Yum_yum_now_reviews_movies

(2013-05-20 12:46:45)

I'm betting you will either LOVE it or HATE it, but not much in between

I was grinning ear to ear during this film. It was sweet, and poignant,and enigmatic, and just perfect. You can look at it as a bizarre littlelove story or you can see it as a fabulous metaphor for life ingeneral. Life isn't fair, it's quirky, and it certainly doesn't goaccording to plan. I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed this movie, and how much myhusband hated it. After about thirty minutes he leaned over andwhispered, "this is simply horrible. Possibly one of the worst moviesI've ever paid money to see." I, on the other hand, would have beenquite willing to go right back in the theater and see it againimmediately, if I hadn't had Mr. Grouchy Pants with me.Let me tell you who will love this movie: I'm a former English teacherand psychotherapist. I enjoyed the symbolism, imagery and metaphor. Iliked the characters. They were innocent but right on the precipice ofknowing more about humanity than most adults. They were clever, and offbeat, and...yes...disturbed. And I felt their isolation and delight atfinding one another. So, people who willfully suspend disbelief andenjoy a bit of fantasy will sink right into the seat for the long haul. My husband is an engineer. He didn't appreciate the movie in the least.And that's OK...we often disagree regarding flicks, but it was a shameto go with someone who was falling asleep as I was smirking in delight.

dovyair

(2013-05-20 09:03:34)

Do not watch the trailer

You don't have to worry about spoilers, but I highly recommend seeingthis movie with as little preparation as possible. Not knowing whatit's about or where it's going is half the fun. The other half is thefact that it is fun, witty, and doesn't take itself too seriously.Norton, Wilis, Murray, and McDermot are all good in it, but it's notabout them at all. The kids who appear in this movie are not known yet,but should be - not only are they are the main characters, they trulybring the story to life and make you wish you were 12 again. Alsothere's something both authentic and nonsensical about the whole moviethat makes it even more enjoyable.

Roland E. Zwick

(2013-05-16 09:21:23)

enjoyable but ultimately overdoses on quirkiness

Highly original in both concept and style -as is customary with a WesAnderson production - "Moonrise Kingdom" nevertheless proves that, evenin the most skillful of hands, a little quirkiness can go a long way.Set in 1965, this surrealistic indie comedy focuses on two misfitchildren - one a twelve-year-old orphan and the other the daughter oftwo whacked-out parents - who run off to a remote New England island sothey can live in isolation with one another, right as a hurricane isabout to hit the area. The talented Jared Gilman and Kara Haywood play the two socialoutcasts, while the adults are portrayed by Bill Murray, FrancesMcDormand, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, JasonSchwartzman and Harvey Keitel as an assortment of parents, troopleaders, detectives and social services officials. The irony is thatmost of the adults turn out to be even more bizarre and dysfunctionalthan the children who've run away because they just don't fit in.Co-written by Roman Coppola and Wes Anderson and directed by Anderson,"Moonrise Kingdom" is overflowing with wit, striking imagery andon-the- mark deadpan performances. But the archness does get to be abit much at times, and the atonal, emotionless line readings eventuallytake their toll on the audience.It's a clever and likable enough little trifle that, even at arelatively brief 94-minute running time, winds up overstaying itswelcome. But the critics sure seem to love it.

Terrell Howell

(2013-05-15 23:29:15)

