By Alexis Blaudeau
“Where the Wild Things Are,” directed by Spike Jonze, is an adaptation of Maurice Sendack’s well-known children’s book of the same name.
The book consists of only ten sentences. The movie lasts an hour and a half. So, as expected, the two are much different.
The book tells a story of Max, a boy who is sent up to bed without supper after “making mischief” in his wolf costume. While in his room, Max imagines a journey to an island inhabited by monsters who make him their king after Max wins a contest. The book ends after Max tires of “rumpusing” with the monsters and returns home to find dinner awaiting him.
The adaptation, starring Max Records, as Max, and Catherine Keener as Max’s mother, carries a more melancholy tone. It focuses on Max’s feelings about his parents’ divorce. The intricately rendered monsters all exhibit the same childish actions and feelings Max displays in the beginning of the film.
Because of its depressing tone, the movie doesn’t seem suitable for children, and parents likely will be unhappy with this adaptation. However, the film’s soundtrack is more cheerful than the movie itself. With scores from the likes of Karen O. and The Kids, the music could pass as a moving backdrop for an Urban Outfitters commercial.
Despite the strength of the adaptation’s lively soundtrack and the detailed character designs, the book comes out on top.