“Where the Wild Things Are” is one of those films that leaves the viewer with plenty of questions.
That doesn’t necessarily make it bad; the film overall was a success in my book.
I just left the theater more puzzled than ever as I contemplated and attempted to dissect the symbolism of each character.
Of course this is very strange considering that “WTWTA” is a children’s movie and, on the surface, appears to have an incredibly simple premise.
Max (Max Records) is a disobedient, yet imaginative little boy who runs away from his home during a misbehaving fit.
Through some sort of ambiguous transition that I assumed to be a dream sequence, he sets sail on a boat and reaches an island inhabited by big furry monsters.
He convinces them to be their king, and in the process, unifies the tribe by having them play games and build a giant fortress together. Simple, right? Eh, not so much.
Although it has a simple premise, that doesn’t necessarily mean this film’s plot is easily discernable.
The film makes tiny leaps into the avant-garde realm; and because it is so artistic, it speaks on a different level, so much so that some film-goers won’t pick up on the messages upon first viewing.
Whether it be his wild and imaginative side or his scared side, his maturing sister who has outgrown little kid’s games, his mother, or the absence of a father, you’ll find yourself trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle of Max’s life together.
Although each character’s dialogue is simple (due to the fact that they are the manifestations of a child), figuring out Max’s feelings can often be a difficult task, yet a very deep and interesting one.
One walks away with the idea that this movie is about childhood itself.
Sure, Max sometimes misbehaves like a self-absorbed little brat, but in the end, you like him and can understand him.
Max feels remorse very quickly, and we accept the fact that he’s just a kid.
And yet, oversimplifying the fact that Max is “just a kid” almost defeats the message of the film.
Max isn’t just a kid. He’s as complex as anyone else in this universe.
As mentioned before, his imagination is limitless, which warrants some respect for children everywhere.
If there’s one thing this movie is about, in the most vague of terms, it’s about children. I guess on simplest terms, though, you will enjoy this movie.
It’s a respectful and interesting take on the book we all read as children.
It embraces the idea of innocence, honesty and raw creativity that we can only receive from childhood.
It’s a definite must-see, and something that I would recommend seeing multiple times for the sake of clarity and sheer quality film making.
Final Grade: A-.