Moonrise Kingdom [DVD] [2012]

For Wes Anderson fans - classic quirky/funny movie, with a great cast.Less expensive to buy the DVD than stream twice.

A great film from Wes Anderson

Now I've watched the film I can see why some people love it and others feel it's stupid. Its more in the style of a childrens film than one for adults. I could see that a group of children from 8 to 14 liking it a lot and enjoying watching it with their parents. If you don't have children, maybe you won't get it and leave bad feedback. Or if you take life very seriously, this isn't for you.This film has a great deal of fun in it and you'll need to watch it twice - once for the main story - and again to watch all the hillarious things that are happening in the background to the main action. (The scout camp would be a health and safety nightmare by today's standards - the film is set in the 60s.) The stars of the film are really not important and anyone could have played the parts so long as they could do what Bill Murray or Bruce Willis can do with a comedy script. (When you watch the film you'll understand what I meant.)Overall a great film to watch with 8-14 year olds and anyone who has a sense of fun. If you are not in those catagories, try The Shipping News which is also set in a remote community - but much more serious. The Shipping News [Blu-ray]

Lovely. Like fine dining for your eyes.

In 2012 there were two films that absolutely charmed the socks off me. One was Beasts of the Southern Wild; the other was Moonrise Kingdom. Now normally, I'm not a big Wes Anderson fan. The only other Anderson film that I thought worth having in my library is Fantastic Mr. Fox. Even the recent Grand Budapest Hotel--for all its spectacular design and artistry--just didn't get to me. But Moonrise Kingdom is such a terrific time trip back to 1965--every detail perfect, in its depiction of a summer holiday island. Moreover, its whimsical and ravishing depiction of very young love--and the huge risks one takes for it--is spot on. The romance of Sam and Suzy is a wonderful portrait of the first clumsy, dazzling infatuation with the opposite sex. Their escape to live in the woods together is classic. And Anderson's cast? To die for! Murray, McDormand, Swinton, Norton, Willis, Keitel, Schwartzman, Balaban, et al. If you love romantic comedy, as I do, you have to have Moonrise Kingdom. One technical caveat, though. Most of the transfer is visually mediocre--not Blu Ray-sharp quality, but ordinary DVD visual quality. Disappointing.

Typical Wes

Wes Anderson has such a unique and wonderful cinematic grammar. This is one of Wes Anderson's best films. Star studded but not starry. Funny, playful and charming. I rewatched it with my tween daughter, who loved it too..

I think that 3 stars is about right for me on this movie. It was one of those rare and strange films where, on getting to the end of it, I honestly couldn't decide if I had enjoyed watching it or not! I have not seen a Wes Anderson film before so, without a doubt, I probably didn't understand it. I couldn't decide what it wanted to be. It seemed primarily to want to be a comedy and there were bits of it that made me laugh BUT also vast stretches of it that didn't. I soon realised that it was pointless expecting any explanations or answers or even any kind of motivation - its not that kind of movie. Its a series of loosely related scenes strung together, written and filmed and acted in a 'quirky' fashion. Within those limitations then, there are good performances from most of the child actors, especially the understated Kara Hayward, and also from Ed Norton and Bruce Willis. Tilda Swinton had an excellent and very amusing first scene as Social Services - her later appearance was a little more forced and less convincing.The style of the movie is individual and fits the 'quirky' brief, likewise the camera work. The subject matter is interesting and often controversial. Personally I didn't find it 'sweet' or 'cute' but nor did I find it offensive - I think its a pretty valid take on young 'love' at that age. There are some violent acts here too but the overall surreal air to the film tends to mute these although I must admit that I didn't really understand the need to kill the dog - the one really unnecessary thing (to me) in the film. There doesn't seem to be much character development - arguably Sharp and Sam seen a little happier at the end of the film and Ward has a renewed confidence (and maybe a girlfriend). I'm not convinced things are really any better at Suzy's home but, again, I don't suppose character development is really the point of a film like this.So, I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. I doubt if I'll watch it again and I can't say that I'm in a hurry to watch other Wes Anderson films. Oh - it did have a very good soundtrack, especially all the Benjamin Britten - one thing I WILL do soon is listen to a recording of Noye's Fludde!