This video had me floored. This Octopus has found a use for a discarded coconut shell. It seems to use it as a kind of shelter, but most shocking is that it has found a way to transport its coconut shell. Is this species evolving? Is it smarter than anyone can imagine?
A couple of nights ago I had a conversation that went something like this:
StretchyHead: Hey, do you want to go see Fantastic Mr. Fox?”
Dawn: What’s that? I’ve never heard of it.
StretchyHead: It’s the new Wes Anderson movie.
Dawn: YES!
This conversation reveals two key things. Number 1: I’m living under a rock. Number 2: any movie with Wes Anderson’s name attached to it I want to see, unquestioningly.
Sitting in the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco’s Japan Town, where I unwillingly paid $2 to not view commercials before the previews (mandatory “amenity surcharge,” but that’s beside the point), I was surprised immediately by the opening scene. A stuffed fox was standing under a tree. Was this some sort of an animated intro? Or was the entire movie like this? Was this a kid’s movie?
By the end of the movie I had the answers: no, yes, and maybe.
For many reasons, I am still unsure who Anderson’s target age group for the film is. Fantastic Mr. Fox was indeed an animated movie, but it was stop-motion animation. This throw back style would appeal to adults, generally speaking, more than to kids. There also weren’t any four letter words (PG rating!), but the word “cuss” was put in place of any swear word enough to make it comically noticeable. Also, the cameo appearance, vocally speaking, by Jarvis Cocker of the 90′s band Pulp was surely thrown in to thrill those of who were alive when “Common People” was released.
Although Fantastic Mr. Fox was based off of the story by Roald Dahl and not written by Anderson himself, the characters in this film were uniquely Anderson’s. In the opening scene, Mr. Fox strolls in the shade of a big tree to the sounds of Davy Crockett coming from his Walk-Sonic Radio. Consistent to Anderson’s quirky characters in past films, he truly walks to the beat of his own drummer. Also consistent with Anderson’s characters of the past are the actors who play them. Fans of Anderson’s work will be thrilled to hear the voices of Bill Murray, Owen Willson, and Jason Schwartzman.
Bill Murray on set with his character, Badger
This film, typical to Wes Anderson films, also delivered in the soundtrack department. Anderson has a talent for weaving music into scenes extremely well, especially to those of us that aren’t looking for top 40 radio hits when we go to the movie theater. Standouts in this film are The Rolling Stones, two songs by the Beach Boys, a song written and performed by Jarvis Cocker, And the final scene which features (SPOILER ALERT) a dance party in a super market to “Let Her Dance” by Bobby Fuller Four.
Although this film had Anderson’s style infused throughout, it was still a departure from anything he has done in the past. One of his strengths is his story telling, and with this film he’s using an already written story for his plot. Not to say that Roald Dahl wasn’t a brilliant writer, but when I see a Wes Anderson film I’m going to be a little disappointed that I don’t get a film directed AND written by Wes Anderson.
That being said, I still think this film is a must see for Wes Anderson fans, but I have a hard time counting is as a true Wes Anderson film. It’s as much a kid movie for adults as it is an adult movie for kids. The themes are broken down in simple terms among talking animals, but can be applied to modern adult life.