ClayGilbert (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} claygilbert) wrote,@ 2009-10-16 14:29:00 |
|
The Wild Things
Just back from seeing the already-controversial-although-it-just-c
How's the movie? In a word, fantastic. It's not going to be what undiscerning parents expect it to be, however: this is not a comfortable, no-rough-edges, one-dimensional 'kiddie movie'. It's not a visual babysitter. However, that's not what I remember the book being, either.
The film made me think about the differences between the way kids perceive the world and the way adults perceive it. I don't think kids need to have explained to them that kids sometimes feel like monsters, too strange and out of place for the world around them; a world they are still trying on like a new set of clothes. Kids know these things. And so, it doesn't matter if Sendak's book is only about ten pages long; they *get* it, because it's *their world*, they're living it. They speak the language.
Jonze's film is a translation of the book--it retells the story for adults who may not remember the experience of being a child, and how being without responsibility and authority is not always the best or easiest way to be. I'm of the opinion that the best family films speak both to children and to adults, but this is rated PG for a reason: it's a film not all children will be equipped to deal with. I'm also of the opinion kids are smarter than adults often given them credit for, and I think Spike Jonze agrees. I do get the feeling, though, that this is a movie designed to re-teach adults the language of childhood. I wouldn't keep kids away from this one, certainly, but it's one the parents are going to have to prepare to discuss and explain. The little ones won't get it all, nor, I think, are they meant to. That doesn't mean they should be left at home.
Spike Jonze, the film adaptation's director, said in an interview recently that Sendak only had two expectations of him in making the book into a movie. Sendak said that he wanted the film to be 'dangerous and personal.' I'm happy to say, I think it's both. It'll be dangerous to those who expect movies featuring children to be movies FOR children, and it'll be dangerous to those who think films for children shouldn't engage the darker aspects of life: questions of death, loneliness, loss, jealousy and anger.
It's a beautiful film, full of the joy of a child's imagination, full of furry monsters and mudball fights, woodland kingdoms--and the love of parents and friends.
It's also sad, touching on the need to follow through on the trust someone else places in you, whether you're someone's friend, someone's parent, someone's child, or someone's king. Breaking trust has consequences--and placing faith in someone is risky.
And it's also complicated and dark--the Wild Things speak often in the unfettered language of emotion--they're suspicious, angry, hurtful, joyful, loving, playful, gentle, vengeful, innocent and troubled all in turns.
I'm definitely going to see this one again.
The visuals, the performances, and the music are exquisite.
Just back from seeing the already-controversial-although-it-just-c
How's the movie? In a word, fantastic. It's not going to be what undiscerning parents expect it to be, however: this is not a comfortable, no-rough-edges, one-dimensional 'kiddie movie'. It's not a visual babysitter. However, that's not what I remember the book being, either.
The film made me think about the differences between the way kids perceive the world and the way adults perceive it. I don't think kids need to have explained to them that kids sometimes feel like monsters, too strange and out of place for the world around them; a world they are still trying on like a new set of clothes. Kids know these things. And so, it doesn't matter if Sendak's book is only about ten pages long; they *get* it, because it's *their world*, they're living it. They speak the language.
Jonze's film is a translation of the book--it retells the story for adults who may not remember the experience of being a child, and how being without responsibility and authority is not always the best or easiest way to be. I'm of the opinion that the best family films speak both to children and to adults, but this is rated PG for a reason: it's a film not all children will be equipped to deal with. I'm also of the opinion kids are smarter than adults often given them credit for, and I think Spike Jonze agrees. I do get the feeling, though, that this is a movie designed to re-teach adults the language of childhood. I wouldn't keep kids away from this one, certainly, but it's one the parents are going to have to prepare to discuss and explain. The little ones won't get it all, nor, I think, are they meant to. That doesn't mean they should be left at home.
Spike Jonze, the film adaptation's director, said in an interview recently that Sendak only had two expectations of him in making the book into a movie. Sendak said that he wanted the film to be 'dangerous and personal.' I'm happy to say, I think it's both. It'll be dangerous to those who expect movies featuring children to be movies FOR children, and it'll be dangerous to those who think films for children shouldn't engage the darker aspects of life: questions of death, loneliness, loss, jealousy and anger.
It's a beautiful film, full of the joy of a child's imagination, full of furry monsters and mudball fights, woodland kingdoms--and the love of parents and friends.
It's also sad, touching on the need to follow through on the trust someone else places in you, whether you're someone's friend, someone's parent, someone's child, or someone's king. Breaking trust has consequences--and placing faith in someone is risky.
And it's also complicated and dark--the Wild Things speak often in the unfettered language of emotion--they're suspicious, angry, hurtful, joyful, loving, playful, gentle, vengeful, innocent and troubled all in turns.
I'm definitely going to see this one again.
The visuals, the performances, and the music are exquisite.
