# How can they make a movie out of "Where the Wild Things Are" and it's rated PG?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154 "2009-10-09T03:30:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/1 "2009-10-09T03:30:54Z")
According to the trailer. I don’t get it. Does Max actually **do** the Wild Thing, or what?! What kind of kiddie-lit material does it take to yield a G-rated adaptation these days?! ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/2 "2009-10-09T03:35:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language. PG really just means “probably just a little too intense for really little kids.” Unless it’s a DreamWorks pic, then PG means fart jokes. Also, I guess I’ve been on the internet too long, because I thought this topic would be complaining that the movie wasn’t PG-13. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/3 "2009-10-09T03:36:10Z")
Well, if they made a film faithful to the plot of the book, it would be about five minutes. The book’s kind of light on plot. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/4 "2009-10-09T04:04:28Z")
I’ve always figured that you couldn’t obtain a G rating without being animated. I suppose it’s possible to get G for live action, but then you’re talking about bland pap like made-for-TV Nickelodeon movies or something. Any live action movie that has even a thought of being accessible to the whole family rather than just the kids under 10 is going to be PG at minimum. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/5 "2009-10-09T04:23:01Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Well, if they made a film faithful to the plot of the book, it would be about five minutes. The book’s kind of light on plot. Yup. just like _The Polar Express_, _How the Grinch Stole Christmas_, and _The Cat in the Hat_. What they _should_ do is make a movie out of cereal commercial characters. Cap’n Crunch and the crew of _The Guppy_ leading the battle against Jean LaFoote and the Soggies (that’s kinda sorta the plot to the webcomic _Breakfast of the Gods_, but the link won’t work right now, as the site is down). ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/6 "2009-10-09T04:25:11Z")
Spike Jonze has said that he wants the movie to feel the way childhood actually feels to kids - intense, a whirlwind of feelings, and sometimes kind of scary. He [worked very closely with the writer of the book, Maurice Sendak,](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/09/when-spike-met-maurice-bringing-where-the-wild-things-are-to-the-screen.html) during the adaptation process. Personally, I think the movie looks incredible. Jonze expanded the story and gave the visuals a 3D-rendered makeover, but the trailers make it pretty clear that they _nailed_ the spirit of the original story. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/7 "2009-10-09T04:28:03Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > I’ve always figured that you couldn’t obtain a G rating without being animated. I suppose it’s possible to get G for live action, but then you’re talking about bland pap like made-for-TV Nickelodeon movies or something. Any live action movie that has even a thought of being accessible to the whole family rather than just the kids under 10 is going to be PG at minimum. There were loads of live-action movies for the whole family that were rated G. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/8 "2009-10-09T04:32:00Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > I’ve always figured that you couldn’t obtain a G rating without being animated. I suppose it’s possible to get G for live action, but then you’re talking about bland pap like made-for-TV Nickelodeon movies or something. Any live action movie that has even a thought of being accessible to the whole family rather than just the kids under 10 is going to be PG at minimum. There are some pretty good G-rated non-animated movies. _Babe_, _Mary Poppins_, _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_ (the original one, not the shitty remake) and _The Wizard of Oz_ come to mind. Plus a bunch of old-school Muppet movies. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/9 "2009-10-09T04:47:23Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > There are some pretty good G-rated non-animated movies. _Babe_, _Mary Poppins_, _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_ (the original one, not the shitty remake) and _The Wizard of Oz_ come to mind. Plus a bunch of old-school Muppet movies. Except for Babe, a G rating on most of those movies don’t really count since they came before the PG rating and were rerated when the G rating was much more lenient. For example, Tora! Tora! Tora! and 2001 are both rated G. I bet if the Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka were released today they’d be considered PG movies. Generally, these days G is only for cartoons and really kids-only live action movies. PG is more for “family” films. Babe is a rare exception. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/10 "2009-10-09T04:54:52Z")
There are only two reviews currently up on Rotten Tomatoes but in one, Emanuel Levy calls it, “…a movie about childhood made for adults…”. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/11 "2009-10-09T05:00:34Z")