Wes Anderson better than his best

I've been a fan of the young auteur Wes Anderson for quite a while nowand it's been a lot of fun to watch his career change and mature as hemakes more and more wonderful films. His latest flick, MoonriseKingdom, might just be his most aesthetically brilliant directorialouting yet. In fact, it's safe to say it is one of his finest films outof the seven he has made. Moonrise Kingdom is an adventurous love storyabout a young boy and a girl who have been in touch ever since meetingat their summer camp's production of Noah's Ark. During the summer of1967 the boy, Sam, runs away from his troop of Khaki scouts to meet upwith Suzy, the girl. A quirky yet beautiful relationship sparksimmediately, but meanwhile search parties are sent out all over theisland on which the film takes place to find the two starry eyedchildren. It's a film full of the usual Wes Anderson quirkiness, but italso displays a new kind of mature filmmaking that solidifiesAnderson's stake as a true auteur and a truly superb director.Moonrise Kingdom boasts a colorful cast of characters that is full ofthe Anderson regulars like Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray, but alsohas some newcomers like Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, and even ahilarious cameo by Harvey Keitel. This multitude of characters cometogether to create an absolutely magnificent story. The characters arefull of life and it's amazing to watch how this diverse cast can cometogether to carry this film with its very specific style full ofmatter-of-fact dialogue and very rigid movements. All of the cast doesan excellent job at perfecting the style Anderson has created here.It's the kind of brilliance that can't be explained by words, butrather just by seeing the excellence of this film come together.But perhaps the most incredible thing about Moonrise Kingdom is whatAnderson has achieved visually here. Anderson has always had a veryspecific style to the way he directs. His camera movements are alwaysvery straight and very flat. His pans are very specific and he worksthem in such a way that is under appreciated by the average movie goer.Anderson is an expert at framing a shot and he is in love with makingperfect picture frame shots out of his settings. His camera work hasalways been something special, but in Moonrise Kingdom he utilizes hisown style to a whole new exceptional level. I was blown away by the wayhe shot this film and the way he framed each and every shot soperfectly, without a single flaw in the setup of his scenes.Everything Anderson does with the camera here is flawless and it is thething which characterizes the adventurous and free spirit of this film.There's a certain magical quality about this film that comes throughits incredibly creative visual style. Moonrise Kingdom is deliveredperfectly and I couldn't have asked for a more stylistic film fromAnderson. It's the film which encompasses the style he has beendeveloping ever since the release of his first film. Moonrise Kingdomis easily one of Anderson's best films to date.

flaherty-bob

(2013-05-08 01:06:51)

beyond boring

This movie was so boring and awkward I was verging on falling asleepwithin 30 minutes. At 55 minutes into the film I left the theater. I thought Brice Willis,ed Norton, and Bill Murray working together on a film would ensure agreat movie. I guess the producers spent all their money on casting andjust settled for a poor script and bad direction. I've never seen amovie with so little emotion and character development. The film moved at a snail's pace with absolutely no intensity, evenwhen the kids turn up missing. The parent's reaction to their missingchildren is emotionless. don't waste your money

markandkarenfitz

(2013-05-07 05:59:46)

a good deed indeed

My ex-girlfriend (reconnected with recently on FB after 46 years) saidI really needed to see this. She was my best pal when we were both 11and 12 in 1964/1965.I don't think I was as colorful as the boy in this movie. I think shewas as lovable as the girl in the movie. I think I still love her, allthese years later.They have a lot of fun in this film and venture close to manifestinglove in gentle and sweet prepubescent ways.An incredible cast you surely already know are involved and cudos toBruce Willis. And Edward Norton. And the rest... all on hat island.Really great shot setups. Intriguing use of absolute symmetry. It justfeels right. Elemental.The film is even spot on in regards to the relative physical maturityof the kids. The girls is, like girls in general, about a year ahead interms of physical maturity. Not to suggest that there is nudity oranything purile but only that it is strange to recall how within thatspan of about 12 months at that age a virtual metamorphosis occurs foradolescents. No wonder they can feel that delirious mix ofcrush/romanticism. It is truly innocent and glorious; hope you rememberthat feeling too.One of my favorite films. I will own it and watch it a dozen times.

runamokprods

(2013-05-06 02:24:53)

