Let the wild rumpus start!!
I saw this movie with my dear friend, Lani when it was playing in the theaters and really enjoyed it. There were mixed reviews floating around and even I was skeptical that a children’s picture-book with less than 50 pages could be made into a feature-length film. However, I have enjoyed Spike Jonze’s work on many, many occasions and was impressed from what I saw in the trailers as far as costumes and design. Then I saw an interview where Jonze claimed that he tapped into his own childhood and how he felt when he was 9 years old and I was sold.
It took me awhile to get that all the monsters represented the different emotions that Max was feeling but once it finally hit me, it all made sense. I guess I never really understood the book. The moment KW delivered the line “Please don’t go, we’ll eat you up, we love you so.” it just all sank in. All those crazy emotions we feel about our parents. The people that are supposed to protect us, nourish us, and make the world feel like everything is going to be okay. But when we feel like they aren’t doing what we need…well let’s just say there can be a lot of anger and fear. At the same time I can see how the parent would feel. Almost as if they are required to give entirely of themselves no matter the cost. Children or so selfish (I mean that in jest) …. but what choice do they have?
It wasn’t until the ending credits that I finally heard Karen O’s voice and I thought…did the Yeah Yeah Yeahs do the soundtrack? It doesn’t quite sound like them but her voice is so distinctive.
Karen O and the Kids – All is Love
Of course I looked it up as soon as I got home and apparently I was light-years behind everyone that already knew the soundtrack was awesome. Karen O And The Kids was the name of the group that Karen O put together in order to make the soundtrack. I’m sure you can hear the kids in that track and understand where the name came from. I also feel this song captures the same sentiment because it is all based in love. It may take different forms and fear and anger might cloud things once in awhile…but it’s all just love. Feeling it, wanting it, missing it.
