Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael M

  
  It focuses so much on adult interpretations and opinions on childhood that it completely forgets its target audience along the way. Where the Wild Things are has good intentions but ultimately it fails to meet the target demographic and is resultingly depressing. It doesn't help… More
  It focuses so much on adult interpretations and opinions on childhood that it completely forgets its target audience along the way. Where the Wild Things are has good intentions but ultimately it fails to meet the target demographic and is resultingly depressing. It doesn't help that the central character is extremely irritating and that the film is far too dark for its own good. It tries to be smart which I give it credit for and I enjoyed the way the creatures on this island were made replacing CGI effects with something else but it tries to be too clever so ultimately, the Wild Things went to wild this time.

• Eliza N

  
  Never been bored to death with movie again so much.Yes, this is for kids,yes, i don't know why people like it and NO i am definitely not recommending it for you or your kids.

• Brad W

  
  Where the Wild Things Are isn't a bad movie, but it is for kids and kids will be scared at this movie, these Wild Things are huge assholes, and I don't want to be on that island. It has a great story, production, so why did I think its not really good. The book was for… More
  Where the Wild Things Are isn't a bad movie, but it is for kids and kids will be scared at this movie, these Wild Things are huge assholes, and I don't want to be on that island. It has a great story, production, so why did I think its not really good. The book was for kids, and the movie is a sad horror movie that scared the crap oy of me sometime, and was disgusting at many moments, it was a good movie, but should not be targeted for kids because they will be frightened, and leave the theatre not feeling the joy of a normal kids film.

• Kristijonas F

  
  A heartfelt children's story that doubles as a raw and uncompromising commentary on a child's emotional complex, Where The Wild Things Are is ultimately an adorable little film that simply reminded me of what it felt like to be a kid. A triumph for Spike Jonze, although it… More
  A heartfelt children's story that doubles as a raw and uncompromising commentary on a child's emotional complex, Where The Wild Things Are is ultimately an adorable little film that simply reminded me of what it felt like to be a kid. A triumph for Spike Jonze, although it does carry a very dark tone and is sometimes very difficult to watch.

• Sam B

  
  Spike Jonze perfectly captures the essence of childhood.

• paul s

  
  A bratty and precocious 8 year old with a fertile imagination rationalizes his life by creating a land where creatures represent his id and ego. That's pretty much the story behind Where The Wild Things Are. The kid is lonely (for some reason he has no-one to play with), and… More
  A bratty and precocious 8 year old with a fertile imagination rationalizes his life by creating a land where creatures represent his id and ego. That's pretty much the story behind Where The Wild Things Are. The kid is lonely (for some reason he has no-one to play with), and for an unexplained reason his father is not on the scene. Ok, so he has issues - that's still no reason for him to be an obnoxious snot nosed holy terror that pouts and acts out when things don't go his way. That's the basic problem with the film in my opinion (one of several). The kid deserved to be grounded for life, not be given an "awww" pass and a later wink, wink, ain't I smart final scene. Once the film moves to the Island of Wild Things, it becomes a bit more interesting, given the large furry characters and the personalities polarized by the understanding of psychology presented by an 8 year old; but that same psychology works against the film, as the dilemmas and character reactions are also based on the imaginings of said 8 year old. The boy, Max, is drawn to the character who most represents himself - the often angry Carroll, voiced by Tony Soprano himself. We first see Carroll destroying the homes of the Wild Things, angry because things simply aren't working out right (he seems to have the equivalent of a pre-pubescent attraction for another character, CW, and gets angry when she quits the group, or decides to expand her horizons by meeting new friends). It's all a way for Max to work out why he is angry when things don't go as he thinks they should - not that the film sees fit to show that he has any kind of epiphany. There is a fear angle as well, which has some merit to it - triggered by a school teacher preaching to his students that the sun is going to explode someday, but not to worry - we'll all be dead via some other disasters by then anyway - what a stupid thing to say to an 8 year old - especially when you're in a position of authority. the film features some nice lighting on the creatures, but day and night kept getting confused for me - I'm hoping that this was intentional, to show that the land Max created was somehow outside the time/space continuum. The story is based on some evidently much beloved children's book. I of course haven't read the source material, though my final analysis is that, while I appreciate the allegorical nature of the story, I can't help but think back upon my own childhood as an only child. I always found neighborhood kids to play with, or school chums who lived close by, so the loneliness angle of the film didn't strike a chord. When I was sent to my room for misbehaving, I used the opportunity to read or listen to records and even though my father was often out of town, didn't feel the need to act out in his absence. So the entire premise on which the film is built runs counter to my own experiences, leaving me disinterested in what the film had to say, and also wondering what age group the film was created for and what message it was trying to get across. I'm sure there's some new age psycho babble, I'm ok, you're ok stuff that makes a certain sense here, but I'm not buying.

