Max and I discussing ‘Where The Wild Things Are’.
(We saw it last night. 8.50pm at Melbourne Central, dontcha know. Max is named after that Max. Because I love that book. Only read on if you are okay with a bit of spoiler action.)
Max “Mum. What did you think of “Where The Wild Things Are”‘
Pip “Max, I’ve been letting it sink in all day today. Here’s what I reckon. I thought it was a really cool portrayal of what a 5 year old would be spinning in his imagination, especially after missing his (almost replaced) Dad, feeling rejected by the sister he loved, unimportant to his Mum, and generally small, misunderstood, unheard and unimportant.”
Max “That’s true”.
Pip “I thought they showed us Max’s mum, typing up his story on her computer at the end of a long day, as a kind of precursor to Max’s own story kind of running Wild later on. I think it was establishing the context of the rest of the film. Max’s imagination and storytelling became the plot of the movie”
Max “Ohhhh. That’s true. That’s a really artistic way of approaching making a movie.”
Pip “I think it’s not actually a movie for little kids. Because little kid’s imaginations, dreams and nightmares are full of wild, raw crazy stuff. But I think Spike Jonze really got inside the head of a kid and showed the story that was playing out in there. It’s not picture perfect. It’s all about drama and excitement and fighting. Typical stuff that a boy like Max would think about.”
Max “Wow. You are so right. That is so cool.”
Pip “So I really loved the movie. I think it was brave and real and authentic. And not for little kids. It’s a monster story, after all. It was a bit scary, sad and confronting. But I think it really was the kind of thing Max would have been thinking. No adult would spin a dirt clod story like that. Or a Wild Thing hiding a child inside it’s mouth… complete with a raccoon. Or a Douglas sans wing but avec bony nearly-wing. Those are ideas from the mind of a kid. And they made it seem really true to Sendak’s book. And to a child’s galloping imagination.”
Max “That’s really cool, Mum. That makes so much sense”.
The End