Where the Wild Things Are

I tried for a while to find the book before I went to go see this movie, but it was to no avail. I felt like I remembered a good chunk of it --Kid gets sent to bed with no dinner, Kid meets wild things, rumpus, Kid gets lonely, Kid eats his dinner which is still hot. So I was able to enter the theater with a faint feeling of nostalgia. It also helped that I went with my friend's mom and she bought my ticket. Those were the days.

Spike Jonze was the perfect pick for this movie. In fact rumor has it that he was handpicked for this movie by Maurice Sendak, the author of the 1967 book. Jonze didn't have a lot to work with -- 10 sentences to be exact. So he took the story as a springboard and jumped into his own imagination.

Jonze tries to deal with some philosophical issues with this movie. The difficulties of being a child, the impossibility of pleasing everyone, the use of anger and the effects it has on the people around you but it doesn't feel preachy. The problem is the movie has the feel of a group therapy meeting. You don't feel childhood wonder, you wonder how much rope the goat will use to end it all.

All the monsters are much more developed, Jonze gives them names, personalities and social disorders. We also learn much more of Max's backstory a lonely child in a divorced family who often uses anger to solve his problems.

This movie is not for children. I got a little scared when when Carol, portrayed by James Gandolfini, loses it. And while these monsters may look like they pal around with H.R. Pufnstuf you almost expect the other members of the Sopranos to come out of the woods and take care of business. A child around Max's age will probably have to leave the theater, so the real audience is for people who were once children.

Jonze stated that he tried to frame this movie in the eyes of a 9-year-old. But really the movie is framed in the mind of an adult who is trying to understand a child. The movie does well for itself but it starts to lose some of its wonder towards the end. Overall the world that Jonze has created is a fantastic look into the imagination of adult who refuses to grow up. Its creation does not tarnish the book but rather stands as its own artistic statement. C

Zombieland

There were so many other movies that came out at the same time you would think there would be more of a fight for the number one movie this weekend. But there is little doubt after seeing it as why it deserved to get the number one spot. Zombieland is a flat out fun movie.

The audience isn't the only one who enjoys this film. It is very clear that Woody Harrelson enjoyed doing this movie. His character has a tough exterior with a soft inside which helps to create some great jokes along with a surprisingly touching emotional side that fits in the movie. I want to see him in more stuff.

Emma Stone really needs to put it in her contract that she will only portray the love interest of hipster children. No one needs anymore House Bunny. More of this and Superbad is a plus. She lets her good looks come out and is able to play with it as she teases Jesse Eisenberg who would only go for him if he was the last guy on earth, which is appropriate.

I'm never sure what to make of narration in a film I like it here, it definitely works. Along with the visual pop-ups of the rules that Eisenberg's character has created to survive the zombie attacks. The pop-ups are done in a very humorous war that works with the tone of the movie.

For those who love the horror genre it will definitely fill your blood and guts quota. The beginning of the film is full of the flesh eating goons. But throughout the rest of the film there is sporadic reappearances without any blood or guts which may disappoint the fans of the horror genre but for those who love character development it fills the void quite nicely.

A nice tip of the hat to both "Night of the Living Dead" and "Shaun of the Dead." This movie understands how fun and gruesome zombies can be while understanding that the undead can not be taken too seriously. An amazing cameo wraps up the movie quite nicely. B+