• Alexis N

  
  A boy on an island with all the parts of his personality. I didn't think it was going to be anything other than sad. It did make me cry at the end and I'm a tough cookie. but the movie was cute and just beautiful to watch.

• Albert K

  
  Wow, "Where the Wild Things Are" accurately depicts the emotions and the thoughts that run through an angry boy in his early ages. The portrayal of such a neglected role in cinema shoots this movie high in my list. The cinematography and the CGI are huge pluses; they create… More
  Wow, "Where the Wild Things Are" accurately depicts the emotions and the thoughts that run through an angry boy in his early ages. The portrayal of such a neglected role in cinema shoots this movie high in my list. The cinematography and the CGI are huge pluses; they create the atmosphere of this movie. Even the most silent moments of this movie create deep emotional stir within the audience. This movie works effectively. There are cons however. The plot of the movie seems to point towards nowhere and the story's interest dips near the middle, but other than that, it is a great movie.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Max Records, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Dano, Michael Berry Jr. Director: Spike Jonze Summary: Max (Max Records) imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off… More
  Cast: Max Records, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Dano, Michael Berry Jr. Director: Spike Jonze Summary: Max (Max Records) imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts -- Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander -- crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways. My Thoughts: "The movie is beautifully made and is visually stunning. But the film itself is a bit depressing. Even the 'Wild Things' are depressed. I have to assume this is how it is in the book (I've never read it). I actually enjoyed the creatures. I thought (even though they were depressing) that they were really great, fun characters. Loved Catherine O'Hara as Judith. James Gandolfini was great as Carol. Just great characters. Max Records as Max, was good as well. Although his character, in the beginning, irritated me because of his behavior. But as the story goes you see why he's been acting out, and then you feel sad for him. The story really is quite sad. Made my niece cry which was shocking. That kid don't cry with any movie. But I think any kid who has dealt with divorce and changes in their family will relate to this story. Great job by Spike Jonze."

• Red L

  
  It is amazing how a simple child's book is changed to a complicated movie. The fact that it is a movie about childhood and not a kid's movie makes it more interesting. It would be interesting to have a discussion in a film class about each of the six wild things. Is one… More
  It is amazing how a simple child's book is changed to a complicated movie. The fact that it is a movie about childhood and not a kid's movie makes it more interesting. It would be interesting to have a discussion in a film class about each of the six wild things. Is one Max's mom, one his sister, one his teacher, etc.? I will have to watch the movie again to make up my mind if that could be the case or not.

