Arts&Entertainment AtTheMovies SoundCheck Where the Wild Things Are is a Artist: Mika perfect children’s story for adults Album: The Boy Who Knew Too Much Directed by Spike Jonze. Genre: Pop Written by Jonze and Dave Eggers. Starring Max Records, Catherine Keener and James BY CATHY COOKSEY • THE LUMBERJACK Gandolfini. Running Time: 101 minutes. Rated PG. ika’s The Boy Who Knew until the fifth track, “I See You.” Too Much is a glam rock- From there, the entire album takes Mfilled album trying to a step back to create a slower, laid- BY GARY SUNDT • THE LUMBERJACK convey the message of being hap- back sound with piano bars creat- py with who you are while dealing ing a more serious tone. here The Wild Things Are is Consider Max (Max Records), who cial effects, and the monsters and their with what life throws at you. The On the ninth track, “By the a visual and narrative mas- has been developed into a fully realized environment feel as tangible as any cre- popular artist’s second album has Time,” Imogen Heap joins Mika W terpiece. The film is osten- depiction of childhood: the robust talk ation in cinema history. a familiar vibe to his first album, to create a very heartfelt dramatic sibly designed for kids, but the central in the face of adversity; to be laughing There is a tremendous amount of Life in Cartoon Motion. song about waking up alone after story is a rich and complex tale better one moment, and in tears the next; etc. symbolism in Where the Wild Things “We are Golden” is the first a two-year relationship; the result suited for adults. And why shouldn’t He finds little solace in his single mother Are, and there might be a deeper un- track and single of The Boy Who is possibly the best song on the al- there be a children’s movie for grown- (Catherine Keener), who is too busy derstanding of basic human nature than Knew Too Much. The song is filled bum. ups? Most can admit they still have with work, and his teenage sister (Pepita general audiences are used to in a “chil- with poppy melodies and Mika’s While The Boy Who Knew lessons to learn, and even some basic Emmerichs), who is too busy with being dren’s film.” One of the film’s strengths is familiar octave changes in his Too Much is overall a fun album teachings that could use a refresher. a teenager. the careful detail used to analyze simple voice every other line, which is with a glam rock sound, it has mo- The film is directed and co-written And what about the Wild Things events in the human experience. While nothing really different from his ments when it sounds very similar by Spike Jonze and is based on the nine- themselves? Sendack’s art made them this focus on simplicity may polarize first album. to his first albumLife in Cartoon sentence children’s book by Maurice monstrous, too scary for kids in some and confuse audiences, I think it injects The Boy Who Knew Too Much Motion. Sendak. The story is about young Max, cases, and the live action delineations into the piece one of the more honest continues to have a similar sound who, after being sent to bed without are not far from the original source. stories ever in a big-budget Hollywood supper by his mother, uses his elaborate While their characterization in the book release. Artist: Brand New imagination to travel by sea to the island is mostly limited to a “monster walk,” the I said at the start this was a film where the Wild Things are. The crea- film develops the Wild Things into fully- better suited for grown-ups, and perhaps Album: Daisy tures are giant furry beasts (with features fledged extensions of Max’s conflicted that’s true. Speaking as an adult, Where Genre: Alternative similar to bears, goats, birds and what- personality. the Wild Things Are brought out the kid ever else a child’s mind would choose to The Wild Things are as follows: Car- in me, and all the joys and sorrows that throw in), and they quickly declare Max ol (James Gandolfini), the self-absorbed go with the mindset. I rarely become their king. leader; Judith (Catherine O’Hara), the completely immersed in a film the way BY ALICIA GILLMAN • THE LUMBERJACK Noting that the story is very short know-it-all; Alexander (Paul Dano), the I was absorbed by Max and his Wild rand New’s most recent al- sion that emanates from both the also suggests that it probably doesn’t short and ignored Wild Thing; the pleas- Things, and I think anybody seeking a bum, Daisy, was officially vocals and music. Jesse Lacey’s warrant a feature length treatment. But ant Ira (Forest Whitaker); the obedient little adventure might feel the same. Breleased on iTunes and in screaming returns in the chorus of the script by Jonze and Dave Eggers digs Douglas (Chris Cooper); and the loving stores on Sept. 22. Eager fans of “Sink,” but once again it is used to deeper than the original premise and KW (Lauren Ambrose). Jonze and Co. the band were able to find a leaked successfully portray feelings more unearths a wonderfully sweet yet utterly have utilized a perfect combination of version online and instantly de- powerful than those in their softer heartbreaking film. practical and computer-generated spe- voured it prior to its formal release. songs. TakeTwo BY CATHY COOKSEY • THE LUMBERJACK Because of this reaction, it is obvi- While many albums depend ous Daisy held the burden of Brand on catchy beats to attract fans, Dai- iewers of Spike Jonze’s Where Carol (James Gandolfini) and KW throughout the movie, Max deals with New devotees’ high expectations. sy relies on a mixture of metaphori- the Wild Things Are will real- (Lauren Ambrose). The arguments each Wild Thing, helping himself to The album begins with “Vic- cal lyrics and music. Many Biblical Vize this movie is far from the Carol and KW get into are like watch- become a better person. es,” a ballad consisting of mostly references are made as a means of children’s book by Maurice Sendak that ing your friend’s parents fight, but are Jonze has placed metaphors for screaming -- a change of pace from symbolism, demanding a slight many of them read as children. distracting from the movie’s mood. the struggles of growing up and grow- Brand New’s past albums. However, understanding of religious context Jonze’s adaptation takes a notice- Carol and KW’s arguments act as ing apart throughout, taking one of the it is not a terrible adjustment. The for interpretative purposes. Brand ably darker tone than the book, using a metaphor for Max’s family struggles, most recognizable children’s stories beginning stretch of emotion in New has always been an acquired a children’s premise to make a film for while the other Wild Things act for and turning it into a memorable film “Vices” properly launches the tone taste, and some may not enjoy their adults. Max’s emotional state. Alexander, a that will not only entertain children, and power of the entire album. “At consistent complexity; however, if Throughout the film, a struggle of goat creature, is starved for attention, but adults as well. the Bottom,” the third song on the listened to with an open mind, Dai- growing up and staying in contact with representing Max’s need for attention album, is Daisy’s strongest track sy is exceptionally brilliant. family is seen between Wild Things at the beginning of the movie. Slowly simply because of the strong pas- 24 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com