Beautiful, poetic, whimsical - utterly amazing

Rating: 10/10 (17 October 2014)

It's been a few months since I first saw this movie. 3, to be exact.
But in those 3 months this is literally all I've been thinking of. My mind has been obsessed with this breathtaking work of art. I've also re-watched it countless times since, and each time it doesn't fail to amaze me.
In Wes Anderson's 7th feature film, 12-year-olds Sam and Suzy run away, causing the incompetent adults normally responsible for them to try to track them down. Anderson has somehow managed to precisely capture the awe and magic of falling in love at this young age, a feat that is unparallelled by any other movie I know of (even Melody). However, this movie also shows us why we crave human companionship, whether romantic or platonic, largely through the adults in the movie - namely, Mr. & Mrs. Bishop, Scout Master Ward, and Captain Sharp. It does all of this subtly and poetically, piecing together the intertwining lives of these characters in a way I haven't seen since The Royal Tenenbaums - with much depth despite often minimal screen time. I won't go into too much detail here, but repeat viewers and avid fans of Moonrise Kingdom will have plenty to find in their next 10 or 20 re-watches, while others will also be able to enjoy it tremendously the first time around.
This wonderfully playful storybook drama is meticulously put together, from the solid Oscar-nominated screenplay, to the quirky yet idiosyncratic set and costume design, and to the warm, soft cinematography. The Benjamin Britten influenced score fits perfectly with this movie, as do the original pieces by Alexandre Desplat. And, of course, the usual signatures of a Wes Anderson feature are ever present.
Moonrise Kingdom is a masterpiece. If you are planning on seeing it, then boy, are you in for a treat, whether it be your first or twentieth time.