Buy Or Don’t Buy

Earlier this year there was a buzz growing around about a live-action version of Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are.” It’s a children’s book. And I was basically raised on that book. It’s about a little boy who is grounded and while he is in his room, he imagines he is in this land of “wild things” and he becomes their king. My brother may or may not be named after the main character.

I think you get it. I really like this book. When I found out Spike Jonze, the director of Being John Malkovich and multiple music videos, was signed on to create a grown up version of the book. I was stoked. They even released test footage which just seems so surreal.

Almost as quickly as that video was spread around, rumors came out saying that the project was completely scraped. That this children book adaptation actually made children cry. With some test shots and sample screenings, word got out that the movie was “subversive” and the main character was unlikeable (according to Chud.com). Even with an $80 million budget, the studio was willing to take Spike Jonze off the project and write a new script.

All of that is bad news. But recently there’s been a turn in events for this little movie that wants to be made. The studio turned around and gave Jonze, who’s apparently back on the project and never left, an even bigger budget. Alan Horn, head of Warner Brothers said this:

“We’ve given him more money and, even more importantly, more time for him to work on the film… We obviously still have a challenge on our hands. But I wouldn’t call it a problem, simply a challenge. No one wants to turn this into a bland, sanitized studio movie. This is a very special piece of material and we’re just trying to get it right.” (LA Times)

Now this is a massive buy! The movie makes children cry (+1), it is a Spike Jonze project (+2), it looks like its going to be a creative adaptation of a personal favorite bedtime story (+1), and it’s causing drama in the studios, which means it’s taking on the “Man” (+2). In my book, thats a 6 point buy!

It was reported to come out in October 2009, which was before Jonze was off (and back on) the project. So now the release date is even more in the air. For its amazing casting and other information, check out IMDB.