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Close your eyes and find your "happy place." Then open your eyes and think about adolescence. Bugged by a bittersweet, fuzzy feeling? Welcome to "Where the Wild Things Are."
The film is based on Maurice Sendak’s 1963 book, which some William Paterson students say was a big part of their childhood. “I'll always have an emotional connection to the book,” says Alicia Fiorletta, 20.
Joshua Alicea, 21, echoes the sentiment. “I still felt more for the book [rather than the movie] because I grew up having it read to me all the time,” says Alicea, a broadcast journalism major who pens his own movie blog.
In a world where magical creatures mimic adolescent children and the ego of a real adolescent boy reigns supreme, life lessons are learned through trying turbulence and vexing voyages.
Rambunctious Max (Max Records), a 12-year-old boy enduring the angst of a youngster’s life, finds himself alienated and alone. Excited by the symphonic sound of a snow day, Max retreats to the blankets of white to make an igloo, only to have it crushed by two bullies. Leaving Max destroyed and angry, Max’s emotions go into overdrive when his older sister does nothing to defend him.
The scene spirals into a fairytale as director Spike Jonze employs metaphoric characters and a precious plot reminiscent of real life. Max looses his cool and runs away to an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions.
Much like children, the “wild things,” voiced by James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener and Forest Whitaker (among others), pine for a leader, and Max seeks control—a shift from his chaotic universe. The igloo, a cold metaphor for his life, is broken and unfixable.
The film offers an emphasized version of the book’s key concepts and setting. “There were definitely a lot more complexities to Max and ‘the wild things,’" says Fiorletta, a journalism major. “We weren't just looking at the actions, but rather, the relationships between all of them, their insecurities and basically their emotional and intellectual make ups.”
Max is crowned king, vowing to maintain a harmonious community among the wild things. But he soon realizes that ruling a kingdom, much like adolescence, creates friction among his relationships and tribulation in his sensitive heart.
The recipe of Maurice Sendak's imaginative storyline and Spike Jonze's alternative approach makes for cinematic success. Although based on the beloved children’s book, the subject matter of the film is likely to go over a kid’s head like a bad pun at the dinner table.
Students agree the content was perhaps too advanced for children to grasp. “The film was actually quite dark for a child's movie,” says Fiorletta. “There was a lot of anger and hostility in certain scenes, especially because it's supposed to represent Max and the levels of emotional turmoil and hostility he faces on a daily basis in his ‘real life.’ If children do see it, I think it's important for parents to discuss it with their children before and after."
But this is true testament to the recent trend of clever kiddie movies, like the green-conscious “Wall-E” and the emotional hot air balloon ride “Up.” “Where the Wild Things Are” joins the ranks of ambitious kid flicks that move, motivate and shine for true cinematic sensation and heartfelt joy.
“’Where the Wild Things Are’ is a movie about kids, but not necessarily for kids,” says 23-year-old Michael Esposito, an English major. “The subtle messages in the film were hard to pick up and needed a repeat viewing for a full understanding. Kids will be wowed by the monsters in the film but will be asking their parents about what actually happened.”
Max Records, who had previous roles in music videos, dazzles in his first major role, proving that his potential is endless.
Not to be forgotten, the film’s soundtrack was composed by Karen O. of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which earns her two thumbs up for subtle sounds that paint a precise backdrop for the touching story. “The music was fantastic,” Fiorletta says. “It definitely set the entire mood for the film and brought the story a step up. Also the cinematography was awesome in the beginning sequence--it showed Max's character, the kind of kid he is, while getting a glimpse of what his every day life is like.”
True to its synopsis repertoire, “Where the Wild Things Are” is a “classic story about childhood and the places we go to figure out the world we live in.” “My favorite part of the movie is the ending because they took a direct quote from the book, which brings the nostalgic memories of childhood back,” Alicea says.
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