A short review of "The Darjeeling Limited"

You either love Wes Anderson's films, or you are left at the end wondering what the hell was that all about. Perhaps that is the desired effect, however this style of off-beat cinema really doesn't do anything for me. This film, like all his others, is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and highly polished. Sadly though the story fails to live up to what that promises, quite unfathomable it reminisces of schitzophrenic deconstruction. There is a suggestion of some deeper meaning behind the fragmented plot, however I could find no profundity behind the magazine cover of this film, and I am left feeling that Wes Anderson is nothing more than a pretentious enigma who is considerably out of his depth.

 

i enjoyed this film a lot.

 

I was left somewhat empty at the end, nonetheless I still went and rented The Royal Tennenbaums, I felt like giving Anderson another chance to impress me.

 

Tell me what you think of that one. I own that one and love that movie.

 

Love Anderson. Bottle Rocket was awesome. Rushmore next. And then the Royal Tennenbaums. Life Aquatic was worth the watch just for the dude playing Bowie songs on his acoustic. (in portuguese!)

 

i could give a rat about entertainment as entertainment. but i love the darjeeling himalian railway.

(along with just about any kind of little people sized trains that carry passingers)

http://www.dhrs.org/

http://www.dhr.in/

=^^=
.../\...

 

I've done the Himalayan Queen from Kalka to Shimla, the one Michael Palin took.

 

that's a great one too, though i've never personally been to either of them.

one of these days, when no one can afford to drive anymore, a day that almost certainly IS comming, though somewhat less certainly as to when, little people sized trains, propelled in a variety of other ways, may be one sort of way of replacing most of the functionality, and possibly even more then the're currently giving us, of cars and paved highways.

there are a number of 'little trains' like that in a number of places.
politicians, even environmentalists, don't often think in terms of what rail or other guideway based systems built to those sorts of form factors have as their potential.

people are so hung up on what they think they know, but what a world this could and would be.

=^^=
.../\...

 

Shimla is absolutely stunning, the view of the foothills rolling on for miles and the fresh air. Unlike most Indian cities the central hub is automobile free which makes it a very pleasant stay indeed.

 

I LOVED the darjeeling limited, it was refreshing after the slightly disappointing Life Aquatic.

Mcleod, If you want to see Wes Anderson at his best I would go for rushmore...its very likeable and it gives the few main characters more time and as a result they show more depth.

I think the only fault of the darjeeling limited is that the characters don't have enough history or depth, which explains the "I don't know what the hell that was all about" feeling.

 

I'll check those out face_eater.

One thing I don't get about his style is these empty pauses in between the dialogue/acting if you can call it that. I noticed this a lot in Life Aquatic and also in the Darjeeling Limited. The scene that springs to mind is when Owen Wilson is on the phone in the mechanic shop, and I think his mother or sister says don't tell the others (or something). he then pauses for several seconds, stares into space and says OK, with absolutely no expression. I've noticed this alot in his films, what's that all about, is it some new form of deadpan that I don't get yet?

 

I love all Wes Anderson's Films.

Here's my list from most favorite to least favorite, but I love all of them.

-Royal Tenenbaums
-Rushmore
-Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
-The Darjeeling Limited
-Bottle Rocket

The first three are pretty much interchangeable.

 

I love his movies too, though I have yet to see Bottle Rocket and The Darjeeling Limited.

I dont think his movies are deep and I really dont think he's trying to be, but I cant comment on this movie, because I havent seen it. And I love the pauses