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Moriarty’s Movie Marathon! Matinees Of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and THE DARJEELING LIMITED!

Talk about yesterday's news. by Robo-Steckler	Nov 4th, 2007 04:44:42 PM
When AICN covers movies that were released two months ago there's really no point in reading, is there?
Apt by underscore_only	Nov 4th, 2007 04:58:43 PM
Especially Darjeeling.
great review of THE DARJEELING LIMITED by darwinmayflower	Nov 4th, 2007 05:00:51 PM
Thanks Mori. I could not agree more. your "getting better by degrees not epiphanies" is dead on, and realistic. Wes Anderson is still at the top of his game. great movie.
LIFE AQUATIC tries too hard to have tragic emotional punch by George Newman	Nov 4th, 2007 05:05:18 PM
As a huge huge Huge HUGE fan of Anderson's, my frustration with The Life Aquatic is the overly tragic stuff. The film is mostly silly and very surreal, but then that is all undercut with *SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER* the death at the end. It is very unsatisfying. It is even upsetting, not because the film moves you, but because Anderson made the wrong choice in killing the character. What if at the end of THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, Chas's boys are run over and killed by the car, too? That would be a wrong decision, and I think that That is the unfortunate choice Anderson made with Life Aquatic. It is too much; it doesn't work.
SPOILER: by future help	Nov 4th, 2007 05:06:09 PM

Spoiler: by future help	Nov 4th, 2007 05:07:44 PM
i love the opening of Darjeeling, Bill Muray missing the train (sort of a passing of the tourch) BUT my favorite of Wes is Life Aquatic.
My Brother LOVED Across The Universe by Prague23	Nov 4th, 2007 05:11:59 PM
and he's a 'lukewarm' Beatles fan. That's good enough for me. Wes Anderson isn't as great as he used to be but DARJEELING, I'm sure, will be at least OK, even if only because of the 'stolen' soundtrack' which I know so much about. Looking forward to that on DVD.
I don't get... by jaxman	Nov 4th, 2007 05:12:01 PM
where all the animosity towards Anderson's films come from either. How could movies so genuine and sincere cause such negativity?
Enjoyed Darjeeling by THE KNIGHT	Nov 4th, 2007 05:29:02 PM
hopefully people go check it out.
I"VE SEEEEN ACROOOOOSSSS THE UNIVERRRRRSEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! by Lashlarue	Nov 4th, 2007 05:36:32 PM
AND IT IS AWESOME IN IMAX 3D! YOU CAN FEEL THE BEATLES SONGS COMING OUT AT YOU!!!!!!!!!
Viva Max Fischer! by haggardatbest	Nov 4th, 2007 05:51:37 PM
My hero.
Seen Rachel Evan Wood in Manson's "heart shaped glasses" vid? by Pound Sand	Nov 4th, 2007 05:57:35 PM
The one with the sexualized knife-play, bedroom scene with geysers of blood raining from the ceiling, and a graphic sex scene with Brian Warner Manson? It's on the manson website (I think his music is horribly dull btw) and you will be shortly disabused of your crush, Mori.
Ebert's rave of "Across" surprises me by Mister Man	Nov 4th, 2007 06:11:55 PM
I found the film inept in almost every way, save for Dana Fuchs excellent performance. And, of course, Taymor must always find a way to get those damn "kite-puppet-things" SOMEWHERE into every project. She was unhappy with the final cut, I understand - wonder what her edit would have felt like.
"Interesting Mess" is the best way to describe by Kirbymanly	Nov 4th, 2007 06:21:38 PM
Across The Universe. There were moments of sheer brilliance and moments were I wanted to wealk out of the theater for what they were doing to The Beatles. "Hey, how did she get in here?". A character replies, "She came in through the bathroom window." Uhhhhhggg. And that's not the only bit in there. Those writers should be put out of their misery.
