Let them go wild

Oh my, I had started to think this movie would never see the light of day.
A lot of it was actually shot in Australia and I remember when filming started back in 2006. At the time I lamented that our son may be too young for a cinema viewing.
But now, here comes the big screen Dave Eggers penned, Spike Jonze directed adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. It's due to release here later this year around our little man's 6th birthday. Perfect. I can't wait to take him to see it.
It looks magical, a little bit NeverEnding Story in fact (and a tad scary — but to have it any other way would be lame). Take a look at the trailer for yourself. I got a lil teary; in a happy, moved-deep-in-my-heart way.



And that song. So perfect. So moving. Here's an amazing live version featuring David Bowie. Again. Tears.



If you need any more inspiration on this lovely day, check out Dave Eggers' brilliant TED talk about schools, creativity, homework, writing and going one on one to make a difference to kids' education and lives. I want to go live in his tutoring centre.

Mini movie review: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Our family went to see the latest Madagascar installment last week. I'm giving it a mini review because there's not a whole lot to say about it. That's not to say it was bad. Just very disposable fun that doesn't need to be over-analysed. For those who want it the movie carries the tried (maybe even a little tired) and tested messages of friendship surviving the odds and rising above differences and a fallen hero proving himself. But for the most part it's full of music, crisp and clever animation and gags. Maybe a little dialogue heavy in parts for the under-five set and the music could be a bit too doof-doof for some (I found it encouraged rigorous bouncing of a three-year-old on my knee) but the animation is great and our kids enjoyed themselves (and my husband laughed out loud quite a bit. too. much.). For me the gags were pitched a little too much toward parents; I would have liked a bit more of the penguin and monkey slap-stick that sends the kids into hysterics. My movie test is how long it lingers with my own children. They laughed along at the time (in all the right and wrong places) and "crackalackin" became part of their vocab for a few days but it didn't get talked about much beyond the sitting. Have I dissed it too much? It was really quite okay. A good lighthearted escape from the heat and daily life over the summer break.