Where the Wild Things Are

What I remember most about Maurice Sendak's book is the artwork. It was dark and maybe even a little scary. But I think that was the appeal. After all, there weren't many books about boys befriending menacing monsters with sharp teeth and horns. Spike Jonze's film nails the look of the book, but I can't say the same for the story. Frankly, I don't remember the story at all. Was it really this much of a downer? Maybe it was and that fact simply flew over my head during my formative years. But one thing is clear; Max is one disturbed kid. Just watch as he chases down the family dog in the opening sequence, all while wearing his wolf suit. There's all sorts of psychological issues on display here. But what I find interesting (and totally unconventional) is that his own fantasy world (and even his stories) are as imperfect as his reality. Themes of alienation and social awkwardness abound...and are never resolved. But maybe that's the point. The grass is most certainly not greener on the other side, regardless of where Max's imagination takes him. I'm still not sure if I like this movie. It certainly has stuck in my head the last few days, and that's usually a good sign. Maybe after another viewing or two I'll have it figured out. But I'm not sure children will get much out of it. While it's a movie about childhood, I don't think it's necessarily meant of children. Or maybe I'm selling the next generation short?

Zombieland

Woody Harrelson in a zom-com? How good could it be? At least, that was my initial response to this film when I heard of its production months ago. But buzz started to build, particularly after Comic-Con and the release of some inspired teasers and trailers. This was followed by extremely enthusiastic word of mouth and surprisingly positive reviews. So a little more than a week before it released, I decided this is a movie I had to see. Yeah, a true victim of the hype. But in this case I'm glad I succumbed to the marketing blitz, because this is very fun movie. Jesse Eisenberg (in Michael Cera mode) is our narrator during this journey into the familiar zombie-infested post-apocalypitc world. He's eventually joined by three other survivors (Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin) as they travel to the alleged zombie-free amusement park (Pacifc Playland) in California. For the most part, this is a road trip movie with zombies. But the finale in the amusement park reverberates with an energy I haven't felt since a group of survivors took shelter in the Monroeville mall. As we all know, there's no such thing as a zombie-free location, and the amusement park is no exception. As a result, the four find themselves under assault among the bright lights and cheerful music. This is where the movie earns big points for originality, the highlight being when Harrelson rides a roller coaster (and several other attractions) while basting zombies. Considering the subject, this is a very upbeat movie with some genuinely tense moments. Oh, and there's one huge surprise in the middle, so go see it before someone ruins it for you.