Moonrise Kingdom is bold and whimsical greatness

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2012)

Wes Anderson's latest cinematic treat is about two misfit kids who decide to run away together. They're 12, after all, and they know what's best and besides the boy is the knock-off version of an Eagle Scout and the girl has her magical binoculars. They're in love and nothing else matters. With the whole town searching for them in the New England wilderness and a record-breaking storm approaching, the two young lovebirds cover some pretty mature and touchy ground for their age, and a scene on the beach between the two is a sure mark of the actors' maturity, for it will make most people think twice about what they're watching. But director Anderson doesn't flinch in this scene, just as he doesn't through the whole film. He boldly paints a beautifully constructed (his cinematic framing is unparalleled) portrait of life as a youngster, and all of the awkward moments and feelings that entails. It's a quirky, heart-felt, emotional stroll through our memories, with rich, lively characters that only Wes Anderson could bring to the screen.
-Thomas Bond, TheFilmDiscussion.com