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.

[–] cozgy012 15 years ago

Having just used this movie for a presentation in my Film Aesthetics class, this is simply Wes Anderson's best film so far. Aesthically, it's his most well-rounded film. The mise-en-scene is meticulously beautiful, the cinematography is done with much precision and craft---even the sound and editing was top-notch. Altogether, watch the film again and look intently at the colors and the framing of the shots; they tell a story on their own. He is clearly on a classical directorial level which unfortunately we don't see too much these days---film is an art and Wes has all the right superlatives.

The only truly natural things are dreams,which nature cannot touch with decay

[–] IamBustakap 15 years ago

It's too bad everything else about the movie sucked.

[–] usernumber655321 13 years ago

Well, I can certainly say I pity your students. This reminds me of a high school 'Drama' teacher who showed us lots of Sandra Bullock movies in the early nineties. What do you watch when it comes to 'Film Symbolism'? Brett Ratner? The framing is utterly obvious and pretty much any talentless hack can make India really garish and colorful (never mind the fact that all the Indian people seem to exist for the sole purpose of giving the protagonists some transparently shallow and borderline offensive 'perspective'). The fact that these are the only reasons you give for re-watching only has me convinced how vacuous the film truly is. Anderson should keep adapting Roald Dahl books, or at least NEVER do any more films without the writing help of Owen Wilson. Hindsight actually has me convinced that Wilson is a far better, and certainly funnier, writer than Anderson's one trick, too cute by half, pony.

[–] CtlAltDel 13 years ago

This is a terrific film that absolutely enchants. You have no real idea where it's going and so the journey itself draws you in rather than a sense of haste towards an inevitable conclusion. The script and casting is spot on. The scene with the death of the boy and the village is terribly moving. I love this film.

[–] palindromicevilolive 13 years ago

I think it's terrific. I just saw it a month ago, so I think it's a bit too "fresh" for me to accurately compare it with the others perhaps, but I'd put it up there with Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore(my two favorites) and well ahead of Bottle Rockets and Life Aquatic(the latter being my least favorite, despite the beautiful scene with the shark).

I thought Anderson captured the dynamic of 3 dysfunctional brothers with great wit, subtlety, and pathos. He did a great job I think of hinting at the brothers' relationship with their father without ever showing him on screen. The interactions with the conductor were also top-notch. If I had a complaint, it might be that the second half did seem to drag a bit on my second viewing.

[–] PhoenixPhuck 13 years ago

1. The Royal Tenenbaums
2. The Darjeeling Limited
3. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Rushmore
5. The Life Aquatic
6. Bottle Rocket

Even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Mailer64 13 years ago

Yeah its my second favorite. It is like watching me and my two brothers

Listen, you'll have to excuse me I have a lunch meeting with Cliff Huxtable

[–] texagander 13 years ago

I just saw it a minute, ago. So, I can't say it is my favorite. RT is. But, this may be 2nd.

I thought he nailed what it is like having siblings. They always got secrets with and from each person.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] RushmoreLatinClub 12 years ago

I love this film and give it a solid 10. It's my 2nd favorite Anderson film and I'm not sure why other Anderson fans dislike it so much. I stop and watch this movie every time it's on television. Never gets old. I think it's a lovely story and beautifully shot.

www.selmablairstyle.com

[–] zsutton42 10 years ago

My Ranking:

1. The Darjeeling Limited
2. Moonrise Kingdom
3. The Royal Tenenbaums
4. Rushmore
5. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
6. The Grand Budapest Hotel
7. Bottle Rocket
8. The Life Aquatic

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Ace_Spade 10 years ago

Yeah, man. Underrated for sure; it's my favourite and, from what I've read, few other people really dig it as much as Life Aquatic or Grand Budapest.