It's rare for a book as popular as "Where the Wild Things Are" to take this long to make it to the big screen. And it's not for a lack of trying: since the book's publication in 1963, various producers have attempted to option the book from creator Maurice Sendak. But Sendak resisted, as outsider takes tended to be too conventional -- too Hollywood -- for his beloved world. Enter Spike Jonze, whom Sendak first approached in the late '90s, convinced that the budding auteur had the right balance of humanity and vision to effectively bring the book to life. As a lifelong fan, Jonze considered and declined the opportunity twice before finally agreeing to take it on. His reasoning was simple: How do you translate a forty-eight page book with eleven lines of text into a feature-length film? Especially given the gravity of the subject matter -- "Where the Wild Things Are" is arguably the most popular and influential children's book of all time.

Jonze approached the process by making it as personal as he could, peeling between the pages of the book and conjuring an emotionally-driven story that attempts to capture the wonder and anguish of youth. He partnered on the script with author Dave Eggers, in Eggers's first foray into screenwriting. Their collaboration has been described by both as suitably unconventional; Eggers claims that once they got cooking, acting out characters for each other, the challenge came in having too much material. Sendak, always encouraging Jonze to make "his film," couldn't have been more pleased with the direction of the narrative. In response to those who have labeled the film "too bleak" or "not a kids' movie," Sendak has been wholly supportive of Jonze's adaptation.

It's hard not to love Spike Jonze for the level of commitment and care he brings to his projects, as depicted in the video above. By most critical accounts -- and the real test comes this weekend -- he has succeeded with "Wild Things," making the unmakeable, bringing emotional realism to the fantastic.  As Sendak himself describes, "What I've seen him do is, he's turned it into his without giving up mine ...He's touched me very much." Is there higher praise?