oliverrmorris

Words by Oliver Morris

There has been a trend recently in retro chic films. Some aimed at teens but most aimed at kids. Examples such as ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’, ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ and ‘Paranorman’ are amongst these new films that are glorifying retro gaming, old horror films, and generally being kick ass and cool. But why is there suddenly this rash of films that appeal to the nostalgic hipster in me?

Lets move from this and think about something else: The Nintendo Entertainment System, one of the first home gaming consoles ever released, is turning 25 next year! Imagine that! All those kids who originally jumped about with Mario, saving princesses and whatnot, must all be about 30 and over by now. They’ve probably gone to college, or started working in IT. They’ve all probably found significant others, steady Jobs. Heck some of ‘em will have kids.

And now these kids need to be entertained. They need feeding and nourishment and Disney films to watch and funny animated films. But If these old NES gamers are going to have to watch some Disney film, It might as well be one they’re going to sit through.

Suddenly, all these old gamers have become a DEMO! They’ve gone legit, stopped downloading stuff from LimeWire and have money to burn on their kids. Let’s do films which pastiche old horror films!

The actual demographic it’s aimed at won’t understand a thing but their parents will laugh. And what about a whole film that based of old games like PacMan and Arcade games. Bright colours for the kids and a nostalgia trip for their dads.
Congratulations, Retro Gamers. You’re a commodity now.

Words by Oliver Morris

Moonrise Kingdom is the new film by director Wes Anderson, that Premiered this year on limited release in cinemas and, much to my hipster friend’s chargrin, I failed to see it. It sounded cory, I didn’t know who Wes Anderson was and I let it float by.

Then someone told me that Wes Anderson was the same guy who directed ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’. Now, I loved that film because it felt intensely real and completely surreal at the same time. And George Clooney. Jesus, I love that guy.

So finally I allowed myself to be persuaded to watch ‘Moonrise Kingdom’, popcorn and beer in hand.). The film was a new film experience. Set in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the sixties, ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ charts the epic, Hollywood, Bonny-and-Clyde-esque love affair between two preteens.

However, every other inhabitant of this small island, with everyone from Scout Leaders, parents to the actual police force are determined to keep them apart. What results is a love story of epic proportions.

What I found truly remarkable in ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ was how committed the two main characters were to their narrative. They are kids bought up on Pulp Romance and Action Fiction, and are playing the roles of star-crossed lovers to perfection.

Also, Anderson’s aesthetic forces the view to accept they’re observing a performance. Whether it be the owl eyes of the binoculars, or constant framing, or the frankly bizarre nature of the island.

What will stick with me however, is how the adult characters are sucked into this epic romance. Their issues take a back seat, all their attention channelled into these Star-Crossed lovers. And I was drawn in to. And so will you. Go watch it.