The review summarizes the movie "Where the Wild Things Are" based on Maurice Sendak's children's book of the same name. It discusses how the movie authentically adapts the short story into a full-length film by focusing on the childhood emotions and imagination of the main character, Max. The reviewer praises how the film develops the characters and story in a realistic way compared to other adaptations, with minimal colors and characters expressing real emotions rather than bursting into song. Overall, the reviewer gives the film three out of four stars.

1. 2B pulse | www.theshorthorn.com thursday, october 22, 2009
MOVIE REVIEW
Beauty in the Beasts worked on developing this movie
Where the Wild Things Are beautifully portrays BY ALANNA QUILLEN for years and gets kudos for turn-
The Shorthorn senior staff ing a 10-sentence book into a
childhood innocence and emotions
I
full-length film. It’s refreshing to
t’s not easy turning a chil-
see such an authentic, real-world
dren’s book into a movie.
take on a children’s book. With
Especially when that book
minimal acting experience, the
spans 20 pages and involves huge
12-year-old Records makes it big
monsters, warped
time after
realities and a wild
being dis-
thing named Max. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE covered in
The blown up
Starring: Max Records, Catherine Po r t l a n d ,
version of Maurice
Keener Ore.
Sendak’s 1963 chil-
Director: Spike Jonze Unlike
dren’s book, Where
Rating: Rated PG for mild thematic failures of
the Wild Things
elements, some adventure action and book adap-
Are, takes the es-
brief language. tations like
sence from the
Cat in the
pages, and trans- ★★★ Hat, the
forms it into a deep
film doesn’t
and inspiring work
boast over-
of art on the big
whelming
screen.
color and characters bursting
The movie follows the imagi-
into song. Instead, the colors are
nation of a 9-year-old boy, Max
natural, the emotions are real and
(Max Records). Feeling angry
the characters burst into howls at
and unloved by his older sister
the morning sun’s beauty.
and divorced mother (Catherine
The film has a different take
Keener), he commits mischief
on Max. Not only is he portrayed
like chasing his dog around with
as the mischievous little boy in
a fork. When Max becomes angry
the book, but in the movie he is
at his mother for inviting over
also a troubled, lonesome child
her boyfriend (Mark Ruffalo), he
who yearns for attention and
ends up biting her and running
love. In search of adventure and
away in a fitful rage. Dressed in
acceptance, he seems to find him-
his play wolf costume, he stum-
self when he escapes to the land
bles upon a boat and sails away to
Courtesy: Warner Bros. Pictures of Wild Things.
the imaginary island of creatures
Where the Wild Things Are follows the childhood tale of Max, who travels to an imaginary land to learn more about himself. While on the island, Max en-
called Wild Things.
counters monsters that crown
Director Spike Jonze has
him as their king. Each creature
represents a side of the boy and
his thoughts toward the world.
Carol (voiced by James Gandol-
fini) symbolizes Max’s childlike
tempers while Alex (voiced by
Paul Dano) portrays his feelings
of neglect and loneliness. Max
eventually loses his ability to con-
trol the imaginary kingdom, just
as he slips back into reality.
Backed by a sweet soundtrack
by Karen O from The Yeah Yeah
Yeahs, and a chorus of children,
the film has a sentimental indie
rock sound.
The movie does justice to the
book by capturing and keeping
Max’s innocence, while delving
deeper into his story and emo-
tions. Audiences should try read-
ing the book before seeing the
movie in theaters. In this film, a
20-page book turns into a deep,
heartwarming story of love and
adventure.
ALANNA QUILLEN
features-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu