Where The Wild Things Are

I went to see this movie with Angela last week.  I went to see it, but to also see if it would be appropriate for Elijah to see on a date with Jerry.  I'm glad we do this as a rule, it helps to make sure there are no surprises.  I did make the minor mistake of showing Elijah the preview on line, but there were no promises made that he would get to see the actual movie.  And it is not really a kids movie.  It is a movie about childhood and not a so great one at that.

Max is older than he is in the book.  His parents are divorced and his mom seems stressed about her job and is trying to start a new relationship with a man.  Max has a sister that is older and while he loves her, he does not love the way he is treated by her and her friends.  The tone of the movie is set immediately and it is not a feel good movie.  But that's not to say that it's not good.  Max ends up running away and going to the Wild Things' island.  Let me take a moment to comment on that amazingness  (yes, I know it's not a real word!) of the costumes and setting!  The costumes could really have walked right out of the book.  Amazing!!  So Max is on the island and he becomes king of the Wild Things.  And lives there for an undetermined amount of time.  I don't want to delve to deeply, but I will say that it seems that each of the Wild Things sort of takes on a feeling that Max is feeling in his other life.  This projection allows him to deal with what is going on in his life.  It's really very well done and if Elijah were a few years older, I'd take him in a minute!  But I think that he is not old enough to understand what's going on.  There are two scary/gross scenes.   And these I would worry about scaring him as well.

Regardless, it is an AMAZING movie.  It is sad, but not in a ball your eyes out sort of way (though I came close to crying a couple times, I never did.)  The little guy playing Max did a great job.  You cheer for him, are angry with him, and feel hurt with him.  Definitely worth seeing!!!