{Where the Wild Things Are opens in Seattle Friday, 10/16 and is playing at the Meridian, the Majestic Bay, and the Metro}

Almost as soon as I found out that 826 Seattle was holding a preview benefit screening of Where the Wild Things Are–probably my most highly anticipated film this year–I bought tickets. A wise move, as it quickly sold out (the screening raised an awesome $47,000!). 

The energy in line and inside the Cinerama was kind of amazing. Most people seemed to really get into the spirit of things, wearing the gold paper crowns passed out at the door and buzzing happily about being able to attend. Teri Hein, founder of 826 Seattle, introduced screenwriter Dave Eggers and star Max Records before the film for a quick Q&A. Eggers gracefully spun attention away from himself and focused on 826 and their young guest by asking witty questions about injuries sustained while filming and working with Director Spike Jonze (reportedly quite the prankster)—as well as encouraging the audience to "howl when appropriate" during the film. That might sound a little dry written down, so let me clarify: my brains were basically falling out of my head from excitement by the time the movie started.

Max Records (as…Max) uses his fresh-faced enthusiasm and soulful eyes to draw you into the story of a lost and lonely little boy almost as soon as the film starts to roll. Relationship problems with his now-distant teenage sis and busy single mom cause Max to retreat into a fantasy world ruled by monsters with complex personalities who take pleasure in destroying things, and have quite a few issues of their own. In other words: Wild Things aren’t all about fun & games, even if Max would like them to be. The plot is definitely simplified, but there’s a deeper seriousness implied. The dialog is exactly what you’d think a 9-year-old boy would imagine, conveying the struggle of a kid trying to make sense of situations that are just beyond his realm of understanding and process them in a way that makes sense.

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Whip It at Pacific Place and the Metro:  I’ve no doubt that this is going to be cheesy, sentimental, and packed full of emotional girly moments – but I’ll also admit: that’s exactly what I’m hoping for. I love Drew Barrymore & Ellen Page to death, and I also love me some tough girl skatin’! Can’t wait to see them as their roller girl alter egos (Drew's is Smashley Simpson, Ellen's is Babe Ruthless):

The Invention of Lying at the Meridian, the Metro and Oak Tree Cinemas: Ricky Gervais directs his first feature film about a world where EVERYONE is brutally honest, all the time – until he decides to start lying for his own personal gain. I didn’t get a chance to see the press screening, but I actually thought Gervais was a capable (and kind of sweet) leading man in Ghost Town, and I definitely know he’s a kick-ass writer, so I’m game for this one - plus, Tina Fey!:

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Fame opens in Seattle on Friday, September 25th at AMC Pacific Place & the Metro.

I admit it: the Fame 2009 previews tugged my girly heartstrings a bit, so I decided I better prep for the remake with a re-watch of the original 80s sensation! The movie that inspired dancers, actors and singers! Irene Cara’s rise to popularity!!!

An hour in, I realized why I didn’t really remember it from my childhood. It’s kind of…boring. It’s also disjointed, unfocused, and large pieces of the plot appear to be missing. Fame covers 4 years at a performance high school in New York, is 2 hours and 14 minutes long, yet somehow doesn’t flesh out ANYBODY in the cast. But all of this is forgiven, of course, due to the dancing and singing.

Fame 2009 seems conscious of these failings, tries to fix them, and almost succeeds. Director Kevin Tancharoen whittled the running time down to a respectable 1 hour, 47 minutes, and Screenwriter Allison Burnett lost some of the ridiculous comedy and rearranged focus – both while keeping the look & feel of the original. The only possible mistake: taking out the popular traffic stopping/street dancing scene to “Fame” and bumping the remix to the end credits – a surprising (and bold!) decision.

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Jennifer’s Body @ the Meridian 16 and the Metro: A hot chick becomes possessed and starts slaughtering and eating people? That sounds cheesy, stupid AND fun – as IF there was any question I would recommend this! My only sorrow is that I missed the press screening and I can’t see it this weekend due to visiting family. AUGGGH. But, I’m confident just from the preview that I’ll love it. “K…you can barely finish gym class”. Keep it up, Diablo.

The Informant @ Majestic Bay and Pacific Place: I almost feel like more has been made out of Damon gaining weight than anything else about this movie—but it looks pretty good. As good as a story of this type can be (hello, film based on a real life tale of someone working for the FBI to bring down a big, bad Corporation) – the differentiating factor being, this is Soderbergh, and he decided to turn it into a comedy.

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