Where the Wild Things Are

There’s a genuine feeling of being transported to another world when the infamous beasts of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are show up in director Spike Jonze’s adaptation of the beloved children’s book. After four years of filming and all kinds of delays, the gifted director has managed to put something onscreen that is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. What he’s made here is wonderful. Max Records takes on the role of Max, a rambunctious kid who acts up one evening and winds up in a land of moody monsters. The film looks beautiful, the dialogue is real and honest, and the dirt fights are quite vicious. The beasts are voiced by the likes of James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker and Catherine O’Hara. This is an extraordinary film, but it’s not for kids, so proceed with caution.