Gennyfer
Gennyfer Hanvey lives in Portland. She is a mother of five children living in an ultra-blended family of 9 that includes a nephew, making the kids outnumber the adults 2 to 1 at home. She has decided to count the pets as adults to even the odds. Gennyfer did freelance tech-support for many years but is currently staying at home, training to be a ringmaster in a three ring circus. While juggling many schedules and plumbing the depths of how unsuited she is to domestic servitude, she is writing to ascertain if an Author is finally that elusive thing she is to be when she grows up.
@Gennyfer
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Wild Thing I Think I Love You but...
Oct 16, 2009 10:29 PM
Categories: Entertainment Town: Portland
I just got back from seeing Where the Wild Things Are. My 17yo went to see it too, same time different theater. I haven't heard from him yet but I suspect he loved it. He was eagerly anticipating this movie for months.*
I went with my 13yo daughter and 9yo nephew. My 3 & 6yo were left at home waiting to see if I say it's OK for them to see the movie tomorrow with Daddy. Though I saw a few unscathed 6ish year old's in the theater I am going to have to call this a NO for the younger set.
Despite it's childlike renderings of monsters and it's young protagonist this movie is not a children's movie. That said it is a wonderful, thoughtful film that accepts the darkness we find in life and examines how we relate to the people we love. The story is told about a child but with an adults reminiscent perspective.
The hesitancy in the title of this particular blog comes because the film crosses in to dark spaces in love relationships. This is also the bulk of why I will have to nix this film for my younger children. Essentially, the film becomes, on one level, an exploration of domestic violence in a terrifying, realistic, and complicit way. Storytelling has a way of effecting us in profound ways and I am afraid the message that may stick from watching this film is that it is more important to stick with someone who abuses you because they are family and you love them than it is to protect yourself.
I know that Sendak touches on dark themes in his stories but when his brushes with scary themes become expanded and explained in this movie, Wild Things loses some of the magic and innocence and travels too far in to reality. Perhaps it is time for Hollywood to leave short, picture books alone in favor of more well defined boundaries of theme and plot worthy of stretching in to a feature length film.
All that deep thinking aside, the young actor who plays Max, Max Records, is brilliant and we may see another child actor give an acceptance speech at the Oscars this year.
*17yo gave the movie an uninspiring, it was OK.
I went with my 13yo daughter and 9yo nephew. My 3 & 6yo were left at home waiting to see if I say it's OK for them to see the movie tomorrow with Daddy. Though I saw a few unscathed 6ish year old's in the theater I am going to have to call this a NO for the younger set.
Despite it's childlike renderings of monsters and it's young protagonist this movie is not a children's movie. That said it is a wonderful, thoughtful film that accepts the darkness we find in life and examines how we relate to the people we love. The story is told about a child but with an adults reminiscent perspective.
The hesitancy in the title of this particular blog comes because the film crosses in to dark spaces in love relationships. This is also the bulk of why I will have to nix this film for my younger children. Essentially, the film becomes, on one level, an exploration of domestic violence in a terrifying, realistic, and complicit way. Storytelling has a way of effecting us in profound ways and I am afraid the message that may stick from watching this film is that it is more important to stick with someone who abuses you because they are family and you love them than it is to protect yourself.
I know that Sendak touches on dark themes in his stories but when his brushes with scary themes become expanded and explained in this movie, Wild Things loses some of the magic and innocence and travels too far in to reality. Perhaps it is time for Hollywood to leave short, picture books alone in favor of more well defined boundaries of theme and plot worthy of stretching in to a feature length film.
All that deep thinking aside, the young actor who plays Max, Max Records, is brilliant and we may see another child actor give an acceptance speech at the Oscars this year.
*17yo gave the movie an uninspiring, it was OK.
Starwalker says,
Thank you for this very informative and helpful review. I, too, have been looking forward to seeing how this book translates to film and I do intend to see it (minus grand kids, unfortunately, who are far away and all too young anyway) but on account of your review I will see it alone, and NOT with my partner of many years. He was raised in an abusive family and despite counseling, has yet to get past the "more important to stick with someone who abuses you because they are family" place.
Oct 16, 2009 11:19 PM
LUV2LOSE says,
Funny, although I liked the illustrations this book was never a favorite of mine to read to my kids and the kids had books they preferred as well. I just didn't understand what made that particular book so special or loved. When I saw the trailer for the movie I was struck by how well they copied the look and feel of the creatures and the illustrations. Beyond that, I didn't see how there could be much material with which to make a movie. Based on what you wrote, I don't think the direction they went to flesh it out sounds particularly clever or entertaining.
Oct 17, 2009 07:51 AM
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