and that alone turns me off from viewing it.

If here was a trace of feeling and emotion in it, perhaps I might feel different.

I label this as PRODUCT.

A studio bought the rights and as usual, someone adapted it without thought, but with wonderful style and the best look and shots money could buy. The costumes look great.

I am sure that a lot of fine craftsmen were employed by this project. Next time employ someone with vision.

Monsters with modern elevator music? No thanks.

Yo Gabba Gabba has far more bite.

Imagine what they could do with that costume budget!

The Arcade Fire song in the preview was a dead giveaway.

It seems like they've tried to turn the whole thing into a sort of knowing indie flick, and I am just so not havin' that.

The whole point of Sendak's original was that it was supposed to be... well... wild. Totally without plot detail. Often without words. It's such a perfect entity on its own, I find it curious that ostensibly smart guys like Eggers and Jonze wouldn't have realized they could do nothing--nothing!--but ruin it.

Cassavettes? I mean, are you shitting me?

Of course, I haven't seen it, so I'm really just blowing smoke. But still, I feel like I know what I'd be in for if I did. Speaking as someone with nothing but hate for the whole modern indie-verse, I think this movie never had much of a chance with me in the first place.

"It appears to be a movie made by, and for, members of a generation who feel it's unfair to have to grow up. Jonze isn't channeling the feelings of 9-year-olds so much as he's obsessively fingering his own, like the silky edge of a blanket. "Who cares about the children?" is Jonze's sulky rhetorical question. "What about me?"

Ms. Zacherek really nails it. So many of these male Gen X filmmakers need to grow up.

"It appears to be a movie made by, and for, members of a generation who feel it's unfair to have to grow up," seems to perfectly encapsulate a certain style of being that is popular nowadays, particularly among hipsters perhaps? I can't relate to it at all, but I know it when I see it. And I seem to come across it a lot nowadays in pop culture. I really liked Adaptation and Being John Malkovich for their pure originality and different narrative styles, but I definitely have my reservations about this one. Maybe I can play it for my 7th grade class and see what they think. I showed them the Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" and they loved it. In B&W no less!

Thanks, Ms. Zacharek-

Every time you review a film negatively I can count on it being well worth watching. Can't wait to see this one.

I couldn't disagree with Stephanie's take on this movie more. And it sounds.like you have something personal against Jonze.

I saw the movie w/ a couple of kids who both loved it, as did I.

If it is a personal vision of Jonze' about childhood, then it is universal enough that others share it or can relate to it at least.

I think that people who have a sentimental view of childhood and children might not like it. There are plenty of other films out there for them.

Jonze captures something about the confusion and pain and sadness of childhood as well as the energy and exhilaration of it. And the happiness. Childhood has a lot of facets.

My take is that the monsters are part of Max's imagination and therefore are all parts of him....he is learning about his emotions and how to control them and from the beginning to the end of the film, the character grows. At the end, he seems to have gained some understanding and empathy for his mom and the scene between the two of them is quiet, subtle and lovely.

In fact, there are a number of deeply moving scenes in the movie. I was surprised by the depth of this film. I knew it would be funny and the camerawork would be good, and there would be magical touches like the miniature world(present in the trailer which I have seen several times) and cool music. But I wasn't prepared for the depth and layers of emotion....it is dark in parts..........but it is also happy and warm too.

I recommend this movie wholeheartedly. I will be going again this weekend.

I couldn't disagree with Stephanie's take on this movie more. And it sounds.like you have something personal against Jonze.

I saw the movie w/ a couple of kids who both loved it, as did I.

If it is a personal vision of Jonze' about childhood, then it is universal enough that others share it or can relate to it at least.

I think that people who have a sentimental view of childhood and children might not like it. There are plenty of other films out there for them.

Jonze captures something about the confusion and pain and sadness of childhood as well as the energy and exhilaration of it. And the happiness. Childhood has a lot of facets.

My take is that the monsters are part of Max's imagination and therefore are all parts of him....he is learning about his emotions and how to control them and from the beginning to the end of the film, the character grows. At the end, he seems to have gained some understanding and empathy for his mom and the scene between the two of them is quiet, subtle and lovely.

In fact, there are a number of deeply moving scenes in the movie. I was surprised by the depth of this film. I knew it would be funny and the camerawork would be good, and there would be magical touches like the miniature world(present in the trailer which I have seen several times) and cool music. But I wasn't prepared for the depth and layers of emotion....it is dark in parts..........but it is also happy and warm too.

I recommend this movie wholeheartedly. I will be going again this weekend.