Where the Wild Things Are

On the weekend I went and saw Where the Wild Things Are. It was a really good movie, a great story of the wild/raw emotions of childhood, the frustrations and easily triggered happiness, sadness, anger. I couldn't remember much from the book. Only that Max went an island to escape family and then kind of danced with the Wild Things and he was the king of them or something like that anyway. The film fills or expands on this plot substantially, with Dave Eggers helping to write the screenplay. It worked wonderfully, with a really captivating story which is actually rather scary. From the massive crashing waves Max has to negotiate to get to the island, to the unpredictable nature of the Wild Things, with one, Judith, being particularly edgy with Max. In truth, the film is remarkably sad. In my mind, the part which resonated most with myself and childhood, was the idealism/belief that things should be "ok, normal, fun and happy", for me that represented mom, dad, family all together. Change comes like a rushing wind on childhood, blowing down even the most well constructed fortress.

The film also resonated with a conversation I had with my brother. I showed him a kids toy which said something like, "for good child development" or something similar to the whole "baby Einstein" thing (which research has shown doesn't actually do anything). And my brother replied, all you need for child development is a good stick (or something to that effect). This film is one really good stick, putting wild rumpus physical adventure and childhood together. Where they should be.