As a child, Where The Wild Things Are, never resonated in me (perhaps because I always fought my red hair from looking like the monster who parts her hair down the middle). But as a mother, it is one of my favorite books. My 4-year-old daughter loves to hear about how Max gets in trouble, finds a fun world, and then misses his mommy and returns home. I was excited months ago to learn that after years of delay, Spike Jonze finally got to bring this movie to the big screen.

On Monday, I took three friends to the premiere of Where the Wild Things Are, an adaption of Maurice Sendak's 1963 book of the same name. Accompanying me were Sarah who has two children (ages 7 and 3), Alex who is a graduate student in child development, and Laura who is a preschool director, and who notoriously took my 3-year old to see “UP” (AKA “the scary dog movie”).

Despite the relatively tame PG rating (for mild thematic elements, some adventure action, and brief language), I felt it was important to preview this movie before taking my kids to see it. I’m relieved at my decision. I’ve read that Warner Brothers originally became quite squeamish with the first version of the movie and actually allowed eight more days of filming post production to make the movie more child friendly to earn it’s current rating (even the first test trailers were making children run out of the movie theatre in tears).

The movie is fantastic. After all, isn’t that what we all expected? The depth and wonder of a feature length movie out of a book with only 40 pages, 9 monsters, and 9 sentences (!) is mind-boggling. The themes that the parental figures (adults and monsters) deal with in the film are ones that parents encounter every day in the real world. The monsters are cute and fuzzy quite humorous with their almost stream-of-consciousness manner of speaking. They’re not scary at all. The movie is, however, extremely intense, contains a handful scary moments, and displays several activities that I would not be happy to see my child emulate. The movie was true to the book and every line and prop seemed like something that Sendak would have written or approved. My favorite lines from the book were given weight and merit and were flawlessly delivered.

All four of us loved the movie. Alex, with her training in child development, thought it could be an effective vehicle to teach older children about anger management. We all also thought the film could help children deal with important family issues that are depicted throughout the movie.

However, NONE of us will be taking our kids or recommending that young children should go to this movie. The four of us came to a consensus that a mature 10-year old could handle the themes of the movie but in most cases, a 12-year old would understand, appreciate and enjoy it.

Bottom line: Where the Wild Things Are is a fantastic film that discusses important issues, but it’s probably no appropriate for children under 10.

The movie version of Where The Wild Things Are takes the book and expands it like a balloon. Every aspect of the film is visionary. Spike Jones and Dave Eggers screenplay is so real and evocative of what it’s like to be a kid. Both of these guys have such a knack for touching your memories like they are raw nerves - pretty amazing. The costumes and sets are magic. So simple and yet ridiculously complicated, I can’t do them justice with any description. The soundtrack is by Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. What a brilliant choice! The music is primative, yet modern and original, and absolutely integral to the film.

As a mother of a boy this movie is especially resonant. It makes me appreciate my boy. To understand his need to smash things as much as to build. It’s about a child’s need to be heard, loved, included, useful and powerful. It also reminds me of how scary it is to grow up. And how insecure in the world a child can feel.

This is absolutely a movie for adults, teens and older kids. If people want to know at exactly what age a child will enjoy this movie, I really don’t know. You have to know your kids. Where The Wild Things are is intense. Only a few parts are scary, but the whole movie is heavy. Sure, Max is on a great adventure and there are some high energy times when Max really tears it up, but overall this not a movie filled with action. It’s filled with emotions, dreams, and fears. It’s loaded with gorgeous images, amazing Wild Things, and magical moments. Will your younger kid be into that? My five year old is not ready to appreciate it. Hopefully in a few years he will be, because I can’t wait to watch it with him.

I just returned from a trip to San Francisco where they have an Maurice Sendak exhibit at the Jewish museum. It reminded me that I hadn't yet marked my stars for Where The Wild Things Are, an absolutely wonderful film.

I took my five year old for a date night with mom and he loved it too. I think the cab ride to and from the theater and the candy added to the experience, but he really liked the show. He turned his head for a few seconds during a couple scenes, when he got scared, but neither left a scar. Actually, his lasting memory of the movie was his cry at the end, when Max had to leave his friends. Since we all know the story, I'll assume I'm not ruining anything!

Max reminded me so much of my little guy and the sweet simplicity of the film just made me smile. Let's all remember what makes little boys tick and continue to inspire those minds at work.