Observations:

Visually stunning. Absolutely gorgeous environment, beautifully shot.

More scary for adults than kids. In at least three different scenes, Jonze was able to capture that moment when exuberant child's play goes horribly wrong and somebody ends up getting hurt (ie, "You're gonna put your eye out!"). That roller coaster of joy careening into tragedy is the thing of every parent's worst nightmares, because we all have vivid memories of our own childhood exploits (we actually DID put somebody's eye out!).

Remarkably sad and dark. I never read quite this much sadness into the book. Even the happiness of Max's return home seemed tempered. We expected something a little lighter. I can see how folks with really young kids wouldn't appreciate it.

Something missing. I'd like to have seen Max apologize to his mother at the end. While this is exactly as the story plays out in the book (Max never apologizes...showing mother's unconditional love?), I think that if Max had truly learned a lesson from his adventures as is implied, he'd have apologized to her.

Overall impression:

My wife and I thought it was wonderful, my daughter not so much. She cried as Max left the Wild Things behind and without a more clearly hopeful ending to lift her spirits back up, she was left in a bit of a funk for the rest of the day.