This week, trailers were released for two feature film adaptations of cherished childhood books: Where The Wild Things Are and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The former preview has all sorts of buzz (Spike Jonze is directing, the source material is arguably more famous), but I gotta admit that part of me is slightly more intrigued by Cloudy (if I may be so cavalier to call it just Cloudy). Never mind that it's directed by two Dartmouth grads (Phil Lord and Chris Miller), but Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs has always been one of my favorite children's books, and it's something that just seems to beg for a big screen adaptation (even if it is in animated form). However, will it pander to kids too much? Where The Wild Things Are is also a great classic though, but I have to admit I'm somewhat turned off by the slightly pretentious use of the Arcade Fire to score the trailer. That being said, the artistry of Spike Jonze certainly makes up for quite a bit. Hmmm... I'm a bit torn. What do you think?
Trailers for both films after the jump...
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
Where The Wild Things Are
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Well, judging by the trailers, "Cloudy" seems eminently more enjoyable.....
I am really excited about Where the Wild Things Are -- I found out about that project years ago through some Dave Eggers site (he's doing the screenplay adaptation) and since he and Jonze are two of my favorite people EVER I've been waiting with bated breath! Cloudy looks good, too, though I don't remember that book from childhood myself.
I love how I don't need to read entertainment news anymore because you always tell me everything I need to know. : )
I think Wild Things looks good, nice and low budget like CLASSIC movies we watched as kids, not this over CGI-ed shit they do now.
How is the use of Arcade Fire pretentious? Looking at it from the perspective of a grown-up who LOVED the book as a kid, I think a live-action feature with a thoughtful score is appropriate. I can't wait to see it.
I agree "Cloudy" does seem like it would adapt better to the screen. It also is one I'd be less likely to see in a theater. Strictly DVD, on demand or premium channel fare.
...nom nom nom
Since I was a pretentious, niggling twit even as a small child, I never cared for Wild Things. I remember as a 6 year old thinking that Sendak had spent all of his time and energy making the elaborate drawings and put no effort into the story to match.
My son got back at me by falling IN LOVE with a video I checked out from the library -- of the OPERA adaptation of the book. That was a very long, dark two weeks of my life, as the viewings repeated on and on and on. For the life of me, I cannot imagine that story being drawn out to feature length.