Where the Wild Things Are Movie & Video Game
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is one of those picture books that never gets old. Just about everyone I know
read it at least once when they were young and still loves it now. I have to admit I
found it too scary when I was little, but that's just me — I never did like scary books or scary movies. Still don't.
Anyway, on October 16th, Where the Wild Things Are is being released as a movie (rated PG) that does not look too scary. Check out the trailer. . .
And there is a video game for ages 10 and up (Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii) that actually looks pretty cool (judging by this video preview of the game).
Max Records plays the part of Max in the movie. His favorite scene was the dirt clod battle with the Wild Things. He says, "It's practically a minefield because all these dirt clods are being thrown and just exploding on the ground. The special effects team had hidden little explosives in the leaves and all around me was 'boom, boom, boom.'" His least-favorite scene was when Max has to slide through the giant mouth of one of the Wild Things and into its slimy stomach where he was slathered in "slime that smelled like rotten lemons." Ewww!
And what about those nine-feet tall monsters? They took eight months to build, and there is a person inside each one controlling the monster's movements! The only part of the Wild Things that is digitally enhanced is their faces. Computer animation was used to create their facial expressions to make them look more lifelike. Their voices were recorded separately like for an animated movie. When they recorded that dirt clod battle, the actors actually threw stale bread rolls at each other and hit each other with styrofoam logs to get into it! Actor James Gandolfini recorded the voice of the monster, Carol, and makes it sound like a blast. He says, "It was very physical. We were running around and beating each other up and making ridiculous noises." I love that image of grown-ups running around on a stage acting like Wild Things! Can you imagine your teachers doing that? Hilarious.
So are you excited to see this movie? I can't wait. As Max would say, "Let the
wild rumpus start!"
—Sonja, STACKS Staffer
UPDATE: Read a movie review from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
Trailer courtesy of Warner Bros.
Photos by Matt Nettheim, courtesy of Warner Bros.
I really want to see the movie.I loved the book in Kindergarten and I love it now!
~Harley-5th grade
Comment #1 | Posted by: Harley on October 09, 2009 at 04:06 PM
wow! i love the book so i'm almost sure i'll love the movie
Comment #2 | Posted by: elvendork on October 09, 2009 at 05:22 PM
hey! this gets updated really fast now!
...............i think?!
love,
elvendork
Comment #3 | Posted by: elvendork on October 09, 2009 at 05:24 PM
The goosebumps
Comment #4 | Posted by: jacob s on October 09, 2009 at 05:56 PM
That looks....creepy...
Comment #5 | Posted by: Amber Mint on October 09, 2009 at 06:37 PM
i'm not a big fan of the movie but the book was cool when i was little
Comment #6 | Posted by: bluecookiedough on October 10, 2009 at 11:57 AM
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah fun!!!!
Comment #7 | Posted by: manga eyes on October 10, 2009 at 06:01 PM
What dose animation mean
Comment #8 | Posted by: Zay on October 11, 2009 at 12:04 AM
im going to see the where the wild thing live win it g=comes out in the theatres
Comment #9 | Posted by: carritigers on October 11, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I LOVE this book and i'm sooo excited about the movie. it comes out on my little sister's birthday so watching it would be totally cool for her. i think i might make that her b-day present. i can't wait for it! loved it when i was little and still do! there's only a few of those things growing up. :)
Comment #10 | Posted by: Sweet_Heart13 on October 11, 2009 at 02:35 PM
i read this book when i was in like... uh...urrgh!!!!ummm..... kindergarden i think but anyway i think they will have to extend alot to make the movie because the book was like 5 pages so...extension needed.
i don't see how there is going to be a video game.
i want to see the movie but i want to see the lightning thief more so i might save my money... :p
Comment #11 | Posted by: anthony 6th grade on October 15, 2009 at 03:20 PM
It sounds really boring and no offense to anyone but stupid.My little brother runs and hides when the commercial comes on and my mom says that when she was in kindergarten it was really boring.Don't hold it against me though,it's just my opinion.
Comment #12 | Posted by: Waterlily5055 on October 18, 2009 at 02:23 PM
yeah i know. i can't wait to see the lightning thief! I'm such a great fan of the Percy Jackson series! right now I'm reading the third one.
Comment #13 | Posted by: kristina on October 19, 2009 at 01:19 AM
i saw the movie and it was kind of sad but pretty good.
Comment #14 | Posted by: m412 on February 23, 2010 at 09:57 PM