Maurice Sendak Movies
Visionary director Spike Jonze brings Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book to the big screen with the help of hipster icon Dave Eggers, who teamed with Jonze to pen the adapted screenplay. A mixture of real actors, computer animation, and live puppeteering, Where the Wild Things Are follows the adventures of a young boy named Max (Max Records) as he enters the world of the Wild Things, a race of strange and enormous creatures who gradually turn the young boy into their king. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Records, Catherine Keener, (more)
- 2006
- NR
Documentary filmmaker Freida Lee Mock explores the rich life of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner in a film that traces Kushner's career from his 2001 play Homebody/Kabul through his 2004 collaboration with Maurice Sendak on a revised version of Brundibar. A trip to Kushner's hometown of Lake Charles, LA, provides a personal touch as the playwright attends his father's birthday party, with quiet scenes in his Hudson River Valley retreat offering moments of thoughtful meditation that stand in stark contrast to his harried Manhattan business dealings. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Kushner, Oskar Eustis, (more)
- 2002
All kids love snacktime -- even the ones who are covered with brown fur, as we discover on this collection of four episodes from the animated television series Little Bear, based on the books by Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak. In Little Bear: Snacktime Tales, Little Bear and his animal friends learn how to make the most of snacktime, and what sort of good things to eat are available to them in the forest. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
In 2001, author and artist Maurice Sendak entered into an unusual collaboration with the Pilobolus Dance Company to create A Selection, a contemporary ballet inspired by true stories of the Holocaust. As Sendak and the Pilobolus creative team construct the piece from the ground up, they find themselves clashing over creative issues as they also juggle the weighty issues of how to honestly deal with the issues of the Holocaust within the context of a dance piece without trivializing them in the process. Filmmaker Mirra Bank was on hand to document both the ballet and its creation, and Last Dance offers an intimate look at the creative process in action, as well as the striking ballet they produced. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1999
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The German opera takes a turn from the dense, Teutonic tales of Wagner towards the wondrous, fairy-tale whims of the Brothers Grimm as the Zurich Opera brings Engelbert Humperdink's premiere opera to life with a colorful performance highlighted by the music of The Children's Chorus of the Zurich Opera House and the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House, and featuring the talents of actors Alfred Muff, Liliana Mikiteanu, and Malin Hartelius. Originally commissioned by Humperdink's sister Adelheid Wette and subsequently hailed by Richard Strauss as a true masterpiece, this groundbreaking opera can now be enjoyed by parents and children across the globe with a release that brings the wonder of the theater home. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liliana Nikiteanu
- 1995
This animated series for children brings to life the beloved characters from the Little Bear books by Else H. Minarik and illustrated by Caldecott medal winner Maurice Sendak. Children of all ages love Little Bear, Cat, Hen, Owl, Duck, and of course, Little Bear's loving Mother and Father. These sweet and simple stories are refreshing in today's media frenzy of children's programming. Recommended for ages two to five. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Three of Maurice Sendak's books are adapted for this children's animated film, with voices by Carole King and Peter Schickele, and an interview with Sendak himself. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Based on Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book, this video features a musical version of the story as it was performed at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Adapted from the controversial children's book by author Maurice Sendak, this lighthearted fantasy follows the dreamy adventures of a young boy named Mickey as he discovers just how the local bakers prepare their delectable morning cakes. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1986
The core and darker nuances of the original "Nutcracker" fairytale by E.T.A. Hoffman (with music by Tchaikovsky) are kept alive in this adept cinematic interpretation with its combination of ballet, special effects, and Maurice Sendak's costume and production designs. The Pacific Northwest Ballet Co. perform the tale about a young girl's dream. The Stahlbaum house is celebrating the night before Christmas, and the children, Fritz and Clara (Vanessa Sharp) welcome their godfather Herr Drosselmeier (Hugh Bigney) who brings them gifts. Clara's gift is a beautiful nutcracker, so beautiful that her brother becomes jealous and breaks it. Later, when everyone is in bed, Clara sneaks back to the Christmas tree to look at her repaired nutcracker and has a marvelous and often menacing dream. The Christmas tree grows to fill the room, and a mighty army of mice led by the Mouse King threatens her. The Nutcracker and the toy soldiers try to defeat the army but the Nutcracker is captured, at which point Clara (Patricia Barker as the dream Clara) bravely clobbers the Mouse King, and the army is defeated. From that point onward, she and the Nutcracker -- who has turned into a Prince -- have many adventures in the Land of Snow where a series of more than seven different dances introduce enchanting and grim characters. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugh Bigney, Vanessa Sharp, (more)
- 1985
Includes animated versions of Sendak favorites Chicken Soup With Rice, Alligators All Around, One Was Johnny, and Pierre. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
