quiet paws.

I’ve been a keen follower of the cinematic works of Spike Jonze for many years now. While I haven’t caught up on his complete back catalogue of films, I absolutely love ‘Being John Malkovich’ and ‘Adaptation’. He is also responsible for many of the film clips that visually stand out in my mind – ‘Buddy Holly’ by Weezer, ‘Sabotage’ by the Beastie Boys, ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ by Bjork and ‘Praise You’ by Fatboy Slim.

Now I can add to the list his magical, fantastical and beautiful film ‘Where the Wild Things Are’. When I heard that Jonze was working on this film I knew that it would not just be a must-see, but a creation which would live up to (and possibly excel) the weighty expectations of many former children like me who grew up with Maurice Sendak’s classic book.

The film is told from the perspective of Max and through his eyes it explores concepts of family, friendship, trust, loyalty, responsibility and dreams. The thing that most struck me about the film is the way that Jonze has cleverly depicted how BIG even the smallest of problems can seem to a child; I know I remember feeling just that way when I was much, much younger.

Part live action, part animatronics, part furry costumed performers and part CGI means that the sum total of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ looks and feels absolutely amazing. The story is a wonderful reflection of childhood, the nature of ‘wildness’ and the incredible power (and importance) of the imagination. I don’t want to give any details away at risk of spoiling some of the emotional intensity and fantasy of the film. All I can really say is that I would highly recommend it. While it is based on a children’s story, I would suggest that this is more a movie for adults to reflect on childhood rather than a movie for children themselves.

I think perhaps we all need to indulge in a little ‘wild rumpus’ from time to time…it is good and cleansing for the soul.

The imagination is a wonderful and precious gift with which each one of us is bestowed. Terry Gilliam gets it. He understands how important is is for us to protect and nurture the delicate nature of our imaginations; for without it all creativity would be lost.

I wish I did more to encourage the ongoing development of all that is magical, surreal, beyond belief and ‘almost’ impossible. In the structure and rigidity of much of my world, I sometimes think that these more fanciful and fantastical ideals become lost between the cracks. Perhaps then, it is the way that the ethereal world of the imagination is able to overcome practical realities that makes it all the more special.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is many things – thoughtful, mad, fun, intricate, wonderful, odd and awe-inspiring. It is therefore quite sublime.

The film follows the story of Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) and his travelling ‘Imaginarium’ show where audience members are able to travel through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations. Of course nothing is as simple as it seems; there are some dark devilish deals in the good Doctor’s past which are threatening the future fate of his daughter, Valentina (Lily Cole). Thus begins a desperate (and often hilariously cheeky) race against time to save Valentina from a fate worse than death, but just who will be her saviour?

Will it be her father, the thousand-year-old Doctor Parnassus? Or will it be one of her theatre troupe compatriots Anton or Percy? Or will it be the mysterious newcomer Tony (played perfectly in turn by Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell)? … But what of the devil himself (Tom Waits) in all this? Surely he also has a part to play and a hand to play?   … and so the adventure between parallel worlds, life and death, good and evil, begins…

This is a story that sparkles. If you already enjoy the surreal experience that can be a Terry Gilliam film, you’ll like this movie. If you are a fan of beautifully delivered performances and precisely depicted characters, you’ll like this movie. If you appreciate whimsical, decadent and dream-like settings, you’ll like this movie. But perhaps it is for those who want to indulge in a visual treat that will unshackle your imagination and take the both of you on an amazing journey, who will like this movie most of all.

So aside from a significant obsession with the full spectrum of ‘woodland creatures’, I also have an equally strong and similarly inexplicable fascination with horses (something which I’ve already reflected on). I therefore felt very fortunate indeed when I recently stumbled across the gorgeous Brown Button Trading store and spied myself a beautiful Pegasus statue.

Well what choice did I have? I simply had to buy it.
After all what could possibly be better than a winged horse?

I’ve been feeling a little flat and somewhat lacking in imaginative power and energy recently, so I’ve been looking for some way to bring a little extra ‘magic’ to my life.

I’m hoping that with Pegasus by my side at night while I sleep, my dream mind will be infiltrated with a surge of creative energy, which will then in turn influence my waking mind.

…speed forth with your poetic inspiration winged horse of the sky…