Comments on: Where The Wild Things Are

By: Lily@IW

Lily@IW — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:15:57 +0000

Tiffany, I went and saw Cloudy W/A Chance of Meatballs today. It was great and so fast paced. I really liked it and the two kids with me were very happy. There were a couple of times I laughed really loud. We had a private showing as we were the only people in the theater.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:47:04 +0000

I love that book. It was one of my faves to read to my niece when she was little (I also really liked In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There by Sendak - the latter particularly is a beautiful book, very fairy-tale-like and wonderfully written and illustrated). I will probably catch the movie when it comes to cable. To be honest, I don't even seem to make it to the movies I really want to see in theaters these days; Where the Wild Things Are is on my list but not high enough that I have much hope of getting to it before it leaves theaters. Thanks so much for the review!

By: Samantha@IW

Samantha@IW — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:42:27 +0000

Thanks Tiffany! This isnt a movie I’m interested in- neither is our little one so far. I may be biased though bc I also hated the book as a child!
Loved your review though- I think the runny nose thing would gross me out as well.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:23:38 +0000

Thanks everyone for your comments!!
And Eydie, Max was the perfect Max. He was so sincere and just wow! Catherine Keener (whom I adore) did a really great job as his mom, too. And just an FYI – the mom’s boyfriend is played by Mark Ruffalo, which was totally surprising! The only person I’ve seen speak about the movie is Maurice Sendak, so that’s how I know that it was made with his approval. He felt that the movie makers not only did his original book justice, but truly understood it.

Lily, we saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs when it opened. I think it is possibly the funniest movie I’ve ever seen. Ever. The kids were riveted, right through the end credits. Not a single bathroom break (that’s how we rate movies at my house, how many bathroom breaks did the kids’ need!) I can’t wait for it to come out of DVD!!

By: Anya@IW

Anya@IW — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:23:05 +0000

Tiffany, I love the way you write your reviews. It is very helpful to get the perspective of multiple viewers of different ages. I have an 18-year-old daughter too. I considered heading to see it this weekend, but she had friends over and I didn’t know if I was up for taking the whole gang!
I think it definitely was a challenge to bring a book as beloved as this one to the screen. Sounds like it succeeded on a lot of levels.

This quote of yours made me laugh:
“The 5 year old seemed to get a little bored, she was more fidgety than usual and wanted to leave the second it was over. In the car she proclaimed it her favoritest movie ever, but she proclaims that about most movies she sees. She’s not really the most reliable or discerning movie critic.”

Eydie, thanks for the additional information on the kid who plays Max. He sounds like a unusual and very mature 10-year-old!

By: Eydie

Eydie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:19:50 +0000

Tiffany, I think it’s hilarious that your 13-year-old boy would be offended by runny noses! They must have been pretty gross. Last Monday I saw Spike Jonze, Catherine Keener, the costume designer, the set designer, and some other key peeps speak about the movie. Catherine Keener was talking about the kid who plays Max, whose name is also Max, and how he was the perfect fit, a bit deeper and more soulful than the usual kid his age (and who adorably loves the Ramones and the Smiths). Tiffany, your review pretty much sums up what I expected after hearing that talk!

By: richard chachere

richard chachere — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:30:57 +0000

Thanks very much Tiffany…..your review was very helpful fr a non-Sendak older male who wanted
input from the NYTimes….very good!

By: Penny Scott

Penny Scott — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:21:17 +0000

Great job on the review Tiffany. Informative and cleverly tells us what we really want and need to know when making the important decision= as movie going is such a part of all of our lives.
It also helps to have your kids’ insight and what they felt. You have a wonderful flair in the telling. Keep up the good work.

By: Ann@IW

Ann@IW — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:11:10 +0000

Great review…so honest. I think I might skip this in the theaters and rent it later. I don’t go to the movies much so I prefer uplifting. I know this book is not really “uplifting,” and you made an important point IMO about the colors of the movie. We waited to see Coraline for the same reason.

Now if this were Chicken Soup with Rice, I would have been there on opening day.

By: Lily@IW

Lily@IW — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:57:17 +0000

Thanks Tiffany, we’re getting ready to go see this now. I would have skipped it and just saw Cloudy W/a Chance of Meatballs. I love that book, the visuals are so neat. I saved it from my sons’ childhood for my grandchildren, but have only read it to my last one so far. We’re going to see it in a few days when we one of her friends can go with us.

I like the book Where The Wild Things Are. But, I think I’m going to feel about the movie like you did.