A wonderful, romantic, and uniquely odd Wes Anderson film

With Wes Anderson, you either buy into his odd, very idiosyncratic anddistinctive style, with it's touches of twisted, surreal fairy-taletone, and performances that are both restrained on yet not at allnaturalistic – or you don't. For me, I find his style almost alwaysendearing, and both very funny and very touching (The Life Aquatic withSteve Zissou was the one time it didn't work for me). As always the performances here are remarkable from Bruce Willis,Edward Norton, Bill Murray (the quintessential Wes Anderson actor),Francis McDormand and Tilda Swinton as the adults, to two luminous andunique performances by the film's pre-adolescent lovers Kara Haywoodand Jared Gilman. While imposing a seemingly astringent style, all right angles (almostevery cut within a scene is at 90 degrees or 180 degrees to the shotbefore it), and carefully composed tableaux, this film captures thewonderful, surreal weirdness of first love (or at least one's childhoodfantasy of first love) with a moving and hilarious honesty. Somehow, while the story of Sam and Suzy's attempt to escape from theinsane adult world that surrounds them has little to do with therealities of day to day life as we know it, it has everything to dowith the realities of the budding heart. I can't remember when a film so reminded me of my own first fantasiesof love and (tasteful but honest) sexuality. I love when a film makes atear fall from my eye at the same time I'm laughing, and that's therare trick Anderson has accomplished here.

C rad

(2013-05-05 16:45:17)

Good Cinematography, Boring Movie

This film is wonderfully shot, and the use of color is intriguing.However there is a distinct lack of substance and likable characters.Seriously Coulda used a dose of Owen Wilson...Everyone Except the 2main characters and Edward Norton are just agonizing to watch. And Ilike Murray, Willis, Swinton, AND McDormand, a lot. Murray was just notgood, and the others lackluster, although Tilda Swinton was more orless her usual self. The dialogue was at times amusing but thedirection was lacking.There is a whole lot of droll monotone soliloquies and quirkiness justfor the sake of quirkiness. You knew what was going to happen and yetit took forever and a day to unfold. It's like Wes Anderson took theworst parts of Tenenbaums, Darjeeling, and Fantastic Mr. Fox anddecided they were the best, and deserved their own movie. In a word,boring. In a sentence, wait for rental or skip entirely.

notstone

(2013-04-19 06:18:36)

same ol' same ol'

I've been getting into Wes Anderson flicks for a while now and wastruly excited to see Moonrise Kingdom. I could not have been moredisappointed in this movie than I already am. Without going intodetail, I really liked the story, but it's as if Mr. Anderson hasnothing new to bring to the table. It almost feels as if he ran out ofideas so he decided to milk every trick in his book to the point of themovie feeling like a caricature of a Wes Anderson flick. There weresome good moments in the film, however, it felt quite uninspired. Agreat cast with what seemed like little charisma. I would like to thinkthat I'd watch it again while keeping an open mind, but I can't say itwill be any time soon. All in all, I can't give it more than a 4. I amdefinitely glad that I was not able to fork out the cash to catch it inthe theater.

Two Gun

(2013-04-18 12:00:31)

It's tremendously quirky and strange but absolutely delightful.

I can honestly say I knew nothing about this movie before seeing it andthe name Wes Anderson means nothing to me. Having said that, I trulyenjoyed this film.Movies like this really should be released more in the summer months.It's a complete pallet cleanser from all the big CGI stuff that hitsduring blockbuster season. It's tremendously quirky and strange butabsolutely delightful. There's no doubt it requires patience to viewbecause I honestly didn't know what to think of it for the first 15 or20 minutes. Wanting to see where this superb cast would pop up in whatamounts to a kids film kept me interested but the overall tone andstory swept me away. There really are some stunning camera angles andvisuals on display all the way through. There's a warmth to thecartoony and bizarre story that I found to be very appealing and therewere many moments where I caught myself smiling as I watched.

junkielee

(2013-04-15 23:51:25)

