by Beachbumwriter

Created on: October 19, 2009

When my children were little, I used to love reading the book by Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are, so when the movie adaptation came out, I just had to see it. My eleven year old who is more into Inkspell, a novel by Cornelia Funke which has very little pictures and hundreds of more words, begged not to go since it was, as she put it, a movie for little kids. But, I just had to see it.

Just as in the book, Max is a boy who is in trouble. In the book, he's sent to his room without his supper where his room is transformed into a magical forest with an expansive ocean. In the movie, Max is just seaking attention from anyone, his sister and her friends as well as his mother. He acts out to get attention, and ends up being scolded. He runs away, and finds a sailboat that takes him to where the wild things are.

The Wild Things looked like what I imagined they would be, giant, fury, but a little scary looking, but their personalities were way off base. In the book, the creatures would not think of eating Max, they made him King of all the wild things, and Max declared "Let the Wild Rumpus Begin!" In the movie, Max is nearly eaten by the Wild Things, and it is not until he uses his imagination and creates an image of himself as a powerful king that should be revered, that the Wild Things allow him to live and become King.

Max must try to keep the Wild Things happy, which is not too easy, since this group has as many issues to deal with such as depression, loneliness, jealousy, anger, and love, giving them a humanlike quality. Max develops close relationships with Carol and KW, but his life soon is in jeopardy when it is discovered that he could be eaten since he actually has no extraordinary powers.

As his powers fade, he decides it is time to go home. So, just as in the book, he gets back into his sail boat and crosses the ocean, back to his family and his waiting dinner. The movie would have been better for children if the Wild Things were less brooding but they will love the way they look, and by this holiday, I'm sure they'll love a new cuddly Wild Thing under the Christmas Tree.

Learn more about this author, Beachbumwriter.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.