Where The Wild Things Are Blu-ray Review
“Where The Wild Things Are” is a puzzling adaptation.
Based on Maurice Sendak’s children’s book of the same name, 2009’s “Where The Wild Things Are” revolves around the 9 year old Max- who is a creative, lonely, and frustrated child who wants more attention. His sister is growing up and ignoring him and his divorced mom is trying to move on with her life all while raising two kids. One day, Max explodes at his mother while wearing his wolf costume and runs away. He hops in a sailboat and ventures to an island where he meets the Wild Things- Carol, KW, Douglas, Ira, Judith, Alexander and The Bull. While there, Max is dubbed the King of the Wild Things and begins to bond with them. Max’s tenure as King becomes rather short lived though as he realizes he needs to return home.
“Where The Wild Things Are” was always a tricky project to tackle. On one hand, you have one of the best filmmakers of the past 26 years with Spike Jonze making the project his own with a very specific vision. On the other hand, you have a short, timeless, beloved children’s book with iconic illustrations. How do you stretch that out to a 101 minute film? What kind of deeper story do you tell? Jonze (along with writer Dave Eggers) ultimately decided to create a very adult story about childhood. This is not a movie aimed at children which was really an odd choice. It’s a very dark movie about childhood, family, emotions, and growing up. The decision to not really depict joyful moments was puzzling to me. There’s something relentlessly gloomy about the whole picture. Yes, Max does have “fun” at times, but it’s shown in a way that feels like it SHOULD have been more fun if that makes any sense. Not even the Karen O and Carter Burwell music seems to liven up sequences. Jonze deserves credit for trying something different here with this adaptation, but it’s certainly not the adaptation many (myself included) were probably expecting or hoping for.
Casting wise, Max Records really shines as Max. He gives a nuanced performance (especially as a first time actor). Catherine Keener and Mark Ruffalo appear in small roles. The voice cast is absolutely stacked with talent that includes James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, Paul Dano, and Lauren Ambrose. Gandolfini and O’Hara have the most to do.
Last, but not least there’s the special effects. The combination of costumes, animatronics and CGI blend so seamlessly well together. The Wild Things look so believable in a live-action film.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 2.4:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a quality transfer for this early Blu-ray re-release (although a 4K is overdue at this juncture).
Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The 5.1 track is a little on the soft side, but it’s adequate.
Extras:
* WB ads
* HBO First Look special on the film
* “Carter Burwell”- A look at the co-composer in studio.
* “The Absurd Difficulty Of Filming A Dog”- The title of this featurette says it all.
* “Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More To Life”- An animated short adaptation of Sendak’s story.
* “Maurice And Spike” (interviews with Maurice Sendak, Dave Eggers, and Spike Jonze) and “Max And Spike” (about the bond between Spike Jonze and actor Max Records)
* “The Records Family”- A featurette on Max Records’ family
* “The Big Prank” and “Vampire Attack” set pranks
* “The Kids Take Over The Picture”- A behind-the-scenes look at the children on set
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