But know this reader, before your eyes stray any further down the page: by voicing my opinion of this film, my very life is in danger. For you see dark and powerful forces are at work. Deep within the offices of Coup de Main there are those who would seek to silence me. But I shall not yield. I shall not be prevented from saying...
It just wasn't very good.
Unfortunately all the bad things I'd heard about the film manifested themselves and none of the good. Pretty simple really.
I'd like to be able to report that this was indie film-making at it's best - but it wasn't.
That the soundtrack was brilliant - it was OK, but I was not pleased that the Arcade Fire song from the trailer didn't make it into the film.
That the premise was simple and heartwarming - in truth they managed to over-complicate a fairly simple children's book.
That the production values were high and the budget low - no idea on the budget I'm afraid. And while the wild things were interesting, the camera work was just frustrating.
I did like that the fort they built looked a little like the death star! But it wasn't enough for me to forgive the ending which I found wholly unsatisfying.
I'm not sure how anyone got the idea that Spike Jonze would make a timeless children's classic into a film for children (that's just a silly idea people!!) but this is decidedly not a family friendly title. The proof? Well it was in the tears of the children at the same screening as I. If any further evidence was needed I would point you to the moment when one wild thing ripped an arm off another wild thing. Needless to say the second thing will be slightly less wild from here on in.
Where the Wild Things Are is darker than a block of 99% chocolate sitting under a black handkerchief in a room equipped with a single eco-friendly light bulb and a lampshade made of asbestos.
I found very few redeeming qualities in this film. And I so wanted to like it.
I'm going to go and listen to my 500 Days of Summer soundtrack and hope that this act of reconciliation helps to improve my standing within the hearts and minds at CDM.
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1 1/2 Stars
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