Iffy for 15+
Wes Anderson tackles mature brotherly baggage.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like most Wes Anderson films, this quirky comedy deals with emotional baggage and relationships, which will probably bore younger teens (despite the presence of Wedding Crashers star Owen Wilson). The three protagonist brothers drink and share a love of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. There's a scene of peril when they try to save three young Indian boys from drowning. A dead child is shown, as is his Indian funeral fire. Suicide is briefly mentioned, and the death of a father is discussed on several occasions. There's one sex scene, although except for some passionate kissing, it's off screen. Language includes "f--k" and "s--t" but isn't incessant. Parents should also know that a short called Hotel Chevalier comes with the DVD and it contains more nudity.
- Families can talk about whether Wes Anderson's movies are funny, sad, or both. Why? How is his style of comedy different from other filmmakers'? How is this movie similar to and different from his other films? Some critics have complained that the film's second act, which takes place in a small Indian village, is offensive. What do you think about that part of the film? Is it appropriate, or is its tragedy out of place with the rest of the film?
What to watch for
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Violence: Peter and Francis wrestle on the floor until mace is sprayed in their eyes. There's a disturbing sequence in which the brothers try to save three Indian boys who are drowning. A boy dies, and Peter is hurt (he has blood on his face and clothes). As per Indian tradition, the boy is cremated by a funeral fire. Brief mention of suicide; several mentions of father's death.
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Sex: Jack and a train attendant kiss and eventually have sex (off camera). The brothers discuss whether Jack has just had sex with the woman.
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Language: Some use of "f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," etc. Also the use of the insensitive phrase "Indian giving."
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Consumerism: Many, many scenes involving monogrammed Louis Vuitton luggage designed by Marc Jacobs.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The brothers all take a lot of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines and drink cocktails on the train. They also get in trouble for smoking in their train compartment.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Darjeeling Limited by lucyho
Beautiful movie about petty people. Breathtaking attention to detail and camera work.
Funny and endearing, but not for everybody.
Wes Anderson's most accomlished movie.
5
Nice! by Nancy_E
I chose to ignore the on-the-fence review by the NY Times and dragged my 95 year old grandmother with me. It was filmed beautifully, the character development was unique and believable, and there was a consistent element of the unexpected. The dialog and delivery kept us laughing throughout the entire story and the wonderful message of the importance of human intimacy and its contrast with the notion of being able to free yourself of desire was depicted in a charming way. The entire movie theatre did not get up to leave until all credits were completed as it wasclearly thought provoking.
5
The Joy of Cinema by krup
Not too many modern filmmakers actually care about actual filmmaking these days. One exception is Wes Anderson who is so meticulous about every single thing seen and heard in every single shot of his movies that usually you have to see his films more than once. The same care has gone into the making of "The Darjeeling Limited" but this time most people should be able to "get it" with one viewing -- the story is much more straight-forward than his last two efforts. It's also very funny and very sad and ultimately very uplifting. The acting is superb, the scenery is gorgeous and the dialogue is quirky but realistic. What more could you ask for? Oh right, as usual, Anderson's pop music choices are pitch perfect, especially the use of three Kinks' songs from the "Lola versus Powerman and the Money-Go-Round" album.
Run, don't walk.
5
UnLimited by Sam Wise
Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited was fantastic. I fell in love with the the Indian landscape and by the end of the movie I wished that I wasn't an only child. Anderson's new film illustrated the fragility and beauty of relationships and how we are all shaped by our families. The next morning after seeing the movie I had to pull out my Kinks albums to recapture the chills I felt while watching the music of the film somehow match the movies setting with germaine precision. Funny and heartbreaking.
5
Doesn't fit into any previous style - unique and amazing by starx95
Very quirky, odd and unique. We loved it. The LA times review really said it best with "Wilson, Brody and Schwartzman are like a contemporary, depressive version of the Three Stooges, and there's something inspired about Anderson's decision to cast them as brothers. " They are all trying to deal with the death of their father and abandonment by their mother - you may not like them, but they're strangely real and you can't deny the 'flow' of the story is spot on. Superb acting and direction. Wish we hadn't waited so long to see it!
5
Phenomenal by ideagirl
Three of use went to see it and we all LOVED it. My friend who used to live in India kept cracking up and saying, "That's what it's like! That's exactly what it's like!" Afterwards he explained, "In India, the most RANDOM things happen--your shoe gets stolen, your train gets lost, you end up at a stranger's funeral--it's exactly like that!" I'm mentioning this in case anyone points out that the movie feels random and quasi-plotless at times: yeah, it does, because it's about three Wes Anderson characters IN INDIA. What else could it be but randomly mixed hilarity and pathos, color and darkness, absurdity and lucidity, life and death? Fantastic!
2
meh by burndtdan
i like wes anderson films. i like the cast. i like movies about finding yourself. i like quirky comedies. i like art house films. i like everything this movie wanted to be. but sitting in this movie, i was just waiting for it to end. the first mini-film was arduous and boring. it was basically 15 minutes filled with 3 minutes worth of script. the main feature wasn't much different... an hour and a half filled with about 30 minutes worth of material, spaced out amongst disjointed pointlessness. you can't make humor subtle by saying it slowly with bad pacing, and you can't make metaphors poignant by showing them over and over again. at the end, even though i could predict everything the characters would say or do, i didn't care about any of it or any of them. if you enjoy sitting around waiting for something to happen, i guess maybe you'll enjoy this movie... but it's not even in the same league as his earlier films.
5
Way Out Wes ! by munnman
Don't listen to the conventional wisdom that Wes Anderson is just repeating himself. Like all great artists the themes remain similar; alienation, family, individuality, longing, regret, existential angst, and the humor required to navigate it all. But his films are still getting deeper, truer and more poignant. One of the funniest lines in the movie comes repeatedly as people recognize themselves in one of the brother's short stories "The characters are fictional" Movies are fictional, but when they touch us so deeply, we know they are not really...
5
Another absurdly touching gem from Anderson by indy2003
This is an immensely beautiful film from director Wes Anderson, one of his very best, and one of the year's best. I would highly recommend to all those who have liked Anderson's previous films... and to moviegoers who value films that care a great deal about their characters. It's a lovely movie in almost every way, full of tender observation, gentle wit, and surprising comedy. Sorry if I sound a bit hyperbolic here... I've perhaps seen a film or two that I've admired more this year, but none that I loved this much. Go see it, your money will be well spent.
- Clark Douglas
4
Maybe not "Go" but definitely "See" by mhhd
Catch this one on DVD for sure if you're a Wes Anderson fan. Very nice movie, although probably my least favorite of his work. I'll see it one more time, just to be sure.