...And It Was Still Hot

Here's the thing. You'll always have the book.

Rewind. Yesterday a writer for CNN.com asked me if I wanted to comment about the big-screen version of Where The Wild Things Are - did I think it was suitable for children? Of course I wanted to comment. A: I loved the movie. B: CNN. Duh. 

We had a nice chat, portions of which actually made it to the article. I completely disagree with Mr. Griffioen and Mr. Adams, and that's all I'll say about that. Every kid is different, and while mine came away liking the movie, yours might not. I have no interest in starting a passive-aggressive pissing contest with my fellow dadbloggers. I'm not sure I agree with those who take issue with the violence in the movie, or who believe that it's too scary for young kids (pop in the Diamond Edition of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs into the DVD player - two separate murder plots! Plus holy crap, that old witch still scares the bejesus out of me), but like I said, I understand and respect those views. So do I think it's suitable for kids? It was suitable for my five year old. 

I do want to revisit a quote from the article: "Family movies and kid movies have become so safe and homogenized and shallow". That quote from yours truly was inspired by Robert Zemeckis, who vomited up the Xbox Version of Chris Van Allsburg's lyrical book The Polar Express a few years ago, and who is bringing us another CGI bowl-winder in the form of Jim Carrey's Uncanny Valley Christmas Carol. As I watched the trailer, featuring Carrey's computerized Scrooge riding a giant icicle like a snowboard (no, Scrooge doesn't bend over and talk out of his ass - maybe that'll be in the Director's Cut), I slumped in my seat. This is what Dickens intended. Scrooge in the halfpipe. God bless us every one. I leaned over to Lucas. "Do you want to see this?" "It looks stupid", he replied. Good boy.

Look. I like giant robots who turn into Camaros as much as the next guy. Snake Eyes IS cool. Of course there's a place for mindless fun; Star Wars-related posts account for some 40% of the content on this site. But we also need Art. Art challenges us. It shakes us up. It makes us think. 

And Art is not - and should never be - reserved exclusively for grownups. 

Dr. Seuss was talking to kids about racism and environmentalism and war. Charles Schultz made his protagonist a moody, angst-ridden loner (Psychiatic Help - 5 cents!). And Maurice Sendak wrote a 338 word book about a kid in a wolf suit who deals with powerlessness, chaos, fear and order. (Also, lest we forget, the print version of Max is a brat; he chases his terrified puppy with a fork, fer chrissakes.) This is why it's called children's literature. Where The Wild Things Are is an Art Film. It's a statement about what it's like being a little kid in a big, scary, unfair world. (And lest we forget, the movie has the same warm, reassuring ending as the book: SPOILER ALERT - Max wants to go home, and so he does.) 

It's sad that so few studios - one, in my opinion - put out family films that don't insult the intelligence of even the youngest viewers. (Thanks, Pixar. Dreamworks Animation - you've got some work to do.) The state of movies for and about kids is pathetic; we get 90 minute toy commercials, an endless litter of Air Bud flicks, and videogame versions of classic works. It took many years and considerable effort to bring this unusual movie to the public, simply because it wasn't the usual kiddie-drivel. Whether or not you liked the movie (I think I've got good company in the Liked It category), my hope is that you at least support the idea that our kids deserve better than what they've been getting at the multiplex.