Comments on: Is ‘Wild Things’ Too Dark, or are Disney Films Too Light? http://www.christandpopculture.com/featured/is-wild-things-too-dark-or-are-disney-films-too-light/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-wild-things-too-dark-or-are-disney-films-too-light Where The Christian Faith Meets The Common Knowledge of Our Age Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:18:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: AnneMarie http://www.christandpopculture.com/featured/is-wild-things-too-dark-or-are-disney-films-too-light/#comment-55061 AnneMarie Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:27:07 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=4958#comment-55061 My kids are movie hounds and wait anxiously for the release of new movies (think of goats at the feeding machines of petting zoos level of excitement). The trailers led us to believe that we were in for light-hearted, rolicking, childhood-fun world of make believe, adventure, and lessons about growing up. We settled into the packed audience; popcorn, soda and those evil sugar stick things at the ready. I'd say it was probably about 20 minutes in that I started to hear the first of the whining from the younger tots in the audience. After about 30 minutes my kids were looking over at me with confused looks; and my husband and I could only shrug back at them. There is no doubt that Where the Wild Things Are is a well-made movie, great cinemaography, editing, acting and effects. But, the story that is portrayed in the trailers is not the story that is told in the theaters. These monsters have issues. Don't we all? But, working out angst and anger marinated issues for the entertainment of children just really doesn't work. If you are into indie films (because that is what this comes across as although it is not), want something a bit intellectual to chew on, and want that meal in a creative package -then this is the film for you. However, if you are looking for a movie for the family to enjoy... well, my movie hounds asked to leave before their popcorn was finished and talked the whole way home and into the next day about how disturbing they found the film. Where the Wild Things are is not for kids; not because it's inappropriate but because it's like trying to feed them something like liver pate when they thought they were going to get pizza. My kids are movie hounds and wait anxiously for the release of new movies (think of goats at the feeding machines of petting zoos level of excitement).

The trailers led us to believe that we were in for light-hearted, rolicking, childhood-fun world of make believe, adventure, and lessons about growing up.

We settled into the packed audience; popcorn, soda and those evil sugar stick things at the ready. I’d say it was probably about 20 minutes in that I started to hear the first of the whining from the younger tots in the audience.

After about 30 minutes my kids were looking over at me with confused looks; and my husband and I could only shrug back at them.

There is no doubt that Where the Wild Things Are is a well-made movie, great cinemaography, editing, acting and effects. But, the story that is portrayed in the trailers is not the story that is told in the theaters.

These monsters have issues. Don’t we all? But, working out angst and anger marinated issues for the entertainment of children just really doesn’t work.

If you are into indie films (because that is what this comes across as although it is not), want something a bit intellectual to chew on, and want that meal in a creative package -then this is the film for you. However, if you are looking for a movie for the family to enjoy… well, my movie hounds asked to leave before their popcorn was finished and talked the whole way home and into the next day about how disturbing they found the film.

Where the Wild Things are is not for kids; not because it’s inappropriate but because it’s like trying to feed them something like liver pate when they thought they were going to get pizza.

]]> By: Brittany http://www.christandpopculture.com/featured/is-wild-things-too-dark-or-are-disney-films-too-light/#comment-54493 Brittany Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:13:16 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=4958#comment-54493 I thought that the film captured certain elements of being a child very well--elements of childhood that are not typically expressed in film. Childhood is often portrayed as a cute, happy, innocent time in life, but the picture that this film paints is much more realistic: life is not always pleasant or what you want it to be. As a Christian, I can definitely appreciate the film's honesty because it illustrates that children are also fallen human beings who desperately need Christ. Having said that, however, I will say that I did not enjoy watching Where the Wild Things Are much because I sympathized so much with the characters--although I maintain that it was a good film, skillfully made. I thought that the film captured certain elements of being a child very well–elements of childhood that are not typically expressed in film. Childhood is often portrayed as a cute, happy, innocent time in life, but the picture that this film paints is much more realistic: life is not always pleasant or what you want it to be. As a Christian, I can definitely appreciate the film’s honesty because it illustrates that children are also fallen human beings who desperately need Christ. Having said that, however, I will say that I did not enjoy watching Where the Wild Things Are much because I sympathized so much with the characters–although I maintain that it was a good film, skillfully made.

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