Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Spike Jonze

Writers (WGA):

Spike Jonze (screenplay) &
Dave Eggers (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 October 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

There's one in all of us.

Plot:

An adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, where Max, a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, creates his own world--a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler. |

Plot Keywords:

Crown | Creature | Forest | Flower | Storytelling

US Showtimes:

The Bridge: Cinema de lux

12:45pm | 3:10 | 5:35

(personalize)

Cast

Max Records	...	Max
Pepita Emmerichs	...	Claire
Max Pfeifer	...	Claire's Friend #1
Madeleine Greaves	...	Claire's Friend #2
Joshua Jay	...	Claire's Friend #3
Ryan Corr	...	Claire's Friend #4
Catherine Keener	...	Mom
Steve Mouzakis	...	Teacher
Mark Ruffalo	...	The Boyfriend
James Gandolfini	...	Carol (voice)
Paul Dano	...	Alexander (voice)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Judith (voice)
Forest Whitaker	...	Ira (voice)
Michael Berry Jr.	...	The Bull (voice)
Chris Cooper	...	Douglas (voice)

Also Known As:

Where the Wild Things Are: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #45516) | Finland:K-7 | Ireland:PG | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Central City Studios, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Michelle Williams was at one point cast to voice one of the Wild Things, but the role went to Lauren Ambrose. The reason given by the filmmakers for this was that Williams' voice didn't match what they're going for.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Max is falling head over heels down the sand dune, his crown comes flying off twice.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Carol: This is all yours. You're the owner of this world.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Collaborators (2009)

Carol was great, but the goat blew me out of the water.

Where the Wild Things Are is wonderful. It is ironic however that although this film is based on a children's book, its full impact as a psychological metaphor of a frustrated and lonely child will probably be appreciated more by adults. Kids will see the beasts, but might not be able to associate them as allegorical extensions of young Max. Indeed, young minds will be mesmerized by some of the most interesting creatures to ever grace the silver screen.

And the beasts are the draw to this very simple story. If it wasn't for the remarkable achievement to make them as real as life, the film might diminish greatly. The character development and humanness imparted to them was delightful. Carol was great, but the goat was absolutely fascinating. I haven't been so captivated by such illusion since I first saw the Wizard of Oz nearly 52 years ago when I was 8.

The ending is wrapped up very simply, culminating similarly to the emotional conclusion found in The Yearling: A young boy matures into a young man. Bravo!