I walked out of this mess. I can't believe anyone can sit through this movie. It was so boring, no focus don't waste your time.

Visually stunning for the first 2-minutes of the introduction of the Henson inspired CGI/puppetry later seamlessly meshing into the dreary background of bland colors used in the film. From director Spike Jonze "to make a movie about childhood rather than to create a children's movie." with a niche idea the end result was a drawn out one- dimensional gloomy film with a self-fulfilling ending all pitched to who?

How unfortunate that Maurice Sendak's Caldecott winning sorry book was twisted and perverted to something unrecognizable. This film is not for young children. Frankly, my 11 year old child had a difficult time with the way the storyline drifted from the book. As an adult, admittedly in my 40's, I would never have suggested this film for a fun "movie night" adventure, knowing Jonze's adaptation was so twisted. The child actor who plays Max does so well. He seems to convey many emotions with just a look. The problem is the storyline. Sendak created a Max that was mischievous, not one in need of in depth family counseling. The trouble with making something so pure and child like, up to date, new or fresh, is the unfailing willingness to project onto the characters situations that were not intended. The familial dynamic, for example, Max is a neglected little boy full of misdirected energy and fueled by an active imagination. Not one hint of the depressed, destructive, physically abusive behavior that is shown on the "big screen." Catherine Keener and Mark Ruffalo could have, just as easily been husband and wife, not boyfriend/girlfriend. Honestly, it left too many unanswered questions. Where was Max's father? Was he divorced from his mother? Dead? There's no clear storyline to explain why Max had begun to behave so violently. But we all sense it had something to do with the missing father. Max physically abuses his mother, after verbally abusing her. This is attributed to the presence of the mother's boyfriend in the home. Again, confusing, underdeveloped storyline. We are lead to believe that no one in this troubled boy's life recognizes or cares about him. He is a sensitive boy, absorbing his science teacher's musings about the sun dying and the human race falling victim to any number of calamities. Realistically, this would never have happened in the public school system. There would be a huge backlash and the teacher reprimanded. But, this just seems like a platform for Jonze's social awareness and activism. Adults recognize it. Children are confused by the laundry list of failures awaiting humanity. Finally, Max gets whisked away to the Land of The Wild Things. Finally Max has a say, he is in control. Although a very touching relationship begins to develop among Max and The Wild Things, the viewer isn't really as engaged as they should be, having been struck dumb by the opening portion of the film. The Wild Things are quirky and visually similar to Sendak's book version. James Gandolfini is heartwarming and, as an adult, I was heartbroken all over again. Soon, it becomes clear that things are going to be more difficult for Max, the King. Judith, in particular, adds a lot of dissension and frailty to the rest of the film. One of the other Wild Things says that she is "a downer" and it's laughed off. But, not true for the viewer. We wholeheartedly believe Judith will bully Max and eventually eat him, wild suit and all. The scene with the owls is particularly telling. "How do I make everyone OK? " The answer is not going to be clear. Ever. The underlying message is unclear and confusing for younger viewers. For tweens and adolescents, the message is muddy. Life is full of pitfalls. Make sure your decisions are sound. Either way, all in our party preferred the originality and pureness of the literary version. The "updated" Max 2.0 is not something the world needs. Truly, preview and be ready to have discussions before viewing with young children.

To be honest, I'm not sure why I didn't go to see this when it was released...after all, it has Lauren Ambrose in it, and I have a weakness for that glorious creature. Loved it. First-off, it is visually delightful, mixing stark realism with absurdist fantasy as only someone like Joze (and Zendak, of course), who understands the chaos-logic counterpoint childhood fantasy and real-world comprehension (the way kids rationalise experience through play) can manage. The puppetry (the 21st-century equivalent of 'H.R.Pufnstuf', which delighted me as a kid) is excellent, the voicework by 'wild things' Forrest Whittaker, the mighty Chris Cooper, Ms Ambrose (sigh!) and the late James Gandolfini is exemplary