On Elephants and Other Wild Things

Some time back I read Kate Dicamillo's The Magician's Elephant and yesterday I saw Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are.  Both were filled with beautiful imagery. Both had a sort of ironic humorous sensibility that I like. Both respected their main characters. Both had sad moments, funny moments, extraordinary imagery, and provided unique viewing/reading experiences.  Both were much admired by me.  And both left me puzzled.

I'd read a few reviews of the Jonze movie before I went. Those...