I didn’t get to bed that night until six in the morning. Through a deadly combination of late night gaming and even later night calls from work, I didn’t fall asleep until the gray light of early morn began to appear outside my bedroom window. Fortunately, I still managed to get about five hours in, waking up at eleven or so. But by six o’clock that evening, I was all out of steam. I crashed hard until awoken at eight o’clock that night.
The phrase “Want to go to a movie?” woke me up. I blinked a few times, trying to figure out what day it was, then replied for confirmation, “What’s a mooty?” “A movie.” “Oh, well why didn’t you say so. Sure.”
It was October 17 and Where The Wild Things Are had just opened the day before. I remember the book, of course. We all do, of course. To quote (or at least paraphrase) Wayne Campbell, “If you lived in the suburbs you were issued it. It came in the mail with free boxes of Tide.”
The book told the story of a somewhat naughty boy named Max who, at the age of eleven, found out he was a wizard, and was taken by a half-giant named Hagrid to a wizarding school. Or something like that. Somehow or another, probably due to out-of-date maps on his Garmin, Max ended up on an island populated entirely by mutants. I can only imagine it was atomic test detonations that would give a bull oddly human feet and cause him to walk upright. I know that would certainly cause me to roar my terrible roar and gnash my terrible teeth.
After conducting some wild rumpasing then taking a snooze, Max got tired of the whole thing, hopped back in his boat, and headed home where he was greeted by a hot meal and an agent awaiting him to sign away the movie rights. Forty-six years later, we got the movie.
| Where the Wild Things Are | |
| Cinematography: | Awesome |
| Theater: | Cold |
| Wild Things: | Awesome |
| Popcorn: | Needed more butter |
| Storyline: | So so |
| Rating: | 7 out of 10 |
Max must be in his late fifties by now and I’m sure he looks back fondly on that fateful day amongst the Wild Things. They made his heart sing. In fact, they probably made everything groovy. Hopefully he was invited to the premiere. I wasn’t. But then again, I never am. It probably has something to do with my hair. Anyway, go check out this movie. You might like it. Or not. Your call, really.
on October 27, 2009 at 8:05 am
I liked this book SO much from reading to my own kids over (and over and over!) I am a little afraid to go see the movie. I’ve read reviewers that loved it and that thought it was “meh!” and while nothing will tarnish the book for me, I think the idea of spending enough to buy tickets and a beer (hell YES I’ll see this at the Alamo) for a movie I won’t love makes me pause.
Yikes. Not for love of the story but I hesitate because I am a CHEAPSKATE. The truth is finally revealed…(shudder)
on October 27, 2009 at 9:22 am
I’d like to take my son to see it – he loves the book, and although I’ve been warned the movie is dark and frightening, not really for kids…this is the boy who watched Godzilla movies at age three and loved them, thinks vampire flicks are insanely amusing, and at six watches Dr. G with me without flinching.
By the way, I had a deprived childhood. I rode horses, sailed, swam at the beach daily in the summer…but I never had Where the Wild Things Are…never even heard of it until I was well into my double digits. And I was a bookish child from “go”.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K (who hopes you don’t have to endure too many nights like that…lack of sleep derails weight loss, among other deleterious effects)
on October 27, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Count me among the people who have never read “Where the Wild Things Are”. Never even heard of it until seeing the movie trailer on night at the movies. I’m 52.
Maybe it came out after I was a child, I don’t know. I remember all the Seuss books, I remember “James and the Giant Peach”. I still have a copy of “The Secret Garden”, ‘cuz it’s one of my favorites. But I guess I need to go check out the children’s section of the library again if I want to read this book.
And heaven knows, I read practically EVERYTHING I came across as a kid. Including old children’s books from like the 1920s or so that my grandmother had around. Jerry Todd & Poppy Ott (precursors to the Hardy Boys I guess… which were also around) I don’t know where this book was when I was growing up! But it never came under my radar ’til now.
on October 27, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Love the non-committal review. =)
I’ve heard some not-s0-good things about the movie so I’ve been waiting to netflix it. But I do want to see it! It looks cute!
on October 27, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Believe it or not, Tony had never heard of this book either!
Not too interested in going to see it though – maybe when its on cable! 😀
on October 27, 2009 at 5:43 pm
All three of my (grown up) children called me when they saw the trailer – this brings back such good memories of their childhoods!
My 26 year old daughter in Tampa went to see it the same time I took her brothers (20 and 22) to see it in Buffalo. There were more mothers and adult children in the theater than little ones! Maybe the movie wasn’t riveting, but the emotions and memories this brought back was worth the price of admission