Posted on 10/13/2009 2:39:28 AM PDT by Daffynition
Edited on 10/13/2009 2:50:44 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
This Friday, October 16, the movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are opens in theaters.
The poignant 10-sentence book about an angry boy who is sent to bed without supper and sails to a magical land overrun by wild creatures has been made into a full-length feature film with a script by director Spike Jonze (recently interviewed by the Chronicle) and local boy Dave Eggers.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
>>In the former instance, the worst thing that can happen with an equipment malfunction is an interruption of the experience.<<
Does it really teach them anything? Except that if you are afraid of something, it will all be happy in the end?
You make it sound like I’m saying, “Here little Johnny, for your fourth birthday, have a gun. Go shoot something.”
I would think that safety is taught by the parents as well.
The “fear” to be found in a theater seat is make believe.
Subjecting young children to it, teaches nothing except movies are scary.
“Grown-ups are afraid for children. It’s not children who are afraid.”
That said, I’m taking my kids to see this movie. I loved the book when I was a kid ... maybe cause I could relate to Max.
Me too and for the same reason I think.
I wonder what crowd they are expecting at the movie. Judging by my facebook newsfeed, the 18-25 age group will be well represented.
Let me tell you a story.
I took my three year old to see Toy Story 2 at a theater. I did the research, I knew what to expect.
As the previews started, some darling little dinosaurs, hatching out of eggs were shown on the screen. The were playing and cooing while sweet music played. Suddenly, a T-Rex crashed through the bushes behind them. It was an trailer for the movie “Dinosaurs”. My daughter, along with about 50 other kids literally screamed and started crying. We walked out as did many of the other families.
Oh yeah, scaring the hell out of preschoolers is a hoot.
By that logic, flight simulators are useless in pilot training.
Have a nice day.
>>flight simulators are useless in pilot training.<<
How many preschoolers do you know that are Pilot training?
For heaven’s sake, if you are training to be a pilot, you need to learn. You understand that parents have the right to drop their money on what they want. They asked for information and the author told them to go to hell.
We’re talking about a MOVIE. It’s entertainment.
By your reasoning, nothing should be age restricted.
Saw IV and Sex and the City can be great learning tools too.
I totally agree, most of the people I know in that age group are extremely excited for that movie - maybe it’s nostalgia for their childhood. I actually wonder if the movie isn’t targeted towards them more than it is for actual children. That said, I’ve seen endless previews and TV spots, and it doesn’t look scary at all. I think the only kids it might scare are the ones who are at an age where they’re terrified of completely random and puzzling things like people in crayon costumes or baby lambs even though they’re not scared of ‘scary’ things like spiders or the dark.
I think there has been some definite marketing to older people as well.
I had to laugh at James Gandolfini’s response to the question about if kids would be scared, “How am I supposed to know? I’m not 9 years old.”
Supposedly the climax is somewhat scary, but I don’t think it will be anything too bad. It probably isn’t appropriate for some very young kids, but I can’t imagine those around 9 or so would have problems with it.
All my kids loved that book.
My parents got into reading to me stories of Thorton Burguess (?) Mother west wind stories....Loved them they were all about animals and I can still remember some of the names of them 65 years later...Johnny Woodchuck, Old Mother West Wind, Readdy the Fox.....
Most stories set out to explain why certain animals act the way they do in story form...(hope this doesn't sound too complicated). Sometimes animals could or couldn't do certain things because they behaved badly and had certain things taken away....
They were in fact moral stories of good and bad, action and resulting reaction...Been out of print for decades.
As many as are hunting or skydiving.
Very interesting article. I am a student of my family history and my sister is a “progressive” social worker; we have had discussions about what role genetics actually has in the American being. She of course, is much oriented in behavioralism and the role of environment.
However, when I trace the family tree back hundreds of years and see we were always adventurous, independent thinkers involved in the military and religion, with a strong intellectual bent; well, I’ve formed my own opinions.
My mother left her dustbowl KS farm at 17 to work in NYC, very analagous to my pilgrim and puritan forbears. We have always been responsible risktakers - is that a conundrum? Yet I see it in the American psyche.
I had this book memorized at one time. Just guessing but if your kid is scared of a vacuum cleaner don’t take them to the movies.
>>As many as are hunting or skydiving.<<
How about addressing the rest of the post besides the rhetoric?
That post appeared to be 100% rhetoric. Perhaps I missed something. If so, upon reveiew, I’m still missing it. Sorry.
Seems Sendak touched some cords. That’s a role of art and lit. Heck, he’s calling out the helicopter parents and expressing an opinion, and observing that kids like “Max” can pretty much figure out their own fears and how to overcome them. Bravo.
I thought it was a great article. Glad you liked it. I never thought the American spirit in that light, but it sure seems to fit.
It’s okay.
Apparently it’s over your head.
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