Books2Movies Club discussion

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Where the Wild Things Are is children's picture book Maurice Sendak wrote and illustrated almost half a century ago. Appearances here deceive, as 48 pages of book contain altogether less than 10 sentences to read. However, its value lies more in a message it tries to convey to children through their parents' (imaginative) storytelling. At least I think so -- I am no parent myself, so do not really know how well children receive the story -- it would be helpful if some member of our club who had entertained his/her child with this book would pass his/her experience here to all of us. Of course, all of those who did read this book in their early youth, are also welcome to share their impressions, then and now :)

The first adaptation of the story went out as an animated short, Where the Wild Things Are (1973) by Gene Deitch. Seven minutes long, I think it's worth an effort to see. There's also an updated version made in 1988, with different narrator.

The story came to my attention after spotting Spike Jonze's feature length adaptation that came out in 2009, stunning even on the look of its stills.

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I noticed that regarding the film opinions of viewers and critics alike, differ a lot, depending on how they perceived it. The positive ones had offered some interesting perspectives of the film and its message. The negative ones, well, couldn't stand it at all. Anyway, seems worth a see and a healthy discussion afterwards :)

I checked out the book the other day just to refresh my memory. I haven't seen the animated short film, but I did try to watch the new film. Honestly, I had to give up and take it back after about 40 minutes worth of watching. He had just started his "rumpus" with the creatures and I thought maybe by the time that started, it would get interesting. Nope. The kid drove me crazy and I could not connect with any of the characters. Actually reminded me very much of reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which wasn't the worst thing I've ever read, but is the first book ever to turn me off from watching a Sandra Bullock movie, which I didn't think was possible.

Did anyone watch the new adaptation and like it? Maybe I just don't have young children to share in the wonder of it, so I'm missing out in that way?

I've seen the movie. At first I was quite puzzled (eh, Spike Jonze does that often to me), but eventually it impressed me in a positive manner.

True, the boy annoyed me as well, seemed too old to be so... brattish, if that's a word at all. But as movie went further, I've started to regard each of these wild things as different parts of that boy's character and/or as personifications of his family members, which he has at last learnt to appreciate and cope with. Does that make any sense?

In the end I sympathized with him, because I could see his change for the better. I realized how it was easy to forget that many kids do behave like that. He was just a boy, lonely and scared of being so. Before he met these wild things, he knew to express his frustrations and fears only through anger and well, rumpus.

However, I am not sure it would suit the younger kids' tastes, not even would they understand it at all without a bit of guidance of their parents. Hm, I probably underestimate today's kids way too much ;)

I love this book!

And I was really looking forward to the movie, because I've enjoyed some of Spike Jonze's stuff. I really loved Being John Malkovich, and I put Adaptation as one of my top 5 favorite films of all time.

But I just didn't care for this film.

At all.

Good, I'm not the only one then. I rarely stop watching a movie, but I just couldn't put my brain through it any more.

Yeah - it was slow. And the voices were weird. (It didn't seem like they went with the Wild Things.)

It was just...off...

Just seen on YouTube Deitch's animated short (didn't like much the voice - maybe it's my computer's fault), and very interesting Disney's animation test. Some do not like Disney, but I feel had they really made a feature film of that test, it would be far more appropriate for kids and more faithful to the book :)

I read this book as a child, liked it but never saw where the major appeal came from for the book... The artwork's great but the story is ridiculously simple. Also as for the movie, I didn't really care for it too much. It was slow, with very little dialogue and the 'monsters' really did look a fair bit like men and women in suits.

Jonze's version of the film is based on The Wild Things by Dave Eggers, which is based on Where the Wild Things Are. I read that Sendak asked him to write it so that they could make it a full length film. Has anybody read Eggers' version?

I am confused now -- I really thought that Eggers' The Wild Things was written after the film was made, sort of novelization. Now I have no clue what is correct! I haven't read it - might be interesting. Might give better insight into the film.

I was remembering wrong, sorry! Eggers co-wrote the screenplay for the movie and Sendak asked him to also write the novel based on all the ideas they had for the screenplay.

Andrea wrote: "I was remembering wrong, sorry! Eggers co-wrote the screenplay for the movie and Sendak asked him to also write the novel based on all the ideas they had for the screenplay."

It's all right, I should even thank you for mentioning the book! I totally forgot it. Members who liked the movie might be interested to follow it up with that book :)