I’m sorry the movie didn’t work for you, but a fair number of people applauded (adults and children) at the half-packed Sunday night showing I attended.

It was marketed pretty accurately to my mind, from the music choices to the films it was put in front of. Goldstein is right on the mark. It’s not going to be considered a success, but it will do repeat business and sell a sizable number of DVDs and Blu-rays.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2009/10/warners-survives-a-wild-ride-on-spike-jonzes-wild-things.html

The alternative was to lie and suck in more of a family crowd for a strong opening weekend. I’m glad they were honest about it. You can’t look at the trailer and say “Hey, that isn’t what the movie is really like”

Not knowing how it’s being marketed, I’d guess the film’s appeal is less to family tastes than to an adult sensibility — which now has me wondering about box office. . . .

http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/411288_tvgmovies19.html

To be honest, I hope that a really talented and visionary director makes *every* movie for themselves first. Why do I want them pandering to a specific audience? That just leads either to mindless, soulless crap that fills Summers and half of awards’ season or condescending, pretentious dribble.

You can tell me about box office this and test screenings that, but I think many of the best films came from great inspiration and drive, not from some effort to appease an audience. Even Hitchcock, the greatest crowd-pleaser to ever sit in a director’s chair, was still making the movies to please himself and his wife first and foremost.

I think it’s appealing to people in the 20 – 40 range. People who grew up on the book and who don’t remember childhood so fondly.

I actually built a snow fort when I was a kid…complete with an armory of snowballs in the ready to throw…but had no one who would play with me. So yeah. I think I’m Wild Things’ target audience.

So where does that leave us? Young adults? . . . or maybe those who haven’t fully resolved some major issues involving childhood? I really dunno.

Just to reiterate — despite my reservations about aspects of the film, it still gets a good grade from me.

There may well be other things you don’t like about it, but it won’t be because of the usual family movie tropes.

If memory serves, you and Pierre disliked different things about WALL-E so I’m not sure if his reaction here is a useful signpost…other than to the extent you generally agree or disagree with him about things that is.

All this is a long way of saying “I don’t know if you’ll like it or not” I kind of hope you give it a shot and fall for it. If nothing else I think you’ll appreciate the filmmaking even if the story and tone don’t do anything for you.

The At the Movies guys loved it ->

http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/atm/

Me, I found the monsters totally captivating.

The giant dog also made me laugh, but I don’t know why.

I don’t know what you’re referring to, Pierre. This clearly wasn’t a Transformers or Star Wars prequel, where effects and elements are being added just to sell toys or fill out a scene. If anything, I thought WTWTA is one of the very few movies out there this year that uses its SFX very sparingly and only to serve the purpose of the story. The only shot I thought was unnecessary or completely throwaway was the giant dog. Not only did I not find the joke funny, it had nothing to do with the rest of the film and felt like some weird in-joke.

Otherwise, I guess I don’t agree with you unless I misunderstood your point.

I’ve made my case for the film the best I can. I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t share my joy.

I think it’s pretty much an impossible movie to defend or criticize, because everyone’s reaction is extremely subjective. You’re recreating a collective childhood memory, and half of the people are going to say, “I remember it differently.”

Sam, I can see where you’re coming from though I still liked the film. As often is the case, I feel ambivalent about this one. There were times while watching this film that I felt the tediousness, for example. My reaction reminded me of how I felt when seeing WALL-E, which I nevertheless liked. My rationalization is that I have a lower tolerance than some for special effects that seem to be there for their own sake.

In any event, WtWTA is a grand attempt at a monumental challenge. I give it an “A” for effort. I keep thinking at the ingenuity of fleshing out what I view as the personification of various psychological states into separate characters. Though I feel the dialogue could have benefited from more work, I ask myself, “Who else is even attempting something like this with as much result?”

but if trad rock crap like the fire arcade gets to go to the top of ‘indie’/'alternative’. hell the wild things movie/ may as well have people drooling.

yeah craig, you did bring up some points i missed. but wild things doesn’t inspire me to use my limited potential brain power to really even attempt to say any coherent. oh and my spelling sucks too.

this is the film people are going crazy over. f**k this.

‘everybody’s waiting /for you to focus on the things/you’re hating’ ; )

just make it stop. and i’m glad this isn’t getting across the board glowing reveiws. although i suspect if i check more blog type things/ this well be the case….oh hello craig. :)

craig, i saw wild things at the angelika (8 pm friday showing) and i think it was the room that holds 280 something people wise. and everything aside from the first three rows.were filled. (yep i got there late had to sit in row three )

and kids. what kids.at this showing it was all adults. (and most of those weren’t of the super young ) variety .there was some smattering of kids. but it looked like they were dragged there by the adults. *ha ha *

i could have ad the wild thing book read to me when i was younger/or maybe i read it. but i don’t remeber.

sorry, my memory is beyond beyond horrible. i contrast to seemingly everyone else that can remember evry detail when they were younger. hell and i’m probably happier that i don’t remember. :)

oh well it’s probaly for the best since i’ve currently forgotten oh to read….

and no craig, i’m not fondly remembering this film *at all*. i even hate the soundtrack/score whatever it is/called.oh wait but i forget i hate music. ; )

now if i could only forget the wild things movie….

Regardless, I applaud the display of passion and appreciation for the film, and for this outstanding review, which makes quite the fecund statement.

That says a lot — if not all.

It was heartfelt with genuine sentiment, and to borrow your words, it never talked down to its audience. In short, it made me feel giddy as I watched it unspool.

The soundtrack and score are rightly praised here, as they were quintessential in allowing this viewer to gently submerge into this most pleasant and satisfying film’s environment.