Where The Wild Things Are: DVD Review

Where The Wild Things Are: DVD Review

Where The Wild Things Are
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
Bursting onto the small screen is the adaptation of the perennially popular book Where The Wild Things Are.

Max is your typical kid - rambunctious, lacking in boundaries and discipline and blessed with a fiercely imaginative mind.

He spends his time building igloos in the snow and wandering around in a wolf costume.

One day after a fight and heated argument with his mum, he runs off, gets in a boat and heads to an island. That island is Where The Wild Things live - and under the cover of darkness, he meets Carol (James Gandolfini) and the rest of the gang - a group of 10 foot tall hairy creatures wreaking havoc for no reason.

Granted, there's not much story to build on from the book but what the ever creative director Spike Jonze has dreamt up is stunning in places - and his decision to turn the Wild Things into toweringly tall animatronic full suits (with creatures made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop) is nothing short of cinematic genius.

Shot with a handheld camera, the film is full of beautiful visuals - as well as nightmarish visions and will amaze you from the very moment the Wild Things appear on the screen. They look like cuddly puppets in places - but Carol's temperamental behaviour and tantrums which rock Max's world are brilliantly brought to life by the vocal work of James Gandolfini of Sopranos fame. In fact, it's possible to say Gandolfini's Carol is a creature version of his Tony Soprano - charming and charismatic but with the capability of turning at just the bat of an eyelid.

Where The Wild Things Are is a charming and sweet piece which will win you over.

Rating: 7/10