When I first heard they were doing a movie based on the beloved “Where The Wild Things Are” children’s book, I was very skeptical that it could be pulled off. The book is so short compared to the amount of material that would be needed to create a feature film. Surely certain creative license would have to be given to fill in the gaps and those creative liberties could make or break the movie. After watching the trailer (see below), I’m less skeptical and more intrigued.
Your thoughts?
Wow … that looks amazing. I have to say I was kind of concerned that it would be stupid, but that trailer makes it look like they took it seriously, which is good.
I was in the same frame of mind. “No way can they do this justice in ANY SENSE with a movie.”
Then I saw the trailer.
They may still grind my childhood into powder and sell it too me as a beverage additive, but from what I’ve seen it’s going to be some GOOD POWDER.
Looks like there’s good potential there. Depends on how adult they try to make some of the underlying plot (or filling in the blanks as you say). If they keep it light, might be very good.
I don’t think they did a very good job with the trailer at all. What is in their that makes one say “Hey that looks like a really interesting story?” It might be a good movie, but the trailer didn’t convey that at all.
“in there”
T.J. : I think any attempt to say “there’s a good story in here” would have ALSO said “we had to start from scratch, because there’s really not much to work with in the source material.”
That would have offended a lot of their adult fans (kids wouldn’t care, but kids don’t buy movie tickets.)
So instead they delivered a trailer that says “imagery” and “mood.” They nailed both, and these are things they can show that won’t alienate people who love the book. This trailer, then, should sell more tickets.
That said, I sure hope the movie tells a good story. I get pretty bored with imagery and mood.
Spike Jonze is a great director, but he really has to work it with this one. Like Howard says, they are messing with childhood memories here in a big way. This is also a book I shared with my kids and I remember adding sound effects as I read this to them, and dwelled long on the full two-page illustrations with no text. A tall order, no doubt, but I know I’m going to see it. I’m praying the added stuff that they will add to puff up the story doesn’t suck.
When I first heard about this movie, I envisioned that it might have the look and feel of Pan’s Labrynth. I’m not sure I’m buying the muppet-style creatures. Yet.
Howard, That makes sense, but I still fell like the trailer is lacking something. I agree with Daniel it does look a bit too muppetish – it had a little Pufnstuf feeling to me. Guess we shall see.
This trailer looks great, nice typography, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (by the look of things), Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers on screenplay. All good.
But then I thought I wonder what it’s like without that brilliant Arcade Fire song on it, so I watched it again with the sound off. Still good!