Moonrise Kingdom

I own and enjoy all of Wes Anderson's films, and I would say that this is my favorite movie he has made since The Royal Tenenbaums. Moonrise Kingdom boasts the combination of peculiarity and heart audiences have come to expect from Anderson, and this is arguably the sweetest tale he has spun thus far. While the two children at the center of the film are certainly the most endearing characters, Edward Norton steals the show with his performance of a character who is so earnest and well-meaning that he is even likable when he is utterly failing. It is also refreshing to see Bruce Willis truly acting in a film again, portraying his character in a way that is largely subdued but still emotionally rich. The cinematography is this film is quite memorable. Anderson includes more shots of gorgeous, natural locations than I can remember being in any of his other projects. Once again, he makes sure the music of the film is enjoyable; the use of Benjamin Britten's "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" is particularly noteworthy. Perhaps the greatest strength of this film is simply its overall impact. Each time I watch it, I enjoy both the mood and the headspace it puts me in. Beyond the feature film, this release has very little to offer. Anderson fans who have grown used to the Criterion editions of his movies will be disappointed to discover that there is only a small number of special features on this disc, most of which appear to be web shorts used to promote Moonrise Kingdom's theatrical release.

Any fan of Wes Andersen films will know what to expect. Witty dialogue, unique camera movements and an assortment of characters brilliantly misguided and yet completely loveable. This time around the filmmaker lends his hand to one of the world's oldest thematic stories; man's quest to find himself, and eternal love. Done so through the goggles of misunderstood adolescence, the story takes place among a small island wherein a teenage boy and girl each runaway from their families to rendezvous and escape. Amid their romantic voyage an omniscient narrator tells of a famous and tragic storm which crashes the village community, and the local law enforcement, community members and families search to find them. Funny, heartwarming and sometimes isolating, a film well worth investing. 4 Stars!

Finally a Wes Anderson movie I can get behind. Full of the usual quirky characters, beautifully shot scenes, and child actors who are real naturals. This movie made me feel good after watching it, unlike other Anderson movies, which usually left me feeling a bit unimpressed. I highly recommend this gem of a film. I rated this release "excellent" for the quality of the film. I found the DVD extras for be sorely lacking, the featurettes are too short and a commentary would have been appreciated, though I don't know if Anderson does them, too bad. Buy this for the film, not the extras, but do buy it, its great.

Having seen every Wes Anderson movie, I can tell you this is one of his bests. However, at this point in his career, he has mastered the visual art he has so desired and if you are watching this DVD on an flat-screen tv, you will notice that it's a bit stretched in terms of detail. This bothered me to the point where I actual bought this on Blu-Ray, but I'm also a lover of movies so don't let me steer you wrong. If you like coming of age stories and or Wes Anderson, you cannot be let down by this quirky flick.

I'm a big fan of Wes Anderson. The Royal Tenenbaums is one of my all time favorites. The scenery and cinematography in this movie is fantastic. I like the actors too. Ed Norton is perfect in his roll. I'm not so sure about Bruce Willis. Although I think he's great, I just don't know if he's a Wes Anderson type actor. Anyway, The story was a little more light hearted than most of Wes' movies, which is okay, but I prefer the edginess of some of his other films.