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Maurice Sendak Returns With a New Wild Tale

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:54:47 PDT

Maurice Sendak is known for his Wild Things. The Where the Wild Things Are author and illustrator has had an award-winning career conjuring up characters that looked more frightful than they really were. Now, almost 50 years since the children's favorite was published, and almost 30 years since he last wrote and illustrated a book, the legendary author is set to release a new book this Fall – Bumble-Ardy, a story about a pig who experiences his first-ever birthday party at 9-years-old.

The news got me thinking about my favorite Sendak books from my own childhood. Check them out and tell me your favorite in the comments below.

Alice in Wonderland Follows Mature Kid Movie Trend

babysugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:40 PST

Parents headed to the movie theater in search of a big screen version of their lil one's favorite bedtime tale, may want to do a bit of research before buying that ticket and popcorn combo package. In a trend that doesn't show any signs of slowing down, Hollywood is taking children's favorite books and transitioning them into not-necessarily-for-kids flicks.

The latest such film to hit the silver screen will be Alice in Wonderland, which opens this weekend. Like Tim Burton's earlier foray into this area – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Alice may be rated PG, but its dark undertones and intricate imagery certainly aren't appropriate for wee ones who scare easily. Late last year, parents who were fans of Where the Wild Things Are had to think twice before buying tickets to see the long-clawed, yellow-eyed monsters, though 73 percent of LilSugar readers said they were taking their tots to see it anyway.

Do you like the mature movie versions of these childhood classics?

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

What to Rent: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:00:00 PST

If you're looking to veg with some new entertainment on the tube, today's DVD releases should help do the trick. Check 'em out!

Where the Wild Things Are

More for adult fans of the book than today's young audience, Spike Jonze's adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are is an homage to childhood that shows the darker, sometimes scary side of being a kid. Even the puppets convey emotion in a way that tugs on the heart strings. It's no secret that Where the Wild Things Are was one of my favorite films last year, so I may have to buy this one for my library.

Special features include four webisodes, but the Blu-ray also includes the short "Higglety Pigglety Pop!" featuring the voices of Meryl Streep and Forest Whitaker.

73%

2012

Part over-the-top disaster movie, part sweet family story, and 100 percent entertaining, 2012 stars John Cusack as a divorced father. He's stuck in the middle of an apocalyptic calamity (biblical-sized floods, giant earthquake cracks, etc), trying to rescue his children and ex-wife (Amanda Peet) from the chaos. Yes, it's cheesy and falls victim to the typical blockbuster cliches, but as weekend popcorn flicks go, it's a sure bet. Bonus: in a perfect casting move, Woody Harrelson plays a wacky conspiracy theorist.

Special features include deleted scenes and an alternate ending, which has me curious - how different can an ending be when you're talking about the end of the world?

39%

One more release if you

read more. Ponyo Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo follows a five-year old boy named Sosuke who discovers a goldfish on the beach and names her Ponyo. The twist: she's secretly an ocean princess and transforms herself into a human. The trailer looks adorable, but I missed this one in theaters, so it's going straight to the top of my queue. Special features include behind the scenes featurettes. 92%

Buzz's Favorite Movies of 2009

BuzzSugar — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 07:30:00 PST

Now that we've dished on my favorite movies of the decade, let's narrow things down a little. 2009 brought another glorious 12 months of movie-watching. As usual, it wasn't all Oscar contenders, but here are my 10 personal favorites of the year.

What Is the Best Dramatic Movie of 2009?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:30:00 PST

In just a few weeks we'll start seeing which of 2009's finest films are awarded with various accolades, but for now it's your turn to pick your favorites. So far The Hangover is winning best comedy and Up leads the pack for best animated film, but what's your pick for the best drama of 2009?

Don't forget to vote on all of my Best of 2009 polls!

Who Are the Best Dude Buddies of 2009?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:30:00 PST

There's nothing wrong with a little guy love between two guys, and 2009 brought on a new batch of bromances. Some of the pairings led to big laughs while other dudes teamed up to take on some of the year's biggest villains. Which dude buddies are your favorites?

Don't forget to vote on all of my Best of 2009 polls!

Box Office: Paranormal Activity Spooks Its Way to No. 1

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:30:00 PDT

Talk about a shocker! The low-budget underdog Paranormal Activity has been riding its growing popularity all the way to the top - even upsetting the reigning king of horror, the Saw franchise. Paranormal took in $22 million in its first weekend with a wide release, which has execs talking about a possible sequel. Saw VI trailed at No. 2 with only $14.8 million - the worst opening ever for a Saw film.

Completing the rest of the top five was last week's biggest moneymaker, Where the Wild Things Are, which dropped to No. 3 with $14.4 million, followed by Law Abiding Citizen at No. 4 with $12.7 million, and Couples Retreat at No. 5 with $11 million. (The box office newcomers Cirque du Freak and Amelia placed No. 8 and No. 11, respectively.)

Hollywood Halloween: 10 Costumes Inspired by This Year's Movies

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:30:59 PDT

Still hunting for that perfect Halloween costume? Never fear, for I am willing to share some of my ideas with you, culled from this year's flicks. Everyone loves a good pop culture reference, and the best part is that these are super easy to put together last minute. From spooky to hilarious, there's a little something for everyone, so take a look.

Do, Dump, or Marry? Spike Jonze

TresSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:15:00 PDT

Director, skateboarder and all-around Gen X superhero Spike Jonze was told that turning the beloved children's book Where the Wild Things Are into a movie couldn't be done without serious artistic compromises. Well, not only did he prove his naysayers wrong, his movie was number one at the box office over the weekend!

This iconoclast has been doing his own thing for a while, though, starting out as an untrained videographer for skateboarders, moving on to direct cool videos for bands like The Beastie Boys, and following up on Being John Malkovich and Adaptation with a filmic ballad for the latch-key generation.

So boyish is this 39-year-old, Catherine Keener's son once asked him why he didn't live with his parents. What do you think about this talented guy?

Box Office: At the Top Is Where the Wild Things Are

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:30:09 PDT

Where the Wild Things Are lived up to its big expectations, taking the top spot at the box office this weekend with $32.4 million.

Audiences disregarded Law Abiding Citizen's less than stellar reviews (including my own), and the film took second place and raked in $21.2 million. Paranomal Activity continues to soar, climbing up to number three and making $20.1 million. Couples Retreat slid down from number 1 to 4 with $17.9 million, and The Stepfather rounded out the top 5 with $12.3 million.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.