It's easy to see why this film has divided opinions so much - it isn't exactly what some people expect from family films these days as its story structure and themes are argued to be too 'depressing' from what is an adaptation of a picture book.
But it could be argued however that the Maurice Sendak book, although low on plot is bursting with imagination does have a darkness present within the story.
Acting: Records is the only human we spend time with for much of the film, and he's such a natural actor - no horrid stilted mannerisms from this boy. His character is a very misunderstood and troubled child, and his imagination mirrors this.
I loved the voices of the Wild Things - O'Hara's and Galdofini's voices are very well delivered and a big part in bringing these huge furry costumes to life.
Plot: Admittedly, this does have a very episodic, haphazard, meandering structure, but that is what a lot of kid's imaginations are like.
The offbeat, deadpan humour and then melancholy that dominates much of the last third fit the hippy-ish looking Wild Things and the fears of Max himself. There is a playful side that made me feel like a kid again, that alternates the worries from the outside world, so it isn't all solemn at all.
I think the very short book has been expanded well, and if things like the Mum's boyfriend and how Max's time in the land where his imaginary land comes to an end I thought could've been done better and explained more, the majority of the film is commendable.
Cinematography: The Wild Things themselves are really believable characters(down to the voice acting and these men or women in the huge costumes).
There's a random change in seasons(it could be snowing in one scene or have pink petals falling in another) which again matches the tone of a kid's imagination well.
Also, most importantly, the wildness of these creatures is displayed effectively, and a certain briefly violent scene proves this point even more. There is a sense that they really get hurt from this rough play, despite the fact that they aren't real.
Score: Didn't like some of the intrusive stereotypical indie songs that took me out of the magic of some scenes. A simple, orchestral score works best for me, mostly.
Overall: A film that's obviously made mainly for nostalgic adults but could have a appeal for older kids as well.
From this final result, they've done the best they could from how they told the story, and yeah they could've made the film with only Max's exuberant adventures then slowly had him miss home, but I like the gamble they took including a child's uncertainties about the world.
An very good, if flawed rites of passage tale that needs to be watched at the cinema to fully immerse yourself in Max's imaginary world - 7.5/10.
But it could be argued however that the Maurice Sendak book, although low on plot is bursting with imagination does have a darkness present within the story.
Acting: Records is the only human we spend time with for much of the film, and he's such a natural actor - no horrid stilted mannerisms from this boy. His character is a very misunderstood and troubled child, and his imagination mirrors this.
I loved the voices of the Wild Things - O'Hara's and Galdofini's voices are very well delivered and a big part in bringing these huge furry costumes to life.
Plot: Admittedly, this does have a very episodic, haphazard, meandering structure, but that is what a lot of kid's imaginations are like.
The offbeat, deadpan humour and then melancholy that dominates much of the last third fit the hippy-ish looking Wild Things and the fears of Max himself. There is a playful side that made me feel like a kid again, that alternates the worries from the outside world, so it isn't all solemn at all.
I think the very short book has been expanded well, and if things like the Mum's boyfriend and how Max's time in the land where his imaginary land comes to an end I thought could've been done better and explained more, the majority of the film is commendable.
Cinematography: The Wild Things themselves are really believable characters(down to the voice acting and these men or women in the huge costumes).
There's a random change in seasons(it could be snowing in one scene or have pink petals falling in another) which again matches the tone of a kid's imagination well.
Also, most importantly, the wildness of these creatures is displayed effectively, and a certain briefly violent scene proves this point even more. There is a sense that they really get hurt from this rough play, despite the fact that they aren't real.
Score: Didn't like some of the intrusive stereotypical indie songs that took me out of the magic of some scenes. A simple, orchestral score works best for me, mostly.
Overall: A film that's obviously made mainly for nostalgic adults but could have a appeal for older kids as well.
From this final result, they've done the best they could from how they told the story, and yeah they could've made the film with only Max's exuberant adventures then slowly had him miss home, but I like the gamble they took including a child's uncertainties about the world.
An very good, if flawed rites of passage tale that needs to be watched at the cinema to fully immerse yourself in Max's imaginary world - 7.5/10.