Review of Where the Wild Things Are (2009) by Rendy S — 17 Jan 2014

While the technical achievement can't be ignored, it was difficult for me to enjoy this movie. Maybe it's because I wasn't that big a fan of the book when I was a kid, or maybe because the movie was too drab-looking. Whatever the case may be, I was quite bored with it. I knew how the story was going to end, and the film adaptation didn't give me any new insight into the mind of an angry child. My heart went out for the mother, but the movie wasn't about her.

That being said, the choice to make the Wild Things actors in practical suits was a wise choice. The size and weight of the Things was more tangible and therefore more threatening. The voice work by all was fantastic, and the performances were at least genuine. Still, I can't imagine a book that so easily captured childhood anger in 10 sentences can really be expanded into a feature film, but I think this is the best they could have done.