Where the Wild Things Are: A very strange Beast …

You know, you can probably guess by now, that it’s Saturday, hadn’t you … ?

Hadn’t you … ?

I hope so.

Or, at least, I hope it’s Saturday …

Ever get the feeling I’m a little on the tired side … ?

Well, if you haven’t by now, you’ve not been paying attention, now, have you … ?

Actually, you can probably maybe also tell that I might — might — just finish this post in the morning …

But I’m digressing, aren’t I … ?

Because I think — or have opinions on — a couple of things.

Firstly … ?

That Kevin D and I — along with Squeaky and her boyfriend, Josh* — have seen possibly one of the strangest films we’ve watched.

And that — quite possibly — Movie Night Adrian may be kicking himself for missing it …

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He got an invite to a party. Wish I had time for a social life …

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Now, what was I saying … ?

Oh yeah, tonight’s film …

Which was quite … strange …

Tonight’s film was the 2009, Spike Jonze directed take on Maurice Sendak’s classic, Where The Wild Things Are.

Which — if I can remember my childhood reading well enough — was a fairly strange experience, on its own.

And I’m thinking that the film … ? Is a good match, in that sense.

There’s minor differences.

But not necessarily ones, I think, that detract from the basic story.

Where The Wild Things Are sees Max — played by Max Records — creating mischief, a bad patch in his life.

And — in a scene that blurs into a dream — sees Max sailing away to the Land of the Wild Things.

Where, much like the book, he becomes King of the Wild Things, and starting a Wild Rumpus …

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Now, I’ll admit, I’ve seen some strange films in my time.

Repo: The GENETIC Opera springs to mind, here. Which was definitely strange.

But strange in a way that my Aunty Bella calls “Funny: Ha, Ha”. With Repo: The GENETIC Opera, you can see what the producers were pointing at and smirking about.

But Where the Wild Things Are … ?

Is what I think she’d call “Funny: Peculiar”.

I’m thinking she’d be right. Because I think that the film of Where the Wild Things Are catches the strangeness of childhood. And only some of the joy we’re meant to experience.

It catches the pleasure of being able to roam, play and explore as and when one will or can.

But also catches the bewilderment a child may find, and anger they may feel, in seeing a adult world and being powerless over it.

But above all … ?

The need for an escape from it, into a world of ones own making …

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That, I’m thinking, is where I’m going to leave tonight’s post.

But I will leave you with one thought, about Where The Wild Things Are.

I think you should see this.

Tom Baker — as Dr Who — once send, early in his playing of the character, once said something along the lines of “There’s no point growing up if you can’t be childish, sometimes”.

And I’m thinking that Where the Wild Things Are is a film that will take us back there for 90 minutes, or so.

Not just reminding us of the joy we — as children — can take in imaginary friends.

But also in the terror that the adult world can sometimes present us with.

Now, if you’ll excuse me … ?

I’m off to bed … !

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* Tall chap, there: you can’t miss him …