Mark Mothersbaugh doesn't appear to be involved with this film. I don't think I'm actually that arsed

Wow, I hadn't even noticed that, Michael. I have a tough time believing that's the case, but if he's not listed in those credits then...well...it may well be true.

Mothersbaugh did a lot for setting mood and attitude of those films, and his music was only getting better as his working relationship with Anderson continued. (The Casio-funk of The Life Aquatic is brutally perfect...it manages to be just corny and antique enough to suit Team Zissou but also manages to be downright heartbreaking, especially in the case of Ned's Theme toward the end of the film.)

If Mothersbaugh isn't involved, I'll genuinely miss him. It doesn't make me look forward to the film any less, and it doesn't exactly strike me as an omen of a downward slope...but I will miss him.

If he's found this Satyajit Ray music and feels like it does the job, jibbing Mothersbaugh off might be evidence that he's trying to simplify his films sensibilities, which is probably a good thing. There's always a few Mothersbaugh pieces in each film, but TLA had the pop songs, the Seu Jorge bowie things, the cheesy casio, *and* the scene setting plinky plonky Mothersