Where The Wild Things Are

[Slap-Happy]

Where the Wild Things Are is a film adaptation of a Maurice Sendak picture book of the same name. The film will be directed by Spike Jonze and written by Dave Eggers.

The movie will combine live action, suitmation, animatronics and CGI. The film's release was schedueled to be an October 16, 2009 release date but Warner Brothers has removed the movie from their schedule altogether.

Where the Wild Things Are was originally set for release from Universal, and a teaser of the film was attached to the 2000 film The Grinch. However, disagreements between Universal and Jonze led him to take the film to Warner Bros.

Filming began in April of 2006 at Central City Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Adam Keenan and John Nolan will be responsible for the animatronics. The film is currently in post-production.

The cast includes Catherine Keener, Max Records, James Gandolfini, Angus Sampson, Forest Whitaker, Michelle Williams, Catherine O'Hara, Rachel Rivera, Melissa Davis and Paul Dano. Recently, Lauren Ambrose has been cast to replace Williams as the voice of one of the monsters. The filmmakers reportedly "enjoyed working with Williams, but her voice didn't match their original vision of how the Wild Thing should sound."

The seven creatures will be actors in up to nine-foot tall suits made of foam, although it is expected that their faces will be computer-generated.

On February 20, 2008, rumors emerged that Warner Brothers is considering reshooting the entire film. Whether Jonze has final cut on the film is not certain. It is not known if Jonze and Eggers would be involved in the possible reshoots.

Plot outline
The film concerns the imaginary adventures of a young boy named Max, who is angry after being sent to his room without supper. He then creates a forest inhabited by many large imaginary monsters, who crown him their ruler.

Cast
Max Records as Max
Catherine Keener as Max's Mother
James Gandolfini as Carol (voice)
Forest Whitaker as Ira (voice)
Lauren Ambrose as KW (voice)
Catherine O'Hara as Judith (voice)
Tom Noonan as Wild Thing (voice)
Paul Dano as Alexander (voice)
Steve Mouzakis as Mr. Elliot
Angus Sampson as TBA
Rachel Rivera as TBA
Melissa Davis as TBA

Crew
Directed by Spike Jonze
Screenplay by Dave Eggers, Michael Goldenberg and Spike Jonze
Based on the book by Maurice Sendak
Produced by John B. Carls, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Vincent Landay and Maurice Sendak
Executive producers Jon Jashni, Scott Mednick and Thomas Tull
Director of photography Lance Acord
Production designer K. K. Barrett
Edited by Eric Zumbrunnen
Visual effects supervisor Marc Kolbe
Costume designer Casey Strom
Creature effects supervisor Dave Elsey

Test Footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xGfIPskRkw

[Zog the Equalizer]

I don't know how they're gonna turn a short picture book into a full length movie

[Voltron]

Originally Posted by Replicant

I don't know how they're gonna turn a short picture book into a full length movie

The story will be expanded by a new plotline where Max's mother is arrested after he calls DYFS to report child abuse. The feds come, see a kid dressed as a wolf with no food and a lot of acid in his room. . .

Critics are already lauding this as one of the best courtroom dramas in ages.

[Brodie]

Originally Posted by Replicant

I don't know how they're gonna turn a short picture book into a full length movie

You mean like:
The Grinch
Zathura
Jumanji
Horton Hears a Who
Shrek
The Polar Express
Curious George
etc.

Not to mention all those children's books that spawned long running cartoons.

[KROW]

Originally Posted by Voltron

The story will be expanded by a new plotline where Max's mother is arrested after he calls DYFS to report child abuse. The feds come, see a kid dressed as a wolf with no food and a lot of acid in his room. . .

Critics are already lauding this as one of the best courtroom dramas in ages.

Sounds like an Oliver Stone flick.

Originally Posted by zeromagnus

Test Footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xGfIPskRkw

Looks nice. Where the Wild Things Are was one of my favorites as a kid. I can't wait to see the Conga line scene.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by Brodie

You mean like:
The Grinch
Zathura
Jumanji
Horton Hears a Who
Shrek
The Polar Express
Curious George
etc.

Not to mention all those children's books that spawned long running cartoons.

I think he was being sarcastic. most of those were pretty brutal. And much as I loved the first 2 Shreks, they bare little in common with the book.

Plus, the memory of the Cat in the Hat movie has left a sour taste in my mouth. Horton was alright, but only because of the animation. it seemed too soggy (as most Blue Sky films are. You guys need better screen play writers.)

If this footage is in the movie, I don't know. It seems pretty Schitzo... what's that Robot dance about?

[Slap-Happy]

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by Brodie

You mean like:
The Grinch
Zathura
Jumanji
Horton Hears a Who
Shrek
The Polar Express
Curious George
etc.

Not to mention all those children's books that spawned long running cartoons.

Wait what? Shrek was based on a book?!

[Brodie]

Yeah, it was.


http://www.williamsteig.com/shrek.htm

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by Brodie

Yeah, it was.


http://www.williamsteig.com/shrek.htm

The underlining concept was. The stuff about Fairy tale parodies, and the over all aspect of the princess were new. There WAS a princess in the book, but she was completely different. Think Grundgetta from Sesame Street.... She Loved being grouchy.

[Brodie]

So why wouldn't I say it was based on a book?

It takes less time than stating what you said.

Its like saying A History of Violence was based on a graphic novel. Yes, the whole movie after William Hurt's death isn't in the book, and the book has a totally different storyline after, but it was still based on a graphic novel.

Think Deathwish.

Edit: Looking back at that, it looks more mean than how I actually mean it. Moreso just stating the information, don't take it the wrong way.

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by Brodie

Its like saying A History of Violence was based on a graphic novel. Yes, the whole movie after John Hurt's death isn't in the book, and the book has a totally different storyline after, but it was still based on a graphic novel.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is based on a book by Ian Fleming. The book and the movie have basically 2 different plots. For one thing Cracticus is married (Mimsie Pott) and there's no castle with evil royals but gangsters that the Pott's piss off in France. I was a bit confused when I read the book after growing up watching the movie but I actually like the book more than the movie.

Sometimes when a movie is nothing like the book it pisses me off. Like "Sahara"....the book has a the ship as a subplot while the movie has it as the main plot.