Moonrise Kingdom

My fourth Wes Anderson film, a 2D cinema-going, the previous three areTHE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (2001, a 7/10), THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU(2004, an 8/10) and THE DARJEELING LIMITED (2007, a 6/10). With its burgeoning domestic box-office performance (a $38.8M by lastweek, only second to THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, which cashed in around 52Min the whole run), MOONRISE KINGDOM has a chance to be elevated intothe weighty consideration as the BEST PICTURE contender in the Oscarrace for the first time for Mr. Anderson, and a more potent edge isthat it has gathered his idiosyncratic innovative creativity andincubates it with a fairly engaging story, therefore it can beconceived as his most developed and fully grown work to date. Apart from Anderson's regular troupe (Murray and Schwartzman),newcomers here are copious with Hollywood renowned names, Willis,Norton, McDormand, Swinton, Keitel and Balaban. But they are merelyscreen foils, the film revolves around a teenager duo, Jared Gilman andKara Hayward, as the premature elopers. The storyline is nothingparticularly extraordinary, it is Anderson's paradigmatic trump cards,the simplistic design, colorful costumes plus a generally reddishpalette, the distinctive horizon-and-vertical moving shots cum afast-paced editing, the unorthodox charisma of its characters (apoke-faced Kara is an inward-distraught rebel while a nerd-lookingJared is a boldly underage adventurer), all above are propelling thefilm as the slipstream through its cerebrally entertaining and visuallybombarding ride with prudence and detailed quirkiness. In the film, the adult characters are mainly sidelined and mockinglyimmature, juxtaposed with our young-but-steady runaways, the disparitycould not be more overt. But the film is more than a modern fairytale,its sleek and trendy predisposition has an innate crowd-pleasing trait,especially at this time, all the fantasies and puppy love stories havebeen marred by violence (the ubiquitous bullies) and darkness (TimBurton needs to burn more cash and vampires need love too since undeadis boring), Anderson's children-like temperament may find a fertilesoil to bloom, arguable, killing a doggie and struck by thunder areappropriate to the pre-teen audience, but what the hell anyway, histerritory is always open to adults who linger with a ingenuous heart.

Michael_Elliott

(2013-04-15 04:50:44)

Great Cast Bring Innocent Tale to Life

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) *** 1/2 (out of 4)Teenager love birds Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) run awayfrom their homes to find a better life together but soon a search partyis out looking for them. Wes Anderson's latest picture is quite a gembecause it's been a very long time since a film has captured theinnocence and beauty of young love. Now this certainly isn't a lovestory but then again the film is so original that it really doesn't fitinto any one genre. There's the love stuff but also plenty of greatcomedy and best of all are the terrific performances from the entirecast, many of which haven't done this good of work in years. Andersonand Roman Coppola's screenplay is so simple yet so beautiful andinnocent that it's nearly impossible not to get caught up in this crazyworld. The visual style of Anderson is certainly on full display as isthe weird and surreal atmosphere that really makes you feel as ifyou're seeing some sci-fi movie because it just appears to be adifferent universe than anything you've seen or known. At just84-minutes without the end credits, there's really no filler or scenesthat don't belong. This is a very tight ship that tells its story, getsthe characters developed and then moves on. Both Gilman and Hayward areterrific in the roles of the young lovers and it's easy to see thatthey've both got a great talent and Anderson exploits every bit of it.The comic touch by the two was very impressive and they fit Anderson'sworld perfectly. Frances McDormand and Bill Murray are both extremelyfunny as the girl's parents and especially Murray who can play weirdlike no one else. Edward Norton turns in his best work in years as thescout leader and we even get a strong bit by Tilda Swinton. HarveyKeitel pops up towards the end and it's always great seeing him. BruceWillis is the one that really jumps off the screen. I remember PULPFICTION brought him back to life in regards to showing he could "act"and didn't have to always play Bruce Willis and this film proves thesame. Willis is extremely good, funny and at times touching in his partand it was great to see him acting again. MOONRISE KINGDOM isn't goingto be a film for those seeking brainless action but those who wantsomething more are bound to be entertained.

capone666

(2013-04-14 19:35:27)

The Vidiot Reviews...

