Escape to the Movies: Where the Wild Things Are

[teknoarcanist]

I don't know if you read your comments, Bob, just wanted to say:

I think you and a few of the guys over at AintItCool are probably the only faces of this internet-era film-critic wave worth anything at all. I hope you keep up the non-review articles as well; your piece on Polanski offers a touch of sanity amidst all the crazy banshee-shrieking.

 

[Echolocating]

I want to see a cage fight between MovieBob and Stephanie Zacharek. ;-)

 

[ARKSgtAlpha]

sweet, now im defiantly going to go to see it, (and google free Calvin and Hobbes)

 

[vultureX21]

Just a question to you personally Bob (With-out being too creepy as to private message you) what would restore your hope in humanity?. I'm not trying to be sarcastic or even funny, this is a legitimate question and what you would think a film would need to do in order to restore your hope in humanity.

As a young media student hoping to get into directing this is the kind of information is important to me.

I don't think any film (or type of art, really) is capable of doing that for anyone, unless it's a real-life photo or video clip depicting... I dunno, an ice-cream man jumping between a wheelchair-bound toddler and a bullet, something like that. Or, rather, if it IS then the person in question isn't all that hopeless to begin with.

If you're going to make movies, make them because doing so fulfills you creatively first and let "restoring" or "inspiring" come with the material (unless it's a documentary, which is a whole other story.)

For Bob and the insightful questioner I have a recommendation. There is a collection of the diaries of John Rabe, a Nazi living in Nanking during World War II, that will both help you see (if you need help) the depths of our human depravity and the heights of our morality in the face of that adversity. This is NOT Schindler's List in China, though Rabe has been called the Oskar Schindler of China, it is simply an incredible account of striving against the worst actions of man.

The book is The Good Man of Nanking translated from German by John E. Woods. Give it a look.

 

[HappyDD]

Movie Bob is always spot on with his reviews. Why is it that when I read national newspapers their movie reviews are just some superficial garbage whereas MB is able to break it down effortlessly and make talking about a movie I haven't seen enjoyable?

 

[Wolcik]

There was a movie with characer similary looking to those monsters, and I had nightmares because of that for a long time - it doesn't matter to me if the story and their personalities are kid friendly, they look creep me out Oo To this day!

 

[CK76]

I loved this story as a kid.

This film nailed it folks. I was stunned constantly at how completely the director "got it". I will treasure this and pass it on to my kids someday in book and film form.

For me, maybe the most pleasantly surprisingly great films I've seen in a long time.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

I always though Calvin and Hobbes were just plain funny. I never had to describe why. It was genius to be able to mesh pure enjoyable creativity with that special wit that didn't disgust anyone.

 

[MaxFan]

I had assumed this was going to be another terrible attempt at making a kid's movie that bore no resemblance to the actual book (considering how many of those seem to be running around). Good to hear that's not the case, I'll have to go check it out now.

 

[Huey1000]

I just watched the movie, the kids loved it, the adults loved it, I loved it. It brings you back to those days when you used to tuck yerself in at night and read the book, but it also brings a new kind of cinematic feeling to the story. Very touching and emotionally powerful, 5 out of 5! Good review Bob!

 

[Sven und EIN HUND]

Great, great review. I especially enjoyed the line you represented between how children and adult's observe the conflicts and events going on in modern film. Very well done.

 

[Aptspire]

an excellent symbological analysis, i'll give this one a shot

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

An extraordinarily deep and sympathetic review of a movie I wouldn't have thought would get such a treatment. It's when MovieBob finds something worth putting aside the profanity and speaking from the heart for that he really shines. I agree with Bob (and many of the commenters here) that parents are far, FAR too protective of their children these days, seeking to isolate them from even the tiniest instances of disappointment or pain, forgetting that once little John or Jane heads out that front door for the last time, the Real World is not going to be nearly so accommodating.

On a side note, I'm one of those few tragic souls who attempts to balance the world-weary, bitter cynicism that comes with modern-day adulthood with the childish (and that is not always an insult) hope that somewhere in the world there might still be a little magic, so a movie like this could be a nice "meal" for that inner child who's still playing hide-and-go-seek in the woods. Sadly, I'm not going to be able to catch the movie anytime soon (what with GameX next week) but I'm glad to see it's getting some support from someone who really sees into its depths.

So, anyone up for some Calvinball?

 

[CobaltBomber]

Great review. I loved the book as a child, and I'm glad the movie wasn't another Michael-Fucking-Bay movie.

 

[milomalo]

uhh nice review =D and that movie looks weird like something burton would make

 

[Huey1000]

Great review. I loved the book as a child, and I'm glad the movie wasn't another Michael-Fucking-Bay movie.

I know what you mean mate, if that wanker would've made this movie, I'd be scared for life. As if Armageddon and Pearl Harbour weren't bad enuff, we had to endure with Transformers. WTWTA is the first movie worth spending time and money in a long long time (the last good movie I saw was the Pianist). Spike Jonze did a great job, the actors (and voice actors) were amazing as well.

 

[TETSUOrocks]

I've never read the book but might go see the movie either in the theatre or on DVD. Depends what I have time for.

 

[Nerdfury]

Never understood the obsession that Americans seem to have over a children's book. People tend to treat this book with some kind of odd reverence. Same as people that talk about MacGyver or Transformers or other eighties staples like they're the best thing ever, resolutely refusing to acknowledge that these things were terrible, and it's only nostalgia keeping them afloat.

Ask an American if they're seeing the movie, and they respond with reverent fervour and resolute confirmation that they have just read/plan to read the book and will see it.

Ask anyone else if they're seeing the movie, and they respond with "Where The Wild what?"

 

[kenshin-dono]

i wanted to see this, i was considering taking my niece to go see it, but she's just 4 years old. Do you think that would be too young for this? Im not so concerned about it being too scary for her, (doesn't look that scary from what i can tell) more that it may be too boaring depending on how deep the dialog and 'real world' parts get. A lot of the story of stuff she ses gets lost on her because of her age, but she loved Howls moving castle and spirited away. I think mostly because of the fantastic visuals. Those had a lot of dialog and story in them but she endjoyed them so i was thinking this might be worth a look

kinda looks like it would be better for 6 and up, do you guys think 4 might be a bit too young for this?

 

[Novascatia]

I saw it Friday, and didn't know there was a review of it here until now.

I think that this might just become my favorite movie.
When I was a kid, I LOVED the book, and when I heard of a movie, I knew that I had to go see it.
I was astonished by how deep, psychological and complex the story was (As previously mentioned in the review). I absolutely loved it.

However, I have to disagree with Bob on one point: Small kids.
While I was watching it, a little girl and (what I assume to be) her brother began to grow increasingly unnerved and upset through the course of the movie until the little girl started to sob, resulting in the family leaving the theatre at about 3/4 in.

Then again, kids do need to learn to grow up a bit, and this would thrill any child's imagination.
So, yeah... go see it. It's a good movie.