Evan Rachel Wood be her name. by Lenny Nero	Nov 4th, 2007 06:38:26 PM
That's right, her first name is Evan. Hot. I met her back in '04 when she was promoting "The Upside of Anger," and while she could have changed a great deal since then (the whole Marilyn Manson thing is definitely odd for a 19-year-old), she was a sweet girl then.
mrsaxon you are alone by mrjoker	Nov 4th, 2007 06:38:32 PM
the movie was fantastic
Darjeeling was very good by INWOsuxRED	Nov 4th, 2007 07:11:06 PM
Most episodes of Lost feel like Lost, but that doesn't make them progressively worse.
Evan Rachel Wood as Catwoman! by CarmillaVonDoom	Nov 4th, 2007 07:17:41 PM
Would be beyond amazing if they cast her; check out her spread in Nylon Magazine last month for proof!
I also wasn't thrilled by Aquatic either by INWOsuxRED	Nov 4th, 2007 07:18:30 PM
I particularly hated the fake fish. So many times it felt like Anderson filmed scenes where characters were supposed to be looking at something magical, while something magical just didn't make it to the screen. The characters were a bit thin, and the death at the end just felt tacked on for no reason. Darjeeling stands out as way better than Life Aquatic, at least to me. I can understand people wanting to see something completely different from a director, just to see what else they're capable of, but that doesn't mean that similar works shouldn't be judged on their own individual merit.
Uh, no. by Mostholy	Nov 4th, 2007 07:26:19 PM
Wrong (http://www.ghostinthemachine. net/004953.html) and wrong (http://www.ghostinthemachine. net/004976.html). At least IMHO.
Darjeeling Limited is one of the best films of the year by IndustryKiller!	Nov 4th, 2007 07:42:31 PM
Its really just an amazing little film and Mori absolutely nails it with this review. You can personally not like his style but its completely irresponsible for any lover of film to disregard him as a filmmaker, I think he is easily one of the best we have.
The problem isn't that Anderson uses the same voice... by DarthCorleone	Nov 4th, 2007 08:17:42 PM
...it's that the same voice is repeating the same thing. Don't get me wrong; I like Darjeeling Limited. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again, but it's o.k. It's just that this fractured family theme has been done by Anderson in his two previous films, and in my opinion it was done better in both cases - infinitely better in the case of Tenenbaums in terms of characterization and creating a convincing family dynamic. I'd like to see Anderson do something different next time. The same voice is fine, but a different tale would be great.
Great review of Darjeeling. by rbatty024	Nov 4th, 2007 08:35:59 PM
One of the best times I've had in a theater, and also one of the few times I laughed out loud. It's probably Anderson's most immediately funny film. The film was so effortlessly enjoyable I almost thought it was too easy, but instead I realize it's just Anderson perfecting his craft. Easily one of my favorite directors. I also think the theme of family has so many permutations that you could spend a lifetime examining it and never get to the bottom.
darjeeling sucked by jivatmax	Nov 4th, 2007 09:21:34 PM
and yes I "got it," anderson cultists.
Moriarty - Strike Question by tailhook	Nov 4th, 2007 09:52:19 PM
With you going on strike does this mean that you'll stop sending in articles or are you going to cross the picket line and keep writing for the site? After all.. i would think you would be lobbying hard for a bigger piece of the AICN pie.
Another strike question by IndustryKiller!	Nov 4th, 2007 10:09:33 PM
Since we're on the topic. Mori how long do you personally think the strike will last? I live in LA but I'm not in the guild so I don't know a whole lot about how bad it is other than I'm hearing pretty bad. What are your thoughts on the whole thing?
The trouble with "incremental improvement" in asshole charactres by NoDiggity	Nov 4th, 2007 10:14:38 PM
... that by the end of the movie they are still assholes. Which makes the whole movie an apology for assholeism, in the sense that "Hey, they incrementally improved, give them a gold star". People who like movies like this have yet to truly improve, in the sense that they realize "Hey, I'm an asshole, and that's just not cool, and if I want to be deserving of love I gotta frigging stop it".
