Wes Anderson creates fantastic films taking place in an alternate world (with the exception of THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX) almost like our own and each film has their formula of people with a dead parent, interesting music choices (David Bowie sung in Portuguese in LIFE AQUATIC comes to mind), romance, a character for Bill Murray to play, and little facts about the places being inserted into the story.     It has a nostaglia for a time of innocence.  A time that people want to be true and better than the world they fight against.  Sam is an orphan who wants to belong and he wants to be loved.

 

MOONRISE KINGDOM is set on an idyllic New England island called New Penzance.  A 12 year old orphan, Sam Shakusky, is attending a Khaki Scout camp when he decides to run away with Suzy Bishop (the girl he is in love with).  Sam brings camping equipment while Suzy brings along her cat, six books, and a record player.  Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis)- the island sheriff, Suzy’s attorney parents (played by Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), and the Khaki Scouts search for Sam and Suzy as a storm inches closer to their area.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

A LOOK INSIDE MOONRISE KINGDOM is a quick three minute promotional featurette

WELCOME TO THE ISLAND OF NEW PENZANCE is a series of four mini-featurettes (on Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Wes Anderson) narrated by the narrator of the film (who stays in character).

SET TOUR WITH BILL MURRAY is an amusing tour of the set of the film with Bill.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  MOONRISE KINGDOM is a quirky tale from Wes Anderson.  It has charm, romance, and characters with their own quirks, and little details that make this a movie to enjoy and watch over again.

 

This DVD review is (c)10-20-2012 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com