I remember seeing the trailer for the first time and since then I just told everyone that TRT was the best movie of the year even before going in. And I had all sorts of hyped up expectations of it, and went in and loved it. what were you expecting to see in TRT and what parts of TRT surprised you? and I meant like blindsided you?

I think I was surprised by the ritchie-margot storyline
I was also surprised by how frank the characters were with each other. when royal asked chas if chas could forgive him, and chas said "why should I?" and royal said "Well because you're hurting me." things like that.

I'd have to say, and I think many would agree, that Ritchie's suicide attempt blindsided me. That scene is burned into my memory forever, and it's one of very few incredibly sad, tragic scenes that are so well constructed and artfully shot that I could watch it over and over. The trailers were pretty honest about the film's tone, but that one scene took the movie into the realm of greatness.

Yes, I certainly agree with that. That suicide scene gave me shivers from the get go, and sent my stomach plummeting.

I get off on the details. The little drawings, and the funny happenings that go on out of focus. Things like the dalmation mice and Margot's fake finger being made of wood and Ritchie's tent with a record player, disco light and internal solar system. I've had dreams where I'm allowed to go into everybody's rooms and look through their drawers.

My most recent favourite thing is that Royal gave Margot a wrapped up rubber ball.

When I saw the trailer and heard it was a film by Wes Anderson well, that's all I really needed to hear. I was most surprised by the use of narration in the film. It really added a nice touch. If you think about it, your family and mine are not that much different from the Tenenbaums when looked at under a microscope. Everyone is fucking crazy in their own way. The film made a point that no matter how fucked up your family is, they are still your family. Forgiveness is a good theme because it is the key to true happiness and in every family it has to exist for sanity's sake. That's just my take.

<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center">"She's beautiful, but she's fucked up."</div><!--EZCODE CENTER END-->

Funny, you are not the only one I"ve heard have such a warm response to the narration. I kind of liked it too. BUt my 'film expert' friend says that it's a failure of a movie's storytelling to need a narrator. I'm not agreeing, just quoting.

Discuss... :b

Dogs and Chelse, I totally agree.

I loved the narration. I see your friends point about narration, its usually a sign of lazy writers, but in TRT, it framed the story perfectly. And gave it that literary feel we all loved so much.

It's the best work Alec Baldwin has done in <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>years</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. He was perfection. <p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END-->"Sometimes I stop and think how strange this all is. Something that began as a little idea in Austin, that Wes and I just walked around talking about between ourselves, has turned into all this."</p>

I loved the narration, too. To me, it gave it a once-upon-a-time, fairy tale feel. <p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END--> "There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan." --Sullivan's Travels</p>

My film prof hated the narration, and KCLiz wasn't sold on it, either; but now that they've watched it again, they do like it. I remember thinking, "Did I know about this? ... Yes, I did. Settle down." (My first screening of TRT was traumatic, I ain't kidding. I was so nervous. Retarded.)

I think that no-narration rule is only for people who don't know what they're doing.

Surprise: On one hand, the suicide attempt.

My real surprises were Etheline and Margot. I think they write exceptional female characters. <p><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END-->"I'm losing my fucking mind. Use contractions, goddammit. You sound like an alien." - Dave Eggers</p>

I was recently stopped in my tracks, passing the tv, by the TRT narrator voice. It was "Prelude to a Kiss" with Alec Baldwin as the husband, who narrated some scenes. In that case I do feel the narration was a kind of crutch. But his voice is lovely all the same.

what surprised me was the suicide scene, the nudity, and how it ended. I liked it, but a relative of mine called it a "surrealistic nightmare" and she was glad when it ended. I was like wa?