• Stephen M

  
  I can see why some people say this one is a bit of a downer but I think Spike Jonze actually gets the balance of sweetness and sadness just about perfect here. After all, the book isn't exactly a barrel of laughs either. Intentional or not, the only message I've ever gleaned… More
  I can see why some people say this one is a bit of a downer but I think Spike Jonze actually gets the balance of sweetness and sadness just about perfect here. After all, the book isn't exactly a barrel of laughs either. Intentional or not, the only message I've ever gleaned from Sendak's wonderful story is the mildly subversive reassurance that, no matter how bad he's been, sooner or later even the biggest brat on the planet can still expect to get his supper. I think, therefore, Jonze and his co-writer Dave Eggers deserve credit for introducing a couple of valuable life lessons which any child would benefit from learning at the earliest opportunity: a) that unhappiness is a fact of life and cannot be banished, and b) that being the guy in charge is neither as easy nor as much fun as you think it's going to be. My only serious criticism would be that the personalities of the Wild Things are too much of a muchness, each to a greater or lesser extent a projection of Max's own loneliness and insecurities. Since Max is the sole author of this fantasy, this might make sound psychological sense but, consequently, they never emerge as individuals and are soon forgotten.

• Anthony L

  
  This one seems to have split opinion big time, a real love it or hate it film - although I do feel many have missed the point. I believe it to be a good adaption of the book (which I have read many times) which was always open to interpretation, I mean, a film version of the book as… More
  This one seems to have split opinion big time, a real love it or hate it film - although I do feel many have missed the point. I believe it to be a good adaption of the book (which I have read many times) which was always open to interpretation, I mean, a film version of the book as it is would be either really short or really boring! I think Jonze's style was perfect for the film version, he really understands Sendak's writing but also adds his own ideas to the mix, tapping into the mindset of a wild child and actually a very normal child. When you analyse the book, it's not really that imaginative or 'out there', it's quite simple and that was always it's charm and Jonze understands this. Disney fans need not apply, but branding it depressing and dark is a little lazy, it's very sensitive in exploring what is an amazing time in a persons life but also a very difficult one, again handled brilliantly by Jonze. I have to admit I was very impressed by this, I think it's wonderful, one of those few films that come around once and a while that really inspire. Brilliant!

• Mike S

  
  Dull, uneventful and with a lame excuse for a plot. Because I don't think it counts as a story, when it consists of an obnoxious kid, just playing and jumping around with a bunch of furry fantasy creatures. There's virtually nothing going on beyond that, besides the… More
  Dull, uneventful and with a lame excuse for a plot. Because I don't think it counts as a story, when it consists of an obnoxious kid, just playing and jumping around with a bunch of furry fantasy creatures. There's virtually nothing going on beyond that, besides the characters spending their screen-time on building and destroying stuff. And believe me when I say that it sounds a lot more fun than it is. Everyone's having a blast, except me who is watching it. It wasn't very pleasant on the eyes either. Boring landscapes, colored in various shades of brown, isn't my idea of a nice visual theme. So it goes without saying that this was a disappointment. Not that I expected fantasy gold, but I didn't think it would be this bland and uninteresting. In one word: skippable.

• Thomas J

  
  I guess it has been too many years since my Mom last read the book to me.... I did not connect with my childhood experiences with the book like I wanted to.

• Jay H

  
  A very, very boring political allegory that can't decide if it wants to be serious or childish.

• KJ P

  
  Where the Wild Things Are is an innocent kids movie at heart that is not executed to it's fullest potential. There are a lot of questions that may need to be answered by some viewers, and does need a little thought in order to understand. This being said, it does not effect the… More
  Where the Wild Things Are is an innocent kids movie at heart that is not executed to it's fullest potential. There are a lot of questions that may need to be answered by some viewers, and does need a little thought in order to understand. This being said, it does not effect the fact that is very good! A boy who has a whole universe of an imagination, faces this by seeing things he could only imagine, for real. This is definitly great storytelling, however, it was not the greatest novel adaptation, as it seems as though they may have missed a few points. The finale was very weak and rushed, and kind of a big disappointment when it had a lot going for it. Midway through the film, you feel sympathy for the creatures, but it doesn't last long before you hate some character by the end of the movie, when it tries to be playful and happy. It was a tad sloppy, but still very good at heart.

