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Andrew Stephens · Mar 29, 2009, 03:31 PM

OK, so now I've seen this:http://tiny.cc/ddnTK

This is one of my favourite books. Sendak is one of my hero's and (ihmo) one of the greatest children's authors and illustrators of all time. In a past life I was a children's book illustrator and my dissertation was (sorry about the pseudyness) the psychology of children's book illustration.

Now, stop me if I'm wrong but to my mind, every single thing that makes WTWTA a great book is, to my mind, entirely unreproducible in film form. Add to that the need to pad out the story, age Max, and by the looks of it add in a spurious divorced mum, new dad storyline and the result is the desecration of a work of art.

I was annoyed enough when I saw the latest reprint in the UK, with it's over saturated colours designed to appeal to today's market, but this is just too much.

I don't know if I am sadder that it has been made or that Maurice Sendak allowed it to be made. Actually I do know.

Why couldn't they just have remade The Hungry Caterpillar.

Spheric Harlot · Mar 29, 2009, 03:57 PM

For some reason, the book always scared me when I was a kid.

Andrew Stephens · Mar 29, 2009, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

For some reason, the book always scared me when I was a kid.

That would be because it was supposed to scare you. As a kid.

angelmb · Mar 29, 2009, 04:38 PM

I am not acquainted with the book so I guess saying I liked the trailer is -besides an unbacked opinion- sort of a blasphemy.

Spheric Harlot · Mar 29, 2009, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens

That would be because it was supposed to scare you. As a kid.

The result was, quite simply, that in my world, it wasn't a kids' book, because I never went back to it.

It was a book that grown-ups loved and felt had some sort of merit that completely escaped me.

olePigeon · Mar 29, 2009, 06:05 PM

I was always a fan of The Rainbow Goblins by Ul de Rico.

Stogieman · Mar 29, 2009, 11:35 PM

Spike Jonze directing it gives me a lot of hope. I'm actually looking forward to this movie. It looks like the Henson Company did some amazing work on the creatures.

Tiresias · Mar 29, 2009, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

For some reason, the book always scared me when I was a kid.

Where the Wild Things Are is a fun children's book about monsters. I don't see how anyone could find it scary, even a child. I do see how someone could find Outside Over There scary... I still find it scary.

And I agree with the OP (and don't get me started on The Cat in the Hat with Mike Myers), but the same thing could be said of any movie based on any good book.

- - e r i k - - · Mar 30, 2009, 01:47 AM

I think by looking at the trailer and reading about it that this film will do the stories and illustrations more than justice!

Gavin · Mar 30, 2009, 05:48 AM

It couldn't possibly be as bad a travesty as "The Grinch".

We are past the 90's goofiness. So now we have fantasies with a little grit like The Dark Night and Battlestar Galactica. Therefore I expect the Wild Rumpus to include meth and hookers.

Andrew Stephens · Mar 30, 2009, 06:08 AM

The Grinch was indeed a shocker. As was Cat in the Hat. The principal joy of Suess books is the sound and the rhythm of the words as you say them and the movies obviously bypassed this entirely. This hollywood star bufoonery must end.

The only decent bits in TCITH were the stuff that Myers threw in "I will end you!" but they would have been better in a different (non cat) film.

IceEnclosure · Mar 30, 2009, 04:14 PM

I loved that book, and don't recall being scared by it. I love the artwork from the original, haven't seen any of these oversaturated reprints.

Oh wait, here's an oversaturated reprint, from Saturday night:

Apple Pro Underwear · Mar 30, 2009, 04:22 PM

I agree with the original post - that book was such a unique thing of childhood that it's doubtful a movie (which is the epitome of cut-throat business) could capture that feel. aka Grinch, aka Garfield...

I hope it's good if they do make it,

RAILhead · Mar 30, 2009, 05:47 PM

I don't remember reading it as a kid for some reason, so I ordered it yesterday. Movie looks cool.

IceEnclosure · Mar 30, 2009, 08:45 PM

The trailer looks fun! Spike Jonez better do right.

Tiresias · Mar 30, 2009, 11:56 PM

Here's one of Sendak's illustrations from Outside Over There, his masterpiece, IMO. Cloaked goblins take Ida's baby sister while her back is turned and leave a changeling made of ice. Still freaks me out.

And speaking of Henderson, this book was also the main inspiration for the movie, The Labyrinth.

ShortcutToMoncton · Mar 31, 2009, 07:42 AM

Why are people thinking Spike Jonze would do a good job?? Dude hasn't made a decent movie in years, and the good ones he did make don't seem to lend themselves to this sort of translation, IMO....

greg

IceEnclosure · Mar 31, 2009, 12:08 PM

Love this though:
(Spike Jonez)

http://www.vimeo.com/930917

andi*pandi · Mar 31, 2009, 01:45 PM

loved the book, not sure I really want to see it as a film. It's just supposed to be a child's fantasy while he throws a tantrum about going to bed, then comes to his senses. Not a lot of hidden drama or angst. The monsters are of his imagination, and not scary to me... but seeing them in live action is very surreal.

It does appear they were faithful to the look of things.

I don't think I ever read Outside Over There, but you had me at Labyrinth.

ricardogf · Mar 31, 2009, 01:47 PM

test

KeyLimePi · Mar 31, 2009, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens

OK, so now I've seen this:http://tiny.cc/ddnTK

Now, stop me if I'm wrong but to my mind, every single thing that makes WTWTA a great book is, to my mind, entirely unreproducible in film form. Add to that the need to pad out the story, age Max, and by the looks of it add in a spurious divorced mum, new dad storyline and the result is the desecration of a work of art.

I was annoyed enough when I saw the latest reprint in the UK, with it's over saturated colours designed to appeal to today's market, but this is just too much.

I agree with everything you said, only replace Watchmen with WTWTA.