Lots of 'Wild Things'

If ever there was a beloved children's book that seemed impossible to transform into a movie, "Where the Wild Things Are" would probably make that list. It's short, weird and devoid of any major character development. Yet director Spike Jonze does a nice doing just that, mixing the film with live action and CGI characters. It's beautifully shot, the music fits well and there is certainly a lot to like about this film.

Max is a loner, a kid without many friends. He tries to play with some of his older sisters friends in the snow, but when one smashes his snow igloo and leaves, Max is upset. He goes into his sisters room, breaking things and leaving snow all over the floor. Max clearly has emotional issues, possibly because of his lack of friends, attentive siblings and a father.

When he acts out one night, standing on the dining room table and then biting his mother while her boyfriend is over, Max runs out the door, heading to what seems to be his secret place somewhere in the neighborhood. In the dark, the scene changes from a park to the edge of an ocean. Max finds a boat and sails off, ending up days later on the island 'where the wild things are.' Max befriends them and becomes their king, like in the storybook. He and the wild things endure happiness and sadness, overcome bickering and the like before Max decides the time has come for him to sail home.

It's hard to give anything away about this movie because it is so simple and pure. It's not overly complicated on its face, but the issues and personalities it contains are complex. Max is an eccentric kid, and on the island faces fairly adult issues. This movie is based on a childrens book, but I wouldn't take a kid to see it. I think it's aimed for an older audience, despite its PG rating, a kid for a main character and like I said, being based on a childrens book.

While at times it is a happy film, it's also dark in a way. The themes and issues are tough for a kid Max's age to understand, but in a way, his trip to the island may have relieved some of his personal issues. Jonze takes this simplistic, short book and turns it into a beautiful but complex film.

I do recommend the movie, but I got a little bored at times. Some parts just aren't that interesting, and at times I found it hard to stay focused. I mean, it shifts from sadness and things like that to horseplay and roughhousing. It's kind of weird watching this kid play around with these giant monsters like that, and not that enthralling.

7 out of 10 stars