Where the Wild Things Are - or Aren't

What wild things?  The only wild thing in this movie, really, is Max.... and perhaps not really.  I thought there were some interesting parts, but also patches of boredom in this attempt at a live action film version of Maurice Sendak's extraordinary children's picture book.  But I think this would better have been made as a shorter animated feature.  Sendak's drawings were an integral part of what made the book a great success, interesting for adults as well as kids.  Ditch the drawings, approximate the wild things with cutesy costumes, add an extended live-action front story, and it's a different thing altogether and not particularly interesting.  I guess the celebrity of the book gave it a big opening weekend at the box office, and there was a decent size but by no means large crowd when I saw an early evening screening on 42nd Street on Wednesday.  But I think ultimately this film is not a success.  I wouldn't warn people who are fans of the book not to see it, but I will warn that many will feel let down.