Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

"Moonrise Kingdom" has everything you've grown to expect from a Wes Anderson film -- young love, rebellion, whimsy, humor and heart.

The movie is about two young kids living on a small island who fall in love and plan to run away together. Both are outcasts from their peers and find hope and acceptance in each other.

Although it's a basic premise, the story is very engaging and heartfelt. Anderson is a truly unique storyteller, and I always enjoy watching his films because I feel like for those two hours, I'm seeing the world the way he does. It's a colorful, beautiful, funny, sad, and sometimes weird place.

I've also noticed that Anderson has a seemingly effortless way of creating cinematic depth and charm. Sometimes, his most powerful scenes are the ones with little to no dialogue.

I am also a fan of his casting. "Moonrise Kingdom" had some of his usual players, such as Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, but it also brought on some talented new faces, such as the two leading kids, whom I had never seen on screen before. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the brilliant performances of Edward Norton and Bruce Willis. Such a dynamic cast in what came together to be a delightful story of first love.

Was it my favorite of Anderson's films? No. That title still belongs to "The Royal Tenenbaums." But it was still a Wes Anderson movie, which means it has to be wonderful.

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PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.
Comedy

Directed By: Wes Anderson

Written By: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

In Theaters: May 25, 2012 Limited
On DVD: Oct 16, 2012
Box Office:$45.5M

Focus Features

Django Unchained (2012)

I saw "Django Unchained" over the Christmas break with my family. Although it's not what many would consider a holiday film, my family tends to be somewhat offbeat and we thoroughly enjoy Tarantino flicks.

Suffice it to say, we loved the movie! I'd say this is one of Tarantino's best movies, at least in recent memory.

First of all, it's got a solid cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz (my personal favorite in this film). And the storyline was so.... Tarantino. Meaning if you enjoy Tarantino movies, you won't be disappointed with this one. It's got all the classic elements -- violence, epic storyline, humor, more violence, good music, did I mention violence?

The story takes place in the South a couple of years before the Civil War. Christoph Waltz plays Dr. King Schultz, a bounty hunter who purchases the freedom of and partners up with former slave Django (Jamie Foxx) in order to find a particular pair of murderous brothers. Schultz agrees to help Django find his wife, whom he's been tragically separated from in the slave trade, once Django helps him find the band of brothers. DiCaprio plays Calvin Candie, a despicable and infamous plantation owner who enjoys buying strong male slaves for the sole purpose of having them fight to the death. As it turns out, Calvin Candie is also the current owner of Django's wife. As you can imagine, Django and Schultz have to go to some extreme measures in their attempt to rescue Django's wife.

Before seeing the movie, I heard people say this is Tarantino's most brutal and violent film. Maybe so, and I agree the faint of heart should not see this film. There was a great deal of violence, blood and disturbing content (which isn't hard to imagine when you combine Tarantino with a storyline set in the antebellum South, when slavery was commonplace). However, if you're used to his other films, I don't think this movie is going to bother you (I mean come on... remember Kill Bill? I think it's impossible to count the number of people who died in that film). It's what you should expect from a Tarantino depiction of pre-Civil War Mississippi, which is kind of awesome in its grittiness. I tend to really enjoy Tarantino's films that are set in certain horrible periods in history, such as Nazi Germany in "Inglorious Basterds." Those were horrific times, and he makes sure we remember that. And he has a brilliant way of making the viewer a nervous wreck one minute and then has them laughing in the next scene.

One of the things I really enjoyed about "Django Unchained" was the relationship with Schultz and Django. An unlikely duo, they were mesmerizing on screen and their interactions were often humorous. I've been a fan of Christoph Waltz since "Inglorious Basterds." Whereas he played a sinister and devious character in the latter, in "Django Unchained" he plays the good guy (and convincingly so). I initially feared he might end up typecasted as the bad guy, but I am pleased to say I was wrong. The guy's got range. I don't know what it is about him, but he's got great presence on screen. 

The movie is definitely a must-see for all you Tarantino buffs out there. As one myself, I was thoroughly entertained.

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R, 2 hr. 46 min.
Western, Drama

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino

Written By: Quentin Tarantino

In Theaters: Dec 25, 2012 Wide
Box Office:$106.4M

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