It is not my style to post a movie trailer on this blog. However, after watching the trailer for the upcoming movie of the famous Maurice Sendak book, Where the Wild Things Are, I was compelled to share my thoughts on the trailer.
First, my thoughts on the book. 1) Never send your child to bed without dinner, it is cruel and it makes me want to cry when I contemplate the very idea, 2) a child’s life should be so wonderful that they don’t need to “escape” to where the wild things are.
Second, my thoughts on the trailer. This is a perfectly executed trailer in one respect and a failure in another respect.
Click on HD the video to watch the video in high definition and maximize the video so you can really feel it…
My thoughts…
The trailer is perfectly executed in the respect that the trailer is a work of art independent of the film. This is great entertainment on its own, even if no full length feature would ever follow the trailer. The artistry is tremendous, note the font of the text, note the music, the lyrics to the song and the cutting of the trailer action in sync with the music. It is perfection. It is so perfect that the trailer, in its two minutes, has the power to move us.
Anyone that I have shown this trailer has been moved. What is so moving about the trailer?
I think its secret lies in the beauty of childhood. We all wish we could return to the innocence and freedom of childhood. The world is a tough place sometimes and generally children are immune to the larger issues facing the adult world.
This innocence is captured perfectly by the trailer.
Also, the words of the song are so telling. “If children don’t grow up / our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up”. The dangers of not growing up are real. If we are children going through adult lives and situations the pain and heartache of adult life will be too much for that child to bear.
As has been mentioned previously on this blog, we all have a child inside us. That child inside us is moved by this trailer. It almost seems like the child inside us wants to turn back the clock when we watch this trailer.
This is why it moves us.
The trailer is a failure (that rhymes) because due to its outstanding artistry I don’t feel like I want to see the film! The trailer is certainly going to be better than the film. That kind of emotion cannot be maintained over the course of a 100 minute movie. The trailer is the peak of this story.
Filed under: All Posts, Musings & Observations, My Links, arcade fire, fun, getting older, growing up, trailer, wake up, where the wild things are, youtube
Pacific Jewish Center | Rabbi 
As you probably know, in 1957, after getting massive city assistance, Walter O’Malley opened Dodger Stadium.
Then, he surprised everyone by blacking out the games on television.
His rationale: radio creates a desire – television satisfies it.
(I’m sure there’s a Torah truth buried in there.)
Appropriate to your posting, I believe.
My inner child thought “Those little innocent monsters that look so friendly and inviting become nightmares only if ignored. Inhibition of basic instinctual natural feelings, centered truth or Nevuah may lead to swimming on the edge of the deep unconscious symbolised universaly as the ocean that storms on the surface but can be calm with deep inhabitants that can swallow you up and spit you out on to dry land only if you cannot follow your basic nature. Ask the dream analyst or Yonah whose journey is one of entry into the belly of the unconscious as he didnt listen to his truth.Is it clear to the Jungian chasid only, or is it only a Hollywood trailer?
Very nicely put.
Do you have a background in psychology?
(just kidding)
[…] As I have mentioned in the past, I think when we are emotionally moved by anything we need to reflect on what we are feeling. […]
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I ran the trailer on my blog as well, can’t remember when. But I will certainly see the movie with my kids if for no other reason than just because. 😉