October 16, 2009

At the Movies: Gorgeous ‘Wild Things' roars to the screen

“Where the Wild Things Are,” the book, is just 339 words long. But in turning it into “Where the Wild Things Are,” the movie, director Spike Jonze has expanded the basic story with a breathtaking visual scheme and stirring emotional impact.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Director: Spike Jonze Cast: Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Cooper, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Dano, James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language Running time: 101 minutes

It's a gorgeous film: This may sound contradictory, but it's intricate and rough-hewn at the same time, dreamlike and earthy. What keeps it from reaching complete excellence is the thinness of the script, which Jonze co-wrote with Dave Eggers.

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