Loads of Fun and a Great Story and Structure

Rating: 9/10 (15 April 2016)

The Grand Budapest Hotel tells the story of how the owner of the Grand Budapest Hotel eventually managed to own said hotel. The movie is very unique, actually, and is not at all what I expected.
The plot is one that is, while simple, easily made more complicated, and it is. It's not hard to follow or anything, it's actually very straightforward, but there's so much to the story. If I were to try to summarize the entire movie it could take quite some time. I think that this is part of the reason why I love it so much. It's simple but complicated. It's hard to describe actually, it's just really well done.
The characters are good. They aren't totally focused on or anything, but they certainly are important and it's clear that there was a level of effort put into making them. They're all consistent and likable in their own ways, and while some of them can be a little exaggerated it fits. Everything in this movie is weird and exaggerated, so it all fits.
The special effects are quite good. It's pretty much entirely done with practical effects, making it look like an older movie. Wes Anderson is known for doing this, and once again he perfectly captures the charm of older movies. Everything is very stylish and fun to look at. While it doesn't always look great or realistic, it's a style that Wes Anderson has mastered enough to make it still look great.
Overall The Grand Budapest Hotel is great. It's funny with a great plot, solid characters, and great effects. I've had somewhat mixed feelings about Wes Anderson, considering I haven't liked all the movies I've seen of his, but after this movie I can confidently say that he knows what he's doing, and he does it well. In the end I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.