Un Vacuous: Wild Thing

I saw "Where The Wild Things Are" over the weekend and absolutely fell in love with the movie. I laughed, I cried, I did the hokey-pokey and I turned myself around.

For those who have yet to see this movie stop reading now until you see it. This entry is a major plot spoiler.

Really? You're still reading.....

No seriously, I'm going to give you a blow by blow account of the movie.......

Don't say I didn't warn you...

Here I go....

I'm goooooiiiiinnnnngggg.....

Anytime now..........

Gone....

I had no pre-conceived notion of the movie and I never read the books as a kid. I was still living in the Philippines and I was only allowed to read the Encyclopedia and school books. My dad was never around to read to me and on the rare occassion that he was home, he would have me read to him instead. My mom on the other hand was occupied with domestic chores and in keeping an orderly home for my sisters and I.

The movie was about a mischievous kid and his emotional journey of childhood angst from losing a father, dealing with his mom and her boyfriend and a sister who completely ignored him. It was a very emotional movie and I found myself sobbing halfway through the end the movie. Anyone who grew up in a semi-dysfunctional to highly-dysfunctional family can totally relate to this movie :)

The "Wild Things" in my interpretation were his emotions whether its anger, sadness, or doubt. Each monster in the movie represented an emotion. The story is centered on Max's growth, survival, change and fury. As the movie progressed, I couldn't help but think about my childhood experiences and how much I wanted to make sense of everything because nothing did. I relied heavily upon my mom's guidance or my sisters leads and when both were unavailable to provide comfort, I am often left to fend for myself.

Throughout the movie, Max had his one on one encounter with the Wild Things. As he conquered each emotion/monster, he started to feel confident about himself until such a time that he finally found the peace and acceptance in his heart that the wild things were now reigned in and that he was ready to take his next journey - growth.

The main character amongst the Wild Things was Carol. He was the mirror image of Max. One of the most touching part of the movie for me was when Max made a heart shaped drawing on the ground with the initial C out of popsicle sticks. Its as if Max realized that in order to change and grow, he would have to accept everything about him. Embrace the emotions, all the "wild things" and only through acceptance can there be love and growth.

Isn't that so true even as an adult? There are still parts of me that I am still trying to make peace with. At times I struggle with it and there are times when I just raise the flag and accept that there are some things about myself that I can never change and that's okay.

Drained from the move and all the organizing and cleaning, I took it easy on Sunday and hung out with the girls. My place is still a giant mess but at least my bed, bathroom and kitchen are now in order.

We hung out at Azmeera's, smoked some hooka, drank some bubblies, people watched on her roof, ate pizza and called it wonderful.