Movie #29 – Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are – Saturday, November 7
Date : Holly
Value : $20
Total so far: $519
Location: Bayers Lake

When I first heard all of the excitement for Where the Wild Things Are, I became very curious. How come I never read this book when I was little? Why is everyone so anxious for it to come out? I loved the song that played on the preview (Arcade Fire – Wake Up), and I figured I had to go see this movie.

…I think I should have read the book first.

I did not expect it to be so deep. I mean it was quite emotional for a children’s movie.

Let me start off first by saying that I have a strong dislike for bratty kids – in books, on tv and in the movies. Especially in movies that are made for children. I never had any thought on this before, but now that I am a proud aunt of a 2 year old who is always saying “I don’t like you”, a phrase he learned from Caillou, my opinion has changed greatly. I am not a fan of Caillou and his whiny ways, and the fact that he is teaching the young kids that watch his show that it is ok to be a whiny brat – your mum will be there with a hug no matter what.

So when the movie opened with a bratty little kid who destroys his sister’s room, and is mean to his mother, I was immediately turned off. I know that the purpose of the story was to show how Max learns that it isn’t ok to treat people like that, but it took a long time for him to learn that lesson and very little was shown on how his actions changed (once again, the bratty kid got rewarded – this time with cake from mum!)

I must say that I was enchanted by this other world, and loved it until they all stopped getting along. The Wild Things were fun characters (for the most part) and there was a fair bit of good humour. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it a lot better if I had read the book when I was little and knew a bit more about what I was about to see, but I must admit this movie was a bit of a dud for me. I wished I had enjoyed it more, but the bratty kid ruined it.