March 10, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 21 Classic Sendak book transferred to the screen by Dennis Seuling “Where the Wild Things Are” (Warner Home Video), based on the classic children’s picture book by Maurice Sendak, is an example of a movie that enriches, rather than diminishes, its source. Max (Max Records) is the younger of two kids in a single-parent household. His mother (Catherine Keener) loves him, but is overwhelmed by his penchant for being at the center of all kinds of chaos, whether ambushing teenagers with snowballs, wrestling with the family dog, trashing his sister’s room, or being jealous of her new boyfriend (Mark Ruffalo). After he is reprimanded for his behavior, Max sets sail in a small boat across the sea to the Land of the Wild Things, a place inhabited by odd, otherworldly creatures who spend their time without leadership or direction in rough-and-tumble activities. Max loves the place, convinces the Wild Things he should be their king, and leads them on an unrestrained rampage. The most interesting thing about “Where the Wild Things Are” is that it is a liveaction movie with puppetry and elaborate costumes rather than computer generated images. Director Spike Jonze has fashioned a visually beautiful film that captures -even surpasses -- the imagery of the book, which has an enormous following. The film will delight anyone who remembers the book. For teens and adults, the movie might be too juvenile and simple, but for young kids, it will be a joyous excursion into fantasy. Adapting a picture book with little text has its challenges. Sendak incorporates a message about the value of controlling one’s anger and distinguishing between rules meant to protect and those that are meaninglessly applied. The ending lacks the feel-happy quality of most kids’ films, and will probably create more questions than it will answer. Perhaps these are topics for discussion between parents and their kids after the movie is over. The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes Bluray, DVD, and digital versions of the movie, and over an hour of special features including the short “Higgelty Piggelty Pop!” with the voices of Meryl Streep and Forest Whitaker; an HBO First Look; and eight webisodes. The movie is also available in a single-disc DVD edition. “Make Way for Tomorrow” (The Criterion Collection) is a 1937 portrayal of family, aging, and the generation gap, directed by Leo McCarey. An elderly couple, Bark Cooper (Victor Moore), and wife Lucy (Beulah Bondi) are experiencing financial difficulties. At a family meeting, it’s decided that Bark will live with one of their children, and Lucy with another. Bark and Lucy miss each other greatly, but try Max (Max Records) and one of his new friends in ‘Where the Wild Things Are.’ to make the best of things. “Make Way for Tomorrow” was not successful during its theatrical release, probably because it was a bitter pill for audiences to swallow, coming at the peak of the Great Depression. The portrayal of the aging couple is vivid, and McCarey certainly knows how to wring tears from viewers. Moore and Bondi, who spent their movie careers playing character roles, are center stage, providing a touching portrayal of people who must rely on their children for their welfare when they have nowhere else to turn. Bonuses include the featurette “Tomorrow, Yesterday, and Today,” in which director and film historian Peter Bogdanovich relates personal anecdotes about McCarey and discusses his other movies; a booklet with several essays on “Make Way for Tomorrow;” and a video in which film critic Gary Giddins analyzes the movie’s political and social context. In “The Box” (Warner Home Video), mysterious stranger Arlington Steward (continued on Crossword page) �������� ������� ��������� �������� ��������������������������������������������� Starting March 14 ����������� ���������� �������������������� ���������� St. Patrick’s Day Wednesday, March 17th ���������������������� ���������� �������� ������ �������������� ���������� ����� � �������� ���������������� Corned Beef Brisket & Cabbage ���� ��� ������������ �������� ������������������� ����������������������������� HAPPY HOUR ������������������ ������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ �� Corned Beef Brisket & Cabbage with Boiled Potatoes �������������� ��������� ������� Guinness Harp Jameson Shots ALL YOU CAN EAT ~ 15 $ 95 Shepherd’s Pie ~ $1195 Bangers & Mash ~ $1195 ������������������� �������������� � �� 3-10-10