Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

There are only so many ways that people can still be transported to fantasy worlds in a manner that we have not seen a billion times before, and still remain on board with the story. My examples: Dorothy and her tornado. Alice and that rabbit hole. Peter Pan and those lucky children he feels inclined to teach how to fly. Those means of travel are classic, and have been, at least to me, completely believable. Max (played by Max Records in the movie) and his journey fits right in with these timeless characters and lessons learned from imaginary lands.

Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are storybook was never really a staple of my bedtime hour during childhood, but I of course was aware of Max and his adventures in the book. I love how this new live-action re-telling of the story relies upon this classic tale of escape from ordinary life (in Max's case, a life filled with discipline for his wild ways), and fleshes out the basic premise in ways that you probably won't expect, but are refreshing to see.

This is a dark children's film, there is no doubt. It is rated PG, but contains much angst at the outset from 9 year old Max who is struggling to deal with a sister who is growing too old to play with him, a mom who has a new boyfriend and a father who is not present in the film, but whose absence is actually a driving force to Max's frustration and unbridled actions. This film will take you back as you watch it, to moments during your own childhood when you felt as Max feels in the opening scenes. It will remind you that yes, childhood contains simple joys, but there are also fears that we in our adulthood have long ago overcome.

Children, more so than adults will always say what they are thinking, and behave more in accordance with the whims of their feelings. This is what the Wild Things in the film are crafted to symbolically represent. Before Max escapes to the world of the Wild Things, his mother tells him: "You're out of control!" which haunts him for the rest of the film and makes him worry that he may not be a good person.

In the world of the Wild Things, Max meets Carol. Carol becomes a sort of friend to Max there, but even that seems to present its own dangers. Carol struck me as being symbolic of Max's uncontrolled emotions. When Max becomes king of the Wild Things, it is like he has let go of all restraint and lives only to do as he feels. Eventually, though, the Wild Things prove too wild for Max, and he finds himself the one yelling "You're out of control!" to them.

I highly recommend this movie, even for children if they of school age and are mature enough to deal with some of the themes. Below you will find my link to the parents' guide on imdb.com concerning this movie. Read it and decide for yourself and your children if it is right for you!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386117/parentalguide

-Dani