This weekend Spike Jonze finally unloads his much-anticipated adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are into theaters. The film itself – while visually stunning and fantastical to watch – is very internal, very expressive and very personal. This is quite obviously a labor of love for Jonze and his crew, and kudos should be given to Warner Bros. for allowing his true vision to run free for an hour and a half on the big screen.
The arrival of Where the Wild Things Are got us thinking, though, about other memorable "wild things" in kids' films. Ya know, maybe it's not necessarily a monster, but it's a wild creature that helps our hero find his or her way throughout the film – just as the Wild Things help Max discover his true emotions and come to terms with his own "real world". So, here are five of our favorite big-screen "wild things". What are yours?
E.T. (from E.T.)
Accidentally stranded on earth when his alien buddies pay a visit, this cute, dorky alien hides out in the household of little Elliott and his family until they can find out how to help the little guy return home before the bad guys show up with ulterior motives. While there, Elliott teaches E.T. how to phone home, and E.T. teaches Eliott about love, respect and flying bicycles.
Lotney 'Sloth' Fratelli (from The Goonies)
Part human, part Frankenstein and part superhero, Sloth was kept locked in a basement by his evil mother and brothers while they were up to no good. It isn't until Sloth hooks up with another outcast, Chunk, before the two embark on their own adventure -- eventually meeting up with the rest of the Goonies just in time to save the day.
Shrek (from Shrek)
Whoever thought this ugly green "wild thing" would've survived three films while on his way to a fourth installment? Sure, he may not be the most attractive or smartest thing in Far Far Away, but this green ogre will definitely use whatever random god-given gifts he has to make sure his princess and his good friends remain safe and out of harms way. Just don't ask him to bake you a cake …
Falkor the luckdragon (from The Neverending Story)
I'm sure I wasn't the only one freaked out by the giant flying dog-dragon featured in The Neverending Story, but tell me you didn't ask Santa for your very own luckdragon the Christmas after watching the film for the first time. In The Neverending Story, Falkor swoops in to help Atreyu find a cure for the Empress after escaping the web of Ygramul the Many. Falkor is a strange dragon, too, because while he can breathe fire (that's blue), he has no wings and likes to be scratched behind the ear. Definitely the kind of animal that would so totally rule at Show and Tell.
Gizmo (from Gremlins)
Perhaps the cutest of all these "wild things", Gizmo has the warmest of hearts, and would totally snuggle up next to you while watching a late night movie if you should so desire. Only problem is…well, you can't feed the guy after midnight because then you're not going to be too fond of the demonic creatures born out of that mess. He may not be the strongest, fastest or meanest, but when the time comes for a hero, you bet Gizmo will step up to the plate and take care of business the old fashioned way.
