Anyone else feel impressed but somehow slightly injured by the Where the Wild Things Are movie trailer? I expected them to get a million things wrong (look at those telly-movie family scenes!), but not to feel so tender about the things they might get right. I still say the kid is too old, and am not surprised that he came off "bratty and "mean-spirited" in early versions.
The book made me feel like the rumpus was mine. The trailer makes me feel like it's being stolen. How mean-spirited and brattish of me...
Think I'll go and draw on the walls...
11 comments:
With Dave Eggers writing the script and Spike Jonze directing, it's going to be remarkable. I love the trailer!
Sendak is quoted as saying 'I love it' and that if Spike and Dave didnt make the film as it is now, then he doesn't ever want to see any other versions that are made.
If you dont trust Jonze, maybe you will trust Sendak himself?
I love The Arcade Fire - I never understand why they don't get used for film sound tracks a lot more... Actually, listening to that album on my bike is a bit like reading Wild Things so that's a good combo. Still worried about the film though - to see or avoid? See probably...
Mmm, I'm not sure about Arcade Fire, that song on the trailer is the first that's ever caught my attention more than just to say "oh, there's a dirge with some nice instruments buried in it."
And which version? The first version, or the version since they re-made it, when the test audience left in tears?
I don't honestly like either Adaptation or even Being John Malkovich all that much, but as I said, it isn't the film being bad I'm worried about, it's it being good, and it being a film... But I don't have to watch, and I'm not all sure that I can handle to.
Still seem to be mean-spirited on this one...
Bring on Wes Andersen's Fantastic Mr Fox, I say!
Much more confidence in that, even though I've seen nothing of it (my flatmate has visited the set, though and says to be excited).
Maybe I just don't mind so much because it isn't the book that I first loved in this world.
And ignore me about Arcade Fire.
I like the kind of music they play for Morris Dancing, and should obviously be ignored!
Can't comment on Dave Eggers, the longest thing I ever read was an enthusiastic review of Joanna Newsom (which I agreed with).
I agree with you joel, if it's good it would be worse; just because Sendak says he likes it doesnt make it ok;
But then I never recovered from Disney's looting Winnie the Pooh ...
p
Im excited about Wes Anderson's film too, he's amazing, but would you have preferred Where The Wild Things Are if it was being done in stop motion and looked like the book? I have a feeling you would...
The more negative comments I read about WTWTA the more my faith in it swells, and incidentally Im a huge Arcade Fire fan, it helps!.. and Sendak was talking about the version now.
Finding Nemo made my cousin cry hysterically, it doesn't mean its a scary film. He loves watching it now, but sometimes the cinema scares children just with the loud noises of a film. I will say no more! Have a great Sunday!
I'm not sure about stop-motion. But really, you (whoever it is...) are missing my point. What I feel prodded by in the trailer is the GOOD parts and the bad. The book just goes beyond nostalgia for me (and the film looks like it is about nostalgia as much as story, though I don't necessarily object to that), the book is like the beginnings of my consciousness.
Happy sunday yourself. Where did that hour go?
This movie is one of those things like remaking a Beatles song or some other classic original, except more personal...every kid born since 1964 in the western world, has been read this story. I don't think that there is a way to make it perfect or to not step on the memories and the meaning of this book for people for whom it made an imapact.
I was thinking how cool it is that we're all having these strong reactions to this interpretation of a childrens book...sort of refocuses the importance of childrens literature. As I read our son books and I watch him connect to the books I think of how cool our jobs (illustrator/writers etc) are...
Right now we're reading "Runaway Ralph" and every night our son puts out his toy cars for the mice in his room to ride while he is sleeping...
I agree Stephanie. There is no way that they could have made the film and kept everyone happy. Like Lord of The Rings the book means so much to so many people. By the look of things (the trailer anyway) they look to have done a reasonable job - at least, to have captured that magical, untangible element.
Big fan of Arcade Fire so that was an unexpected bonus.
Absolutely, Stephanie. I was having those same thoughts about refocus. I think the reaction is so much stronger and more poignant because of the very formative (completely and truly formative) age that so many kids read Wild Things. It's certainly that way for me. But it brings home how much power books have (and films for that matter) whatever the age.
I tried again with Arcade Fire. Sounds like Coldplay with accordions to me, sorry...
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