Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Read Jen Graves's Profile on New Se… | The High Price of Moderation »

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Film What Do You Think of the Trailer for Moonrise Kingdom?

Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 3:34 PM

The trailer for Wes Anderson's first full-length live-action movie since 2007's awful, awful The Darjeeling Limited (and his first movie since 2009's pretty-damn-good Fantastic Mr. Fox) has been released. It's called Moonrise Kingdom, it's a period piece about a Boy Scout who goes AWOL for love, and it stars Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, and Bruce Willis, among others.

Comments (21) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Wes Anderson has gone linearly downhill in terms of film quality since Bottle Rocket, which was awesome. Rushmore was a very good movie, Royal Tennenbaums was good, Life Aquatic had it's moments, but was weak overall, Darjeeling Limited was terrible. We'll see if he can rebound.

(I never saw Fantastic Mr. Fox, so can't comment on that)

Posted by Frank Rizzo on January 12, 2012 at 3:58 PM

I liked Darjeeling Limited very much. Why the hate? Granted I lived in India and may be biased but I don't understand the hate. Perhaps you could explain.

Posted by Ignatz Mouse on January 12, 2012 at 4:05 PM

I'll see this. I liked Darjeeling Limited too, except for the part in the village when the boy dies - that part was just out of place and Anderson doesn't do real feeling well. But I liked the rest of it. I even liked Fantastic Mr. Fox and the Life Aquatic more than Royal Tenanbaums, which I thought was annoying somehow.

Posted by Jude Fawley on January 12, 2012 at 4:13 PM

I liked Darjeeling Limited too, though will confess it wasn’t Wes’ best film .. but even a weak Wes Anderson film has more joy, nuance, quirk and compassion than most others best films.

Posted by olive oyl on January 12, 2012 at 4:15 PM

I'll see this as soon as humanly possible. Darjeeling Limited wasn't Wes Anderson's best (that's quite possibly Fantastic Mr. Fox), but it was so very far from awful. I like it a lot, just a little less than the others and mostly for that death scene.

Posted by Josh Bis

on January 12, 2012 at 4:21 PM

i should have watched the trailer before voting. can i change my vote to twee stick?

Posted by chimsquared on January 12, 2012 at 4:21 PM

@5 I'd disagree with you about Anderson and "real feeling". Although I sort of know what you mean (particularly w/r/t that scene), I still think that his films convey emotions exceptionally, though maybe not traditionally or directly?

Posted by Josh Bis

on January 12, 2012 at 4:27 PM

The Darjeeling Limited wasn't awful, just mediocre when compared with several of Anderson's exceptional films, including Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox. I still liked Darjeeling better than The Life Aquatic.

I will look forward to seeing this new film.

Posted by Amanda on January 12, 2012 at 4:39 PM

My complaints with Darjeeling were limited to: the white guys who were the coolest dressed ones at that brown kids funeral, like it's a fucking Vice photoshoot; and, oh yeah, the 'Look, we're leaving our *baggage* behind! It's like a metaphor for something!'

Posted by Ziggity on January 12, 2012 at 4:42 PM

I'll see anything with Tilda Swinton in it.

Also, is this twee? I don't know, that word seems to get kicked around a lot these days in my totally objective and in no way anecdotal observation.

Posted by Zebes

on January 12, 2012 at 4:46 PM

Bottle Rocket: meh
Rushmore: good
Tenenbaums: good but got annoying
Life Aquatic: WIN
Mr.Fox: DOUBLE WIN
Darjeeling: good but got annoying

Moonlight looks like it could be in the WIN category.

Posted by tournant on January 12, 2012 at 4:47 PM

This is kinda paint-by-numbers Wes Anderson, isn't it?

Boyhood adventures? Check
Untenable love story? Check
60's pop soundtrack? Check
Saturated colors? Check
Bill Murray? Check

That said, I'll still go see it.

Posted by Mr_Friendly on January 12, 2012 at 5:45 PM

The pancake-eating scene in Fantastic Mr. Fox was probably enough to earn Mr. Anderson guaranteed viewings by me of his next three or four movies.

Posted by Ben on January 12, 2012 at 6:28 PM

WES ANDERSON IS MY CINEMATIC GOD.

Whew. I'll calm down. Sorry.

Posted by Lola, Now in Iowa City on January 12, 2012 at 7:39 PM

Sounds like the commenhaters have it out for you: I too liked Darjeeling Unlimited and really don't get the hate. Life Aquatic? That I almost hate, but will say not his best. (the difference? Plot! ) Looking forward to this.

Posted by Lose-Lose on January 12, 2012 at 10:20 PM

I wanted to check all of the first three boxes.

Okay, I'll admit that Darjeeling Limited wasn't his best movie, but even at his worst, he's more interesting than 90% of the filmmakers in Hollywood. I am totally down for this movie.

Posted by Reverse Polarity on January 12, 2012 at 10:20 PM

I loved Darjeeling, not the least for just for the beauty of the trains.

Life Aquatic was the one I didn't fall for.

Posted by nightswim on January 13, 2012 at 6:29 AM

I love his films, but they go from moment to stylish moment for me, or maybe as a series of great music videos. "Ooh La La" in "Rushmore", "Stephanie Says" in "Tenebaums", ""Gut Feeling" in "Life Aquatic", "Strangers" in "Darjeeling", etc. I like to remember those moments.

Posted by --MC on January 13, 2012 at 7:32 AM