I want to know if they did reshoot as is suggested in [these articles](http://www.iwatchstuff.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=Where+the+Wild+Things+Are&foo=Search&foo.x=17&foo.y=9) (read the older ones at the bottom), and if so if we could see the darker take. The trailer doesn’t look too scary for kids, so I’m betting it was reshot. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/12 "2009-10-09T05:03:56Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I want to know if they did reshoot as is suggested in [these articles](http://www.iwatchstuff.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=Where+the+Wild+Things+Are&foo=Search&foo.x=17&foo.y=9) (read the older ones at the bottom), and if so if we could see the darker take. The trailer doesn’t look too scary for kids, so I’m betting it was reshot. From Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > In 2008, test footage was leaked onto the internet which led to mixed reactions. Jonze later responded “That was a very early test with the sole purpose of just getting some footage to Ben our VFX supervisor to see if our VFX plan for the faces would work.” Following early fan outcry over the leaked video and rumoured “scared children” in test audiences, Warner Bros. announced a massive year-long delay.\*\* On February 20, 2008, rumors emerged that Warner Bros. was considering reshooting the entire film.[5] WB president Alan F. Horn responded to the rumors, “We’ve given him more money and, even more importantly, more time for him to work on the film. We’d like to find a common ground that represents Spike’s vision but still offers a film that really delivers for a broad-based audience. No one wants to turn this into a bland, sanitized studio movie. This is a very special piece of material and we’re just trying to get it right.” Producer Gary Goetzman followed, “We support Spike’s vision. We’re helping him make the vision he wants to make.”[6]\*\* > > Maurice Sendak said after having seen a completed cut of the film, “I’ve never seen a movie that looked or felt like this. And it’s [Spike Jonze’s] personal ‘this.’ And he’s not afraid of himself. He’s a real artist that lets it come through in the work. So he’s touched me. He’s touched me very much.” [7] Read it how you will. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/13 "2009-10-09T05:38:16Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I bet if the Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka were released today they’d be considered PG movies. Yeah, I really can’t see a movie with the Boat Ride Of Insanity getting a G rating these days. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/14 "2009-10-09T05:51:44Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Except for Babe, a G rating on most of those movies don’t really count since they came before the PG rating and were rerated when the G rating was much more lenient. For example, Tora! Tora! Tora! and 2001 are both rated G. I bet if the Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka were released today they’d be considered PG movies… Those Flying Monkeys still scare _me_! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/15 "2009-10-09T06:24:29Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Read it how you will. I read it as “standard movie-making practice”. Re-evaluating and adjusting a movie happens at every step. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/16 "2009-10-09T07:01:12Z")
Hey, there’s some pretty wild rumpussing going on in that book. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/17 "2009-10-09T11:18:50Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Yup. just like _The Polar Express_, _How the Grinch Stole Christmas_, and _The Cat in the Hat_. Are these supposed to be counter-examples? Because, as you may realize, the three films you named are three of the largest piles of shite committed to the screen in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/18 "2009-10-09T12:04:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Generally, these days G is only for cartoons and really kids-only live action movies. PG is more for “family” films. Babe is a rare exception. **The Straight Story** , direct by David Lynch ---- DAVID LYNCH!! – was rated G. And not a cartoon character in sight. Not a kiddie movie, either: > [@](#): > > Italy:T | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Québec) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany : o . Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:G | New Zealand:G | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | **USA:G** [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166896/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166896/) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/19 "2009-10-09T12:20:49Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Except for Babe, a G rating on most of those movies don’t really count since they came before the PG rating and were rerated when the G rating was much more lenient. The PG rating (originally M, then GP, and finally PG) was actually one of the first ratings in the system. You’re probably confusing it with PG-13, which wasn’t introduced until the mid-1980s. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154/20 "2009-10-09T12:27:45Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Generally, these days G is only for cartoons and really kids-only live action movies. Or French bird movies. One of my favorite films of the current decade, **Winged Migration** , got a G despite disturbing animals-in-peril scenes. **March of the Penguins** was G, too, and that had pengie sex in it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-they-make-a-movie-out-of-where-the-wild-things-are-and-its-rated-pg/513154.md?page=2)