Where The Wild Things Are
there's one in all of us
Our main character, Max, takes a boat ride to the land of the wild things and is made their king. While watching the movie, there are connections between his loneliness at home and the gradual way he accidentally pushes himself to that loneliness again once in his new kingdom. He was a trouble-maker and often found himself "in the way" of everyone's general affairs throughout the movie. When he first arrives and begins his friendship with the wild things, Max starts out excited with his new friends, but the more and more mischief he makes, the angrier the monsters become and the more he realizes that his real family will always accept him. He becomes homesick and sails away (at the apparent dismay of the wild things) and finds a hot supper and his loving mom waiting for him (no frozen corn, either).
A child's imagination is an obscure thing for anyone to understand completely. Within Max's mind are these wild things and you can see him try to protect the things he loves with the fort he built and keep out those he does not want. However, when Carol (the main character wild thing and Max's best friend during his reign) sees K.W. (another wild thing) bringing her new friends into the fort, Carol becomes outraged at Max. Max tries to explain to Carol that they should accept the new friends even if they do not know them that well. This incident relates back to when Max's sister, Claire, brings her friends over and they destroy Max's igloo. Claire does not say anything to her friends and just leaves Max angry and crying. Max treated K.W.'s new friends with respect, allowing them to come in to the fort, even at the dismay of Carol. It seems he just didn't want to anger K.W. and her new friends the way Claire's friends angered him.
The soundtrack is a CD of 14 songs with an indie rock style of music. Karen O and the Kids bring us a very fun and yet touching album throughout the movie. The sounds are inventive. Lots of acoustic guitar and piano that create a unique melody and some of the songs begin with sound clips from the movie, giving a premise to each. There's quiet humming in a variety of the songs making an impression of a child making it up in his head as he plays with toys or falls asleep.
The songs are peaceful. One especially that caught my eye was "Hideaway." The slow strum of the guitar, simple words, are ear-catching and soothing to listen to. The same feeling comes with, "Food is Still Hot." I can't help but to close my eyes and think of a more peaceful, simplistic time of being a child. "All Is Love" is completely fun and the lyrics are catchy. I believe I've listened to this song about 55 times... Maybe - most likely - more. I tap my foot to "Sailing Home" and I keep imagining Max's trip over the water and running home to his mom and a hot meal (again, no frozen corn). The soundtrack presents a variety of music beats and speeds and plenty of lyrics to learn. I was overall super satisfied with the album. 9 of 10.
Where The Wild Things Are: a beautiful, and yet almost dark insight into a young, isolated child's mind. The audience will take away something of an appreciation for childhood, home, and the happiness of being accepted in life. Spike Jonze did a magical job presenting Max's mind to the world and taking the 10 page children's book and making it a full-length film. I was mesmerized the whole time. *thumbs up* Mr. Jonze. What an imaginative and superb movie. Where the Wild Things Are = genius.
