Home Video
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Where the Wild Things Are’
Now on Blu-ray everywhere from Warner Home Video is Spike Jonze’s live-action adaptation of the children’s book Where the Wild Things Are, which follows nine-year-old Max who runs away from home and sails across the sea to become king of the land Where the Wild Things Are. Mike Pereira chimes in with his thoughts on the Blu-ray release below.
The Film
Maurice Sendak’s classic 1963 children’s book, Where The Wild Things Are has made a big impression on countless readers, young and old alike. All in just 9 sentences. Co-writer/director, Spike Jonze wisely sticks to the book’s beautiful simplicity in this highly anticipated (very long in the making) film adaptation. The narrative is as sparse as they come; frustrated with the complex, unsympathetic world he inhabits, 9 year old loner, Max escapes into an imaginary world filled with fantastical creatures. What makes this cinematic translation a work of genius is how it unflinchingly evokes one’s memories of childhood. On one end, one can be completely memorized by the seemingly aimless adventures of Max and the “Wild Things” as they parade through one random, fun-filled activity to another. But in a blink of an eye, the lovable “Wild Things” can turn into an emotional, terrifying rage that quickly reminds you that they are in fact monsters who can eat up Max at any given moment. Their unpredictable emotional state is not unlike a child’s.
Spike Jonze has constructed an 80 million dollar studio picture like no other. A children’s film that’s not quite for children. An adult’s personal reflection of what life is through a child’s point of view. Where The Wild Things Are is a magical, emotional and frightening journey. Childhood in a nutshell.
9 out of 10
Video
Where The Wild Things Are arrives with an impressive VC-1/1080p transfer. While more and modern titles have grain-free, sharp, slick visuals, Jonze’s vision sticks to a rougher but beautiful film look. As expected, there is a thin layer of grain is present throughout and a softer picture. Still, there is some pleasant detail. Contrast is strong and colors are a bit muted but during some daytime sequences, it pops up quite nicely.
8 out of 10
Audio
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix really comes out of nowhere. The sound design is alive on all channels throughout. The bass channel is quite intense especially whenever the Wild Things wreck havoc. The bass in their voices feel all the more real during some of the more dramatic moments. Dialogue is crystal clear and the fantastic soundtrack really shines. All in all, an unexpectedly riveting audio experience.
9 out of 10
Supplements
Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More To Life (HD, 23:30) live action/animated short is about as bizarre as the title suggests. Still, it manages to be a charming little gem featuring great voice work by Meryl Streep.
HBO First Look (HD, 13:02) is a fine “making of” featurette. The majority of the footage is recycled from the series of featurettes which makes it a rather pointless addition to this disc.
The collection of eight specifically-titled featurettes (HD, 36:00) by Lance Bangs is a charming and entertaining glimpse into the production. Some may seem mundane but totally keeping within the spirit of the film. It captures Jonze’s unorthodox directorial style for the picture. The appropriately titled; The Absurd Difficulty of Filming a Dog featurette is a standout.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing on the creation of the brilliant visual effects especially about how the “Wild Things” were brought to life. A big minus in my opinion.
7 out of 10
Final Thoughts
Where The Wild Things Are on Blu-Ray is a must-own. The A/V presentation only helps to enhance this unique experience. The special features seem less telegraphed than what usually litters most home video releases. The real prize of this release is obviously the film itself. Where The Wild Things Are is the kind of film that grows richer with repeat viewings. It’s an honest portrait of the world wind of emotions a child faces in life. An attribute never as effectively presented by any film before it.
8 out of 10
Editorials
Arrow Video’s ‘Stranger Things: The Complete Series’ is the Ultimate Collector’s Box Set for Fans
Available as of today from Arrow Video is a new box set that might arguably be the definitive way to watch Netflix’s blockbuster series Stranger Things.
At the very least, Stranger Things: The Complete Series puts emphasis on “complete.” That’s evident in its special features alone.
Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series are available for purchase now, featuring an array of exclusive bonus content, including bloopers, interviews with the cast and crew, and behind-the-scenes featurettes, designed for the ultimate Stranger Things experience.
The Deluxe Edition is presented in custom packaging featuring newly-commissioned artwork, alongside a wealth of extra material: a 148-page booklet, exclusive art cards, a Hellfire Club patch, double-sided posters for each season, and much more.
This limited-edition release features all 42 episodes of the show’s five season run on more than 25 discs, all housed in a set featuring gorgeous artwork by Juan Ramos. “We always dreamed that Stranger Things could be owned in its entirety,” said Matt and Ross Duffer, “not just as a collector’s set, but as a way to preserve the show for decades to come.”
Their imprint looms large over the release, including writing in the 148-page book that also includes original design sketches, concept art, and storyboards. All of which would warrant the steep price tag alone for the diehard Stranger Things fan, but Arrow Video upped the ante with collectible surprises as well. Arcade patches, stickers, Hellfire Club dice, and an extremely detailed map of Hawkins, Indiana- double-sided to account for the Upside Down, of course – are among the highlights for this all-ages set.
Adorn your walls with posters representative of your favorite season! That’s also an option with this set’s offerings.
All of which to say that it’s rare for Netflix to make the jump into physical media, and they’ve enlisted Arrow Video to give it the best possible treatment. They certainly brought utmost care and attention to this release. As such, both the standard and deluxe sets come with steep price tags that start at $160 depending on format. While that’s likely a deterrent to the casual viewer, it’s more than worth it for fans.
It may be less convenient than hitting play on Netflix, sure, but there’s a lot to be said about the potential for quality upgrades to your viewing. No spotty internet or compression issues to be found here when it comes to the 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray discs.
That’s really the biggest takeaway from this release: the untapped potential still of Netflix’s streaming library of originals that are ripe for similar treatment. Series and films that could receive Arrow Video levels of treatment on physical media.
Fans of Stranger Things can venture into the Upside Down one last time this spooky season at Halloween Horror Nights, but there may be no better way to ring in the series’ tenth anniversary than a rewatch with this expansive, well-curated box set.
You must be logged in to post a comment.