MovieChat Forums > The Darjeeling Limited (2007) Discussion > most underrated Anderson film

most underrated Anderson film

posted 15 years ago by seemseemo
28 replies | jump to latest

I was just on the Fantastic Mr Fox mssg board and of course, someone posted "Wes Anderson Film Rankings.." and almost everyone ranked Darjeeling last. I'd honestly rank it 2 or 3, after Life Aquatic and maybe Fantastic Mr Fox..

but why does everyone rank it last? it is an exceptional film and the characters are so developed. they are so different and separate, yet we feel the connection between them. You could not possibly replace any of the actors or switch their roles. But as far as "auteurship" goes, which isnt a word but you catch my drift, it has Wes Anderson written all over it. The music is key in this film. I think it has the least amount of recognizable soundtracks of his latest few films--the Indian instrumentals in the background throughout the movie are less controlling over your emotions compared to the other films, and for this reason I have a lot of respect for this film.

And probably my favourite Anderson scene is in this film: the slow-mo tracing shot funeral scene in the white gowns--just beautiful-- and yeah, i know there is a famous soundtrack here, just in case you have any quick remarks.

[–] dragline82 15 years ago

I'd rank it first.

[–] nazdar_britches 15 years ago

i'm with you. anderson's best characters live in this movie.

[–] Michael_Essien 15 years ago

I think its very underrated too. I think the films strucutre could have been improved though. It seems a bit thrown together, but despite this i still think its got great characters that you see grow visably throughout the film and it aches with emotion at times (like when they are trying to get their dads car back on the road)

I still think Rushmore is the best, but so far this and bottle rocket are second

[–] Lostfan87 15 years ago

I agree 100 percent! Tenenbaums is still my favourite but Darjeeling is a close second.

"Mmm-hmm. Pizza dude's got thirty seconds."

[–] Great_Gazoo 15 years ago

From what I've seen:

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox
2. The Darjeeling Limited
3. Rushmore
4. Life Aquatic

I really did not like Life Aquatic but really like the others. DL was a pretty good film. I loved the characters, scenery, and the overall feeling. It's not some film with over abundant plot, it's a movie about the journey of three brothers. And Wes Anderson knows how to shoot a film.

[–] litlpun420 15 years ago

While technically well made. this movie is just not entertaining enough. Wes Anderson made a beautifully filmed, well acted interesting story that just doesn't have entertainment value. As an example of technical film making it is very good, unfortunately when most people see a film they want to be entertained. This movie has the feel of school. Its like some piece of literature whose only redeeming quality is in its ability to provide insight into how to write. This movie is boring. Hotel chevalier is the only reason i would ever recommend it be seen by anyone outside a film school class.

[–] usernumber655321 15 years ago

All of the characters in this film were retreads of other charcters in his other films. The style is exactly the same as his other films. Anjelica Houston's role is literally EXACTLY the same as her role in Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic. Hell, even Tenenbaums felt a little like a retread of Rushmore, and then Life Aquatic and this bomb proved that Anderson't well has run totally dry. His films "suck now anyways".

[–] ahmertension 15 years ago

erm, ok.

i think this is the best of all of his films, but that has largely to do with the fact that it is about a part of the world very similar to home. i love how wes anderson looks at it, and sure he exoticises it, but i love directors who can bring that beauty into it.

royal tenebaums was the first one of his i saw, and loved it. yet the more i've seen the rest, you get the sneaking suspicion that while its undeniably awesome, its the most overrated. several of his other works are relegated as being less cohesive, or as someone above me mentioned, boring. i don't want to start a flame war, so i won't comment on that, but once more, i love this film.

Everything is Becoming, Nothing Is - Plato

[–] oscarstegland 13 years ago

Are you kidding? I can't honestly remember any other film I've seen at the cinema at which I laughed so hard.

[–] fi3r 15 years ago

This is the only Wes Anderson film I've seen and I thought it was great. I like his style.

Babak

[–] batman18 15 years ago

check out rushmore

[–] patman723 15 years ago

I'd definitely rank it second behind "Royal".

[–] Zyndra 15 years ago

I am one of those who just hated Life Aquatic and the Royal Tenenbaums. Lucky for me I saw Hotel Chevalier without knowing it was a Wes Anderson movie. So I decided to give him one last chance and watched the Darjeeling Limited and it's one of the very best movies I've seen.