WHERE THE WILD THINGS AIN’T

[defrog]

I haven’t seen the film version of Where The Wild Things Are (as it’s not out in Hong Kong yet), and I haven’t decided yet if I’ll go. I love the source material and Spike Jonze, but like a lot of people, I have my doubts about stretching a book that takes first-graders under ten minutes to read to a feature-length film.

But I like this Newsweek interview with Maurice Sendak, Spike Jonze and script co-writer Dave Eggers. Specifically, I like this part which has been buzzing about the blogscape:

What do you say to parents who think the Wild Things film may be too scary?
Sendak: I would tell them to go to hell. That's a question I will not tolerate.

Because kids can handle it?
Sendak: If they can't handle it, go home. Or wet your pants. Do whatever you like. But it's not a question that can be answered.

Which, for my money, needs to be said a lot more often in an age where old Sesame Street episodes are considered too hardcore for today’s kids.

Meanwhile, Andrew Romano at Newsweek has a good column on why it doesn’t matter if WTWTA is too scary for kids – and that even if it is, that’s still a good thing.

See also: a good piece from Michael Chabon on the death of the Wilderness of Childhood, and the impact on both children’s imaginations and literature itself.

Come out and play,

This is dF