Wes Anderson = poor man's Coen Bros. by Osmosis Jones	Nov 4th, 2007 10:21:46 PM

Rob Zombie = homeless man's Uwe Boll by Pound Sand	Nov 4th, 2007 10:40:50 PM

MrSaxon: He doesn't truly own the library by chrth	Nov 4th, 2007 10:41:00 PM
Lennon estate/McCarthy still own 50% of the rights since they're the songwriters of record (excluding Harrison/Starr/etc songs, obviously). Michael Jackson purchased the publishing rights for the songs, however, he merged it with Sony in an equal share, so MJ gets roughly 25% of the proceeds from Beatles songs.
Linkage about MJ & the Beatles catalog by chrth	Nov 4th, 2007 10:47:27 PM
http://www.snopes.com/music/ar tists/jackson.asp (remove spaces)
haha, wes anderson is a much better director than the cohen brot by Winterchili	Nov 4th, 2007 11:04:18 PM
they would probably agree
Across The Universe by Jinxo	Nov 4th, 2007 11:05:20 PM
I have to say, I had a similar reaction to Moriarty when I saw Across The Universe (oddly enough in the same theater). There were parts that I thought were great and then other points I thought it was off track. And I also walked away with it still rattling around in my brain. Pretty quickly I realized I would end up seeing it again. And when I did I realized that it is a film that works better on second viewing. I think the first time out I was concerned about where it would go, the fact that it did present a cleaned up version of the 60s... At points it would seem one plot was revving up and then it would shift to another plot... What I said at the start sums it up: I kept getting thrown wondering where they were going with it. Second time out, you know where they are and aren't going and for some reason that fact made it a much more enjoyable experience. I could just go for the ride I knew I was in for and appreciate it for what it was. I even realized some of the things I thought were flaws really weren't as big as I thought. First time out I was annoyed that the character of Prudence's plot was really about her being gay only they seem to me to play it safe. It seemed to me they tried to play safe with the plot so as not to offend middle America. Watching again I realized that plot wasn't just about Prudence being gay but about her trying to come to terms with that and eal with it. So it's handle the way it is because SHE isn't even ready to say it out loud. I have to say I even liked most of the so-so stuff in the film even. The only part I really wish they left out was in Strawberry Fields Forever. I like that they gave the song a different interpretation than I expected, going dark with it, with strawberry imagery where the strawberries stood in for broken hearts, broken soliders, blood. All good for me. EXCEPT when they had the imagery of strawberries as bombs falling from planes with crappy animated trails of flames behind them. Yikes! It was especially bead because I was digging and buying into that piece and then that bad bomb image just showed up and threw me so far out of the film I can't even say. Made me mad actually. Even on second viewing that one still pissed me off.
No we hated Life Aquatic because of ALL the characters by Lovecraftfan	Nov 4th, 2007 11:09:17 PM
They were boring and uninteresting much like all the plot digressions and didnt act anything like real human beings. The whole movie is an exhausting sojourn into being cute for no other reason than being cute. What a terrible dull awful film.
Great Darjeeling review Mori by Trader Groucho 2	Nov 5th, 2007 02:13:31 AM
I too liked Darjeeling quite a bit. The stuff with the Indian OTC medicinals was priceless. You're right on-target.
I liked Darjeerling as well by Bobo_Vision	Nov 5th, 2007 06:50:43 AM
And while Anderson's films all tend to explore the dynamics within families or relationships, the dynamic isn't the same in every movie. I felt like as the brothers in Darjeerling went through a journey of healing amongst each other in the movie, the audience came out a little richer for it as well. It was well done. My only problem was the cross promotion of I-pod with the Hotel Chevalier short, because I still haven't been able to watch it since I don't have an Apple I-pod subscription, and I saw the movie before they attached the short to the film. I loved Life Aquatic the first time I watched it, but I find it a bit tedious on repeat viewing. But I thought it was a great examination of a man who neglects his life and family because of his obsession with a shark, and even after rediscovering his son and getting a second chance, he loses him to this obsession as well. I love how Bill Murray starts crying when they find the shark as says, "I wonder if he remembers me." Its a great movie.
I couldn't be less interested by Internet Thug	Nov 5th, 2007 09:24:49 AM
I would prefer to watch a video log burning in a virtual fireplace for 4 hours on a loop than see either of these films..way to review movies that the core audience of this site could give to shits about Wide Load.
Anderson, PT Anderson, Coens by LORDRANDO	Nov 5th, 2007 09:43:02 AM
A new flick by all three....well, not only are we spoiled this season but it seems they all deliver as well. Darjeeling is beautiful, no country is brutal, and I cant wait for there will be blood. Forget saw 43 and southland shit....real directors, real films that will last...finally!
Wes delivers pain... by Billyeveryteen	Nov 5th, 2007 10:51:57 AM
The death in Life Aquatic still hurts deeply. You hope he is fine as he floats and mumbles, then Wes drips blood directly on the camera... In Tenenbaums, the suicide attempt just kills. Royal's exit, equally so... Rushmore's betrayal, while hilarious, is brutal and destructive to everyone.. I eagerly look forward to Darjeeling.
life aquatic bored me to fucking tears by ironic_name	Nov 5th, 2007 10:54:54 AM
darjeeling better be great.
the today show just had a special by ironic_name	Nov 5th, 2007 10:59:26 AM
called the ends of the earth. I thought it said the end of the earth, and when they said 'a very special report' I started freaking out for a second.
"I try to sneak off to see a film in the theater".. by BMacSmith	Nov 5th, 2007 11:37:36 AM
what are you, some kind of celebrity? haha just kidding. Life Aquatic and Darjeeling were both fantastic
Sometimes a distinct voice only has so much appeal by Spandau Belly	Nov 5th, 2007 12:03:05 PM
I understand Mori's arguement that Anderson is punished for being distinct, but I'm sure Mori can think of several times when a trend or an artist repeats themself too much and you just lose interest in seeing the same thing again. The more distinct, the quicker you get sick of them because you can spot their signatures so quickly. And I guess each artist has different shelf life for each viewer.
I just watched Darjeeling last nite by MacTard420	Nov 5th, 2007 01:03:34 PM
Great review, Mori...spot on! Wes Anderson really does beautifully flesh out his characters; moreso than almost any other director. And his quirky sense of humor might not be for everyone, but damnit I love it and love Darjeeling!
Unrequited lesbian crushes by Abominable Snowcone	Nov 5th, 2007 01:45:02 PM
No such dreams should go unfulfilled.
I agree about the distinct voice, but... by SamLowry27	Nov 5th, 2007 04:28:26 PM
I can completely understand the cool reception Darjeeling received. I was more turned off by Aquatic than Darjeeling though, because that film was such a rehash of the themes in Royal T's that I couldn't stomach much of it. It also made me so sick of the sweet cherry-on-top endings that Anderson always has to have. He is a bit like M. Knight now though, I keep saying that if his next movie doesn't show that he has some more range, I'm going to give up. But then I always see the next movie. Hmmm, interesting.
the shameless ending of Across the Universe by CherryValance	Nov 5th, 2007 06:13:41 PM
I mean that's the point. There is no shame in it at all. You've got to go with it all the way until you're singing along in the theater like I did. (twice) :D That movie waves it's freak flag loud and proud and I think if you're happy to do the same, it's perfect for you. And I loved the Life Aquatic too, but Darjeeling isn't out by me yet. I'm just giving up on some big titles because I don't expect them to make it to me, or me to them. :(
Hope you're saving these reviews Mori by chutneylix	Nov 6th, 2007 04:10:49 PM
Years down the line I hope I can find your reviews of my favorite movies. Haven't seen darjeeling yet but your review was fantastic. You must be already cataloging these, but please carefully put them online. I love reading your words.

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Moriarty’s Movie Marathon! Matinees Of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and THE DARJEELING LIMITED!

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