• Chris W

  
  Blending live action, performers in suits, CGI, and animatronics, this is a wonderfully imaginative, whimsical, and sometimes painful allegorical fantasy about childhood. Adaptation of short book of few words into a feature length film can't be easy, but Spike Jonze does a great… More
  Blending live action, performers in suits, CGI, and animatronics, this is a wonderfully imaginative, whimsical, and sometimes painful allegorical fantasy about childhood. Adaptation of short book of few words into a feature length film can't be easy, but Spike Jonze does a great job- injecting this classic children's story with his own trademark style. The performances are terrific. I look forward to seeing Max Records in many films in the future. He shows a lot of promise. Catherine Keener as always does a great job, and this film helped to remind me why she's one of the best actresses working today. The voice cast is where things are outstanding: James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose (long time no see or hear), Paul Dano, Chris Cooper, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker...how could a cast like this NOT be at least good? The look and art direction are just splendid: thie team did a creative and great job bringing the world of the book to life. The music (by Karen O and Carter Burwell) is suitably happy, sad, and cathartic- the perfect blend of emotional outpouring to capture all the different aspects of childhood. I did think things started out slow, and the film is actually rather dark for a PG, but once things got going, my worries ceased to exist. As for the darkness, as Spike Jonze said, "it's about childhood, and not necessarily a children's film." I agree. I think parents should watch it with their kids, but also have a discussion about it with them- this is great material to learn from and bond over. I didn't love it as much as many of the critics, but I nonetheless recommend this unique fantasy film.

• Richard C

  
  I actually really liked this movie. it was a lot darker then I thought it would be. it is a really imaginitive movie that is really good. B+

• Manu G

  
  I though this movie was gonna be better than this, this movie is just plain boring even for kids. It's a good movie don't get me wrong but the story and the script is just mind-blowingly boring. Watch it if you really have nothing else to do. An adolescent named Max has an… More
  I though this movie was gonna be better than this, this movie is just plain boring even for kids. It's a good movie don't get me wrong but the story and the script is just mind-blowingly boring. Watch it if you really have nothing else to do. An adolescent named Max has an active imagination, and he will throw fits if others don't go along with what he wants. Max - following an incident with Claire (his sister) and her friends, and following a tantrum which he throws as a result of his Mother paying more attention to her boyfriend than to him - runs away from home. Wearing his wolf costume at the time, Max not only runs away physically, but runs toward a world in his imagination. This world, an ocean away, is inhabited by large wild beasts, including one named Carol who is much like Max himself in temperament. Instead of eating Max like they normally would with creatures of his type, the wild things befriend Max after he proclaims himself a king who can magically solve all their problems.

• Mark W

  
  It should be retitled..."Where's the script writers at?" Spike Jonze is a very imaginative director and I enjoyed his previous films (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) but he has bitten off more than he can chew with this one. "Where the Wild things are" is… More
  It should be retitled..."Where's the script writers at?" Spike Jonze is a very imaginative director and I enjoyed his previous films (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) but he has bitten off more than he can chew with this one. "Where the Wild things are" is based on the childrens story by Maurice Sendak. I admittedly haven't read it but apparently it is very short and only several pages long and If this is true then it shows in the translation to film. It is the story of Max, a young boy who is having problems at home and to escape these problems, he allows his imagination to run wild. He arrives upon a land that strange creatures inhabit. They are looking for guidance and young Max is only too happy to be their leader in his fantasy world, but soon realises that these creatures have the same problems and emotions as people in the real world. Despite director Spike Jonze being very creative in his earlier films, he has absolutely nothing to hold your interest here. The fact that the childrens book was brief doesn't help the flow of this, as the film really drags along and it shows that there wasn't enough material to adapt in the first place. It is too childish for adults and too frightening (at parts) for children. In the end, the film can't really identify with an age group and just meanders along. It felt like telling a toddler, lagging behind, to hurry up!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings