Where the Wild Things Are (2009) Maurice Sendak, Spike Jonze, James Gandolfini, & Max Roberts

Book Vs. Movie: Where the Wild Things Are
The 1963 Classic Children’s Book Vs. the 2009 Adaptation

Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are has captured readers' hearts for decades, telling a timeless story of childhood, imagination, and emotional growth. When director Spike Jonze adapted it into a full-length film in 2009, audiences were treated to a visually stunning and emotionally complex retelling of the classic. Despite its beloved status, the book is often banned, prompting questions about the reasons behind these challenges.
In this episode, the Margos explore the critical differences between the book and the film, examining how each medium handles its themes, characters, and tone.
Which version did we (the Margos) prefer? Have a listen to find out. In this ep, the Margos discuss:

• The work of Maurice Sendak
• Why is this work still controversial?
• The differences between the 1963 children’s book and the 2009 adaptation. 
• The 1957 Movie Cast: Max Records (Max,) Catherine Keener (Connie,) Mark Ruffalo (Adrian,) Steve Mouzakis (Max’s teacher,) James Gandolfini (Carol,) Lauren Ambrose (KW,) Chris Cooper (Douglas,) Catherine O’Hara (Judith,) Paul Dano (Alexander,) Michael Berry Jr. (Bernard the Bull), and director Spike Jonez as Bob & Terry the owls. 

• “The sun is going to die.”
• Where the Wild Things Are (audiobook)
• Where the Wild Things Are (Original trailer)
• “Max runs away from home.”
• “Max tackles KW”
• “That was my favorite arm!”
• Where the Wild Things Are (Luke Combs)