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Moonrise Kingdom Blu-Ray Review. One Of The Best Films Of The Year

Moonrise Kingdom Blu-Ray Review
By: MattInRC

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Moonrise Kingdom is uniquely quirky, impressively captivating, and one of best the films of the year as it arrives for its Blu-ray release.


To those outside of the indie movie clique, it might look as though the work of Wes Anderson represents no more than series of boring conversations about...well...nothing at all. Locked in a perpetual episode of Seinfeld, in which his characters essentially do nothing, Anderson's work is quintessential eye candy: extreme closeups and other unique camera angles mix with inventive storytelling that's deeply-layered and sometimes even bordering on self-parody. But it's his commitment to those quirky characters that also rules the days. His newest work, Moonrise Kingdom, is Anderson at his best, wrapping an intelligent script around a rich visual experience that plays very well on Blu-ray.


The Movie - 5/5

The central theme to Moonrise Kingdom is the danger inherent in labeling certain elements of society as strange or even dangerous without looking a little deeper. Yet the film is so much more than a simple soapbox statement: it's genuinely funny, incredibly honest about itself, existing in a world that feels both familiar and a little off center, much like its main characters. Set among the pine and maple trees on a fictitious 1965 New England island called New Penzance, two children (Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman) decide to run away, rejecting the small-town labels they've been given, and touching off a manhunt by the police and local scout master. The journey is the truly funny part, immersing the audience in a perfect mixture of droll humor and slapstick, starting with our Narrator (Bob Balaban, 2010) as he lists off the nature of the island and the massive storm which will sweep through in less than three days time. The premise seems ludicrous, that two children each under the age of 13 could survive and prosper on their own with only three books, a record player, a kitten, and some camping equipment. If you're thinking the same thing, then you're halfway to enjoying Moonrise, which prides itself on bending reality into something truly quirky. As the manhunt begins, we're introduced to Scout Master Ward (Ed Norton, Incredible Hulk) who mobilizes his small troop into action when Sam (Gilman) resigns from the company and makes a break for it. His letter to Ward is a series of funny quick edits of the words voiced over by Sam. Soon, police Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis, Looper) joins the hunt, only to learn that Sam is an orphan who's recently been ditched by his foster family; the cutaway scene between Sharp, Ward, the phone operator, and the former foster family is hilarious and one of the film's best scenes. We soon learn that Sam is not the only one to reject society's harsh treatment, as Suzy (Hayward) joins him to make camp at a distant alcove of the island. As they dance, kiss, and sleep under the stars, we're reminded of our youth when we actually thought running away and hunting for our food was actually plausible (trust me, this recently happened in my other career so I know kids think it still has merit). As the storm arrives and floods the island, the adults (including Tilda Swinson, Harvey Keitel, and Bill Murray) must work together to save Sam and Suzy who by this time have become little versions of Romeo and Juliet. Director Anderson (Rushmore) paints beautiful brush strokes with such perfection that its fantasy world of bright colored wallpaper, chain smoking cub scout leaders, and highwater pants seems at once familiar and yet disjointed from our time. The film is truly self-aware, treating the audience to a play of sorts, complete with single shots, 360-degree views, and extreme closeups, which create almost a dollhouse feel to the early scenes with an overall effect that reminds one of Amelie. Such rich storytelling never offends with gratuitous violence, nudity, or even cuss words: its PG-13 rating is only due to the mature nature of the story. Even the music by Alexandre Desplat (The King's Speech) seems perfectly suited to the tale, wrapping the listener in big orchestral pieces which come off as humorous compliments to the melancholia and deadpan of Anderson's world. But it's also the writer and producer Anderson who is on display, creating a brilliant script which seemingly only he could translate into such an effective work of art. His portrayal of marriage, belonging, and even self-identity never become preachy or tiresome, rather his hands-off approach allows the characters to breathe, thus gaining affection from the audience; so that when the boom hits (as it does in most Anderson films), the emotional power is felt that much more.


The Video - 4/5 

Moonrise Kingdom is beautifully presented in a 1080p MPEG-4/AVC-encoded presentation that is reminiscent of previous Anderson intentions but also greatly respects cinematographer Robert D. Yeoman's sumptuous summer photography. Yellows and browns are sun-baked to perfection, while skintones are wonderfully realistic and black levels are carefully saturated. The overall feel is soft and unassuming, stylistically so different from the stark summer fare of films like The Avengers or other action pieces; but that's by design, as Anderson creates a world based on Super 16mm images rather than any 3D technology or even the bold IMAX format. The graininess that brought another level to the film's look is still there, wrapped by sharp edges. One might initially scoff at such a rustic look, but the transfer is so complimentary to the film itself that the studio cannot be blamed for any conceived shortcomings. Add to that the complete lack of aliasing, banding, or edge enhancement, and you can better respect what Anderson tried to accomplish. It's not a perfect transfer, but in the context of the film and what was presented in theatres, Moonrise Kingdom does impress if your expectations are properly adjusted.



The Audio - 4.5/5 

Anyone expecting another summer blockbuster for the ears will be disappointed with Moonrise Kingdom. However, those of us indie folk will be very happy to see the film get such a nice DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless transfer. Dialogue perfectly intelligible throughout the picture, with the intricacies of New Penzance on display in both the front and rear speakers. While voices move from the right to left front speakers with perfect ease and the sound of water crashing on the seaside rocks sounds genuinely authentic, it's the rear field which comes alive more than you would think for a picture of this type. Storms surge, winds howl, and rain pounds the ground and rooftops as New Penzance is battered; all the while, the rear speakers are surprisingly active, lending a real sense of place to the island. The LFE also gets a strong workout, particularly in the third act, producing waves of low-end response. Universal's decision to offer Moonrise in such a format just demonstrates their total commitment to high-definition, and might even represent an important shift in how indie films are treated for their home release. But for now, this enjoyable and fairly immersive experience is appreciated.


The Supplements - 1/5 

With such a strong showing for the home release, it's amazing that Universal has provided us what must be the most disappointing set of supplements of the year. Don't blink or you'll miss them:

A Look Inside Moonrise Kingdom (HD: 3:00): Bill Murray takes a moment (and that's about as long as it really is) to deliver a funny tour of the set, delivering information about the movie in a tone as if he couldn't give two shakes about things. It's so dry that it's pretty funny.

Welcome to the Island of New Penzance (HD, 2:00): Bob Balaban is featured in the promo introducing the movie and talking about the role played by Bruce Willis.

Set Tour with Bill Murray (HD, 3:00): Another promo featurette that summarizes the movie, actors, and characters. Instead of adding new scenes, much of the Bill Murray tour sequences are here as well.

Our evaluation copy came as a Blu-ray Combo set with Digital Copy. I can get over the standard slipcase, but with such a disappointing set of supplements, I can't give this part a better score.

The Final Word - 3.5/5

In a Summer season filled with slow motion explosions marching to rock music, half-naked women, and cheesy cliched dialogue, Moonrise Kingdom proves you can still make a unique product, and that great stories still exist to be told, even if some in society might label them as quirky and unpredictable. Much like Sam and Suzy, Moonrise deserves a deeper exploration, one that will reward the moviegoer with a truly unique experience. Even though we're given a terrible set of supplements, it shouldn't keep fans or other interested parties from adding it your library. In addition, the film should do well at February's Oscars, provided that judges even remember to nominate it. Let's hope they do. Moonrise Kingdom is rated PG-13 for mild sexual and adult situations.

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