ROTTEN TOMATOES: Forest Whitaker Likes Where the Wild Things Are the Way It Is

Forest Whitaker Likes Where the Wild Things Are the Way It Is

Offers public support for Spike Jonze's cut.

by Jeff Giles | March 27, 2008

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No matter how many rumors swirl around his adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, Spike Jonze can rest easy knowing he has Forest Whitaker's full support.

Whitaker, who contributed voicework to Where the Wild Things Are, has heard all the rumors about Warner Bros. being unhappy with the film and/or ordering extensive re-shoots -- and he doesn't mind telling us, through MTV Movies, that he thinks the movie's fine just the way it is. And so do his children, for that matter -- he took his brood, ages 9, 11, and 16, to an early screening, and by his estimation, "It was intense. They liked it, though. They enjoyed it."

Whitaker's so perturbed by all the rumors that he's planning on reaching out to Jonze to see what's going on. As he tells MTV, the movie's darker moments are essential:

The thing is, it's one thing to read [scary stuff] in a book, but when you see an itty-bitty kid running alongside a 10-foot-giant on the side of a cliff, it gets intense. But that's the point, because we're representing the things inside of the kid. They represent his struggles, either him being too angry or being confused, or not feeling like he belongs. They're a gargantuan extension of the way he's feeling inside.

Wait -- what? A film that treats children's emotions honestly and trusts them to be able to deal with it? Yeah, Spike's director's cut is totally doomed. Who wants to break the news to Forest?

Source: MTV Movies

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(1-11 of 11 posts) | Reply

TheGreatOne13 writes:
on Mar 27 2008 06:32 AM

This bettter me made in the Spike Jonze way....stick it to the man!

(Reply to this)

spitting into the wind writes:
on Mar 27 2008 06:47 AM

Spike Jonze has always made interesting movies. The studio heads should have a little faith and realise that his way is the right way. He is invested in the making of the movie. They fail to realise when they interfere only bad things can happen.

(Reply to this)

rustdog writes:
on Mar 27 2008 06:51 AM

I saw a stage version of this when I was a child. The most exciting parts were the scary stuff. Children are just small people. We as a society really need to start being more honest with our children and stop hiding life from them. The best children's movies all have themes of death and fear and thats what makes them so universal to all ages and people.

(Reply to this)

jpotter writes:
on Mar 27 2008 07:28 AM

really hope we get to see this...

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citizenjames writes:
on Mar 27 2008 07:34 AM

in the commentary to LEMONY SNICKET director brad siberling said he knew the studio would fight him on the darkness of the material. he formed a focus group of kids and told them what he planned on changing and filmed the kids freaking out whenever he said he'd change parts of the book (which is never planned to). whenever the studio thought something would be too dark to kids, he played them the tape.

as adults, we forget the source material was made for children. instead we don't think like kids but think as a filter for kids.

www.jamesford.wordpress.com

(Reply to this)

dahluzz writes:
on Mar 27 2008 10:04 AM

so the fat cats have taken it upon themselves to be overpreotective parents for the youth community at large? c'mon suits, i bet YOUR kids don't get that much attention. "Not now sally, papa's gotta read the new Shrek 4 script to make sure its appropriate for kids like you."

fine, while watching the film a few kids might pee in their pants, maybe even poop, maybe both, who knows, but that doesn't mean the vast majority of kids can't enjoy and learn from the movie. you know which kids are gonna be defecating in their drawers? the ones whose parents try to shield them "the real world."

It's a movie about monsters, it's gonna be a little scary...

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Tollens writes:
on Mar 27 2008 11:32 AM

I am sooooo excited to see this movie. I really hope they leave it the way Spike Jonze has intended. This was my favorite book when I was a kid, and it was because it was so very weird and a bit scary that I liked it. If Forest Whitaker liked it, it's probably a pretty good movie.
Crossing my fingers that they won't touch the film.

(Reply to this)

marktime writes:
on Mar 27 2008 03:26 PM

It's unfortunate that the stdio will try to destroy someones vision like this.

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MaxFisher14 writes:
on Mar 27 2008 04:36 PM

I ahve a good feeling for this, because Jonez is a f-cking genius.

(Reply to this)

nightbat666 writes:
on Mar 28 2008 01:07 AM

it'll be released one way or another.

(Reply to this)

dahluzz writes:
on Mar 28 2008 07:11 AM

In reply to this comment (#1656755)
thank you captain obvious...

(Reply to this)