Moonrise KingdomBoy Scout leaders are like surrogate fathers to boys growing up withouta dad - except they molest you on camping trips.Fortunately, the orphan in this romantic-comedy isn't a member of theBoy Scouts.When 12-year-old Khaki Scout Sam (Jared Gilman) goes AWOL from hissummer camp on a New England island, his Scout Master (Edward Norton)and troop give chase.Meanwhile, an island native, Suzy (Kara Hayward), escapes her troubledhome life and rendezvous' with her pen pal Sam, whom she met at achurch play.Elsewhere, the police (Bruce Willis), Suzy's parents (Bill Murray,Frances McDormand) and Social Services (Tilda Swinton) search for theyoung lovers during a flash flood.A preteen summer fling, Moonrise Kingdom is an instant eccentricclassic crammed with director Wes Anderson's trademark quirky cast,retro fashion and vinyl recordings.Incidentally, statistics show that 95% of people who runaway from anisland drown. (Green Light)vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

harrycam62

(2013-04-14 12:26:38)

Enjoyable and heart warming story

I went to see this film, because my step-daughter loves Ed Norton and Ihad agreed to go with her. Luckily I like Bruce Willis anyway, so Ithought it would be interesting to see how they got on in the film.I was pleasantly surprised not only by Ed Norton and Bruce Willis'characters, which they played with a lovely understated style, but thefilm as a whole was enjoyable. Every character has a quirkiness about them and I found myself laughingwith the other watchers in the cinema as the events unfolded of younglove. If you want a chill out time, a good laugh and above all are abit of a romantic.. go watch it.

billcr12

(2013-04-07 18:41:13)

Magical

Wes Anderson has created a magical world with a superb cast includingtwo twelve year olds who match the talents of Bill Murray, BruceWillis, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, and Harvey Keitel. KaraHayward and Jared Gilman are Suzy and Sam, a couple of outcasts whohave no friends and are considered trouble by the adults around them.Sam is a foster child struggling with loneliness, and Suzy is anintrovert; and they seem to have been fated to meet, and when they do,a pen pal relationship develops. Sam is at a boy scout camp on anisland, and Suzy is living with her mother and father, with threeyounger brothers in a seemingly perfect house with white picket fence,and everything in its place. Sam runs away, as does Suzy, and they findeach other and escape with a tent and other gear to get away from theelders who don't understand them. Although very young, the pair have aconnection which belies their age. This is basically a love story. Thesettings are striking, with strong red and blue pastels, the housesperfect, in a Norman Rockwell kind of way. The style reminded me ofJean Pierre Jeunet's Micmacs, another quirky film. I was caught up withthe story from start to finish. Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman areexceptional finds by Anderson, and they are able to carry MoonriseKingdom to a level of true art.

ArtandJoyofMovies

(2013-04-07 08:47:36)

An Oscar for Ed Norton!

Short Review: Sam is a Khaki Scout (boy scout) in a 1965 New Englandoutpost or island or some such magical little spit of land and timewhere boys were really boys and girls really ran away from home withSamsonite luggage. Sam is an awkward kid at camp and is certainly thejunior version of Corporal Willie Santiago from A Few Good Men (1992).Sam escapes before given a boy scout code red but his former buddiescertainly try to make up for it while hunting him down.Suzy is a burnt out romantic tween just dying for someone who is honestin her life. Sam and Suzy hatch an escape and the little New Englandisle is turned upside down trying to find them and bring them back fromtheir new found lagoon of paradise and innocence to the dirty realworld they so wanted to escape. Sam Suzy communicate texting style in aworld before cell phones and email. They use hand written notes. Sotheir actions are all contemplative and direct, ...and as impulsive asthe world in 1965 allowed given such slow communication.It all sounds benign enough. However, the script is amazinglyimaginative and funny. Sam is an odd duck. Suzy is a wild bird. Theywork well together. The acting is superlative and Ed Norton deservesand Oscar nomination at the least. The under 21 crowd may not have thelife, historical or emotional experience to "get it"---everyone elsewill. This is an awesome date movie. It is sweet. It is endearing. Itis funny and it is great storytelling. It only lacks huge social impactwhich is why TMG does not give it a 10.0. This movie is too good tospoil for you by a longer review. Go see it.

Susiebz

(2013-04-05 13:00:10)

Boy meets girl

This was a perfectly delightful movie. I think Sir James M. Barriewould have enjoyed it, as it has overtones of Peter Pan. Even thetitle, Moonrise Kingdom, reminds me of the address of Neverland -"First star on the right, and straight on 'til morning." Othersimilarities are many boys and one girl (like the lost boys and Wendy).The story is carried by the kids, not the big stars, although they addto the enjoyment. Every character is sympathetic, if a bit quirky. Theplot is fun, the premise is familiar, the scenery is lovely, the actingis terrific. If you are a kid, or ever were a kid, you'll enjoy thismovie. But if you want to know who the actors are, be aware of thecasting at the beginning of the movie, because there's no list ofcharacters at the end.

3xHCCH

(2013-04-04 23:41:09)

The Uncomfortable Scenes of Sex and Violence Ruined This For Me

I only came across the title of this movie when the list of nomineesfor the Golden Globes came out. "Moonrise Kingdom" is among thenominees for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. I decided I wouldwatch it, and maybe, since the initial scenes involved kids, maybe getmy kids interested to see it too.Not so. Even if the lead characters were young tween kids, there wereseveral scenes that were very uncomfortable even for someone my agewith kids that age. It is not because the film dealt about two kidsrunning away from lonely homes. However, with scenes involving violencewith scissors and arrows with an actual victim killed, or worse, Frenchkissing and inappropriate touching while dressed only in underwear,clearly this is NOT for kids at all.The film had the old-time feel of "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" which Iliked, innocent, nostalgic. No wonder, since this film was alsodirected by Wes Anderson. The setting of rural America in 1965 isrecreated so well with the amazingly detailed production design. Thescouting scenes were also very charming, mostly that is. The veteransin the supporting cast which included Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, EdwardNorton, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton all did very well.For me, I was disappointed that Wes Anderson had to go too far with hisdepiction of teenage aggression and sexual experimentation. While Iknow these things do happen in real life, this film could have been amore precious piece without those disturbing scenes. They could havebeen executed with less graphic details. Too bad, I cannot allow mytween kids to see scenes like those yet. The rest of the film wouldhave been perfectly nice to watch with them.

peytoo

(2013-04-04 09:06:56)

What is this steaming piece of crap?

I have rarely seen a movie that I would call "an utter and total wasteof time"; I wish I had cleaned dog poo off the streets of Toronto. Isthis for real or a nightmarish joke? The amount of visual detail issuffocating and dizzying at best! And are these lines supposed to makeanyone with a brain laugh: "I'm going to find a tree to chop" or "Getout of my chimney". This stinking, entirely disgusting piece of crapshows that if you know the right people and figure out how to give theright people oral pleasure, you can make anything in Hollywood; that'sI think how Roman Coppola and Wes Anderson - who I believe is one ofthe most over-rated Hollywood filmmakers - were able to get theirtotally ludicrous, laughless, unbearably crappy and genuinely appallingscript produced. Those two kids who play the leading characters areextremely unattractive and mental-looking; I can't believe that dancescene on the beach... it almost made me puke! I wish I could rate thistotal waste of talent - I would never be able to wrap my head aroundwhy those actors even considered reading this boring, shitty scriptmuch less say yes to it, -10; but even that would be anover-estimation. One more thing: Bill Murray's part is impossiblythankless and abysmal; every word coming out of his mouth is dreary anddesperate for a laugh! And one last thing: I really would like to knowwhat Scorsese thinks of Keitel's part and performance!

maestro7PL

(2013-04-03 14:45:17)

The Emperor's New Clothes

This is the first film of the year to which I give one star. I cannotbelieve the misleading hype by Wes Anderson fans and film critics thisfilm is getting. I sat there for 90 minutes and I did not laugh once,and this was supposed to be a comedy (I only noticed about 4 peoplelaughing in a pretty full theater). The famous adult actors werecardboard cartoons. They appeared to do one day's work and pick up afat paycheck. This is the worse acting that Willis, Norton, Mc Dormand.and Murray have ever done. The two kids were good, but their linesnever resembled anything kids would actually ever say to one another.In short, this movie is for Wes Anderson fans only. Other people beststay away from this stink bomb!