything else was an actor in costume). It gives them the appearance of being more human and thus easier to identify with, but their exaggeratedly creature-like features and the fact that they run and stomp and knock around trees while the tiny Max is standing beside them only emphasizes Max's fragility.

Also, they're kind of adorable. I want one. I can't decide between Ira or Douglas.

A note on the trailers: I can already tell I'm going to hate Fantastic Mr. Fox. Even when he's directing an animated feature about a talking fox, Wes Anderson still manages to adhere to all the tropes he's used in his other insufferably clever movies, as well as being the only person on the planet who still thinks it's funny when Owen Wilson talks fast.

All in all, Where the Wild Things Are isn't necessarily a masterpiece, but it is incredibly moving and a pretty beautiful film. I totally cried at the end, but don't tell anyone, it'll ruin my street cred.