“Where the Wild Things Are” (Adventure/Fantasy 1 hour, 41 minutes); Starring: Max Records, Catherine Keener, and Mark Ruffalo; Director: Spike Jonze; Rated: PG (Brief strong language, mature themes, violence and adolescent misbehavior)

Movie Review: Spike Jonze directs this movie based on a classic childhood book by Maurice Sendak. Jonze films are mostly adult-oriented features; the notables: “Adaptation” (2002) and “Being John Malkovich” (1999). Jonze usually spends his time making informative videos. Yet, when he debuts a photoplay, it is a sound production worthy of praise. Here, his aim is for younger audiences, although parents should note the PG rating.

Max, played with maturity by young actor Max Records, feels lonely and ostracized by his mother (Keener), sister (Pepita Emmerichs), and others. Max spends his time daydreaming. Max’s latest fantasy sequence takes him to a land of large furry giants, a place of wild things.

For those who grew up with “Where the Wild Things Are,” you may remember the impact this book has on youths. A boy befriends monsters. Usually, monsters are scary. While some of this eeriness exists, the overall amusement here is one of touching moments. A kid learns he has a good life beyond his fantasy, a place of love at home.

Jonze gives audiences concepts that culminate into nice lessons learned for adults and their small fries. The result is a touching adventure with nice acting from Max Records and a slew of talented voices from A-list actors (James Gandolfini, “Little Miss Sunshine’s” Paul Dano, Catherine O’Hara, and Oscar winners Forest Whitaker and Chris Cooper) who are the voices of the Wild Things.

On the technical side, viewers will also find the nice effects, the musical soundtrack and set designs magnificent. The upcoming Academy Awards should pencil in this fantastical adventure now, even sitting through the end credits is enjoyable, thanks to nice original music by Carter Burwell and Karen Orzolek of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Grade: B+ (The perfect wild place)

“Law Abiding Citizen” (Thriller: 1 hour, 49 minutes); Starring: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill and Viola Davis; Director: F. Gary Gray; Rated: R (Profanity, brief nudity, graphic violence, sexual innuendo and thematic elements including rape and torture)

Movie Review: The District Attorney’s Office, led by Nick Rice (Foxx), makes a deal with two men who killed the wife and daughter of Clyde Shelton (Butler). This deal is not what Shelton expects, so he sets out to kill everyone involved with what he feels is an injustice. Meanwhile, Rice is more concerned with his conviction rates than accountability for justice. The city of Philadelphia is turned upside down as Shelton assassinates citizens during a number of days.

The biggest problem with “Citizen” is its inability to seem in the least bit plausible, and its screenplay appears lost on time differentials — all seems to take place over hours, not days. Implausibility is the entertainment displayed here. Antagonists are very smart, the most intelligent of all characters. Such a case is what “Citizen” purports. The evil mastermind of this plot plans assassinations down to the detail and knows all apparent alternate plans. The best-laid plans can go awry, but not for the malevolent intelligence of Clyde Shelton. He would have to be a true seer of the future to plan assassinations this thorough.

Even more, the scope of this plot is small. A homegrown terrorist assassinates multiple public figures over a short period. Yet, it appears a police detective and an assistant D.A. are the lead investigators and pursuing team. Post Sept. 11, 2001, this concept appears highly unlikely.

Foxx behaves more like a crime investigator than a district attorney. Second, does Butler ever shave? In his last three movies (“Gamer,” 2009, “The Ugly Truth,” 2009, and “RocknRolla,” 2008), he has played a roughneck with a five o’clock shadow. Since “300” (2006), he obtains many roles where he is a tough guy or bad guy of some sort. His roles are repetitious. The actor with the memorable moments is Colm Meaney as a police detective. He provides humor throughout. In addition, Oscar nominee Viola Davis adds panache as a tough mayor.

“Citizen” is something different. Its protagonist and antagonist, Foxx’s Rice and Butler’s Shelton respectively, have motives and strongly acknowledged convictions. The problem is these characters and others in this farfetched piece have ever-changing thought processes. One moment, a character dislikes an event and is complacent about that event later. Consistency is lacking.

“Citizen” is entertaining, and it is a glorified snuff film. A murderer has innovative means to assassinate people. For those who find this a diversion, you will be heavily entertained. Hence, the reason this is a thriller, albeit implausible.