Moonrise Kingdom

2012 • 94 minutes

About this movie

Moonrise Kingdom is the new movie directed by two-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Rushmore). Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff, Captain Sharp. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader, Scout Master Ward. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bob Balaban; and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as Sam and Suzy, the boy and girl.

Ratings and reviews

If you take this movie seriously, you're going to have a bad time. I imagine those leaving negative reviews don't enjoy slow or dry movies. This movie is very slow, and very dry. It is also very strange, and you will likely say "what the f..." multiple times. If it tells you anything, I was sober watching the movie, but felt intoxicated during it. I personally really enjoyed it. The point of the movie was to be a rolling joke, and it had me laughing much throughout the movie.

It's unique, I'll give it that, but it frequently made me uncomfortable. The appearance of the film's almost always an unappealing "swamp water" color. The romance between the 2 main kids is very awkward, & I didn't wish to see it develop; in fact, throughout the film, I kept wishing for them to never see each other again. The kids seem unrealistically young to be in a relationship as deep as theirs. Overall, the film left a bad taste in my mouth, & I honestly grimace whenever I think about it.

This movie is easily the best movie of the 2010's so far, and in my opinion nothing compares to it. The vintage setting, coupled with a story that's just beyond the realm of possibility without losing believability, it transports you into the world of New Penzance Island and let's you enjoy a tale of innocence while remaining relatable and original. The worst part of watching this movie is the sorrow of knowing that it's over at the end.