Comments on: Will Wes Anderson & McDonald’s Make Kids Fat With ‘Fox’ Happy Meals?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:04:21 +0000

I just want to address Anonymous and say that some of the best films of this year have been technically "kids' movies" regardless of whether or not they had mass appeal. There's nothing wrong with making something suitable for all ages.

By: rodrigoperez

rodrigoperez — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:08:50 +0000

@last Anon.

Two playlisters saw Fantastic Fox last night. It's cute, charming, if slight little picture. Prolly in the scheme of things a better front-to-back movie than Darjeeling and Life Aquatic.

Was pleasantly surprised. By now means a "great" movie, but a solid, tiny little film. Enjoyable is the best word for it, really.

By: kevinjagernauth

kevinjagernauth — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:38:41 +0000

Weezer has been making Top 40 albums since the Blue album.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:06:46 +0000

I can't shake the feeling that Wes Anderson is never going to make another great film. It's not that each film is too difficult or ambitious. It's the opposite -- they feel slapdash, even clumsy at times.

To touch upon that Weezer/Wes analogy: their fans keep waiting for a return to glory that never comes. Every subsequent effort will have its defenders, but no one's proclaiming them to be new classics.

How appropriate that Weezer is about to release a wanna-be Top 40 album just as Wes is releasing an animated kids movie! Not that they can't necessarily be good, but the move towards mass appeal is not a great sign for these "artists."

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:55:06 +0000

It seems to be a toss-up among people whether Darjeeling or Aquatic is the weakest link. I'd probably also have to go with Aquatic, though there are so many things about it that I love it's hard for me to say.

Rushmore was the first for a lot of people and sometimes the first is the best. I lost my Coen virginity with Raising Arizona and it's my favorite, though I'll admit they've made richer and more mature films since then.

I'd argue it's similar with Rushmore. There's an energy and a snap and a freshness to it that has never been duplicated, but I also think Anderson more fully developed some of his ideas later on.

It's hard to argue against Rushmore as something of a perfect film though...unless you just don't like Anderson.

By: rodrigoperez

rodrigoperez — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:25:52 +0000

I like Darjeeling too, but it's not his 3rd best either. Aquatic is still the stinker. And anyone who thinks the pinnacle of his work is anything but Rushmore is eternally dead to me. ;)

(only half joking).

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:23:16 +0000

Yeah, I know. I was just being a kneejerk supporter. Also, I really liked Darjeeling. I admit it's not a popular stance.

By: stephen

stephen — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:54:53 +0000

Kevin is speaking of a general consensus. I don't think he literally meant every single individual.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:08:17 +0000

I didn't say it wasn't safe to think Anderson was spinning his wheels, I said it isn't safe to say everyone thinks that.

Oh look, here's a post from just this morning from someone who doesn't think so. He writes for The New Yorker.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/movies/2009/10/the-darjeeling-limited.html

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:59:27 +0000

"No. It's not safe to say that. "

Yes, it was.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:21:30 +0000

"t's safe to say that everyone agrees that with 'The Darjeeling Limited,' Anderson was spinning his wheels."

No. It's not safe to say that.

It's funny though how everyone hates the one Anderson film that breaks through the distancing smug hipsterism that everyone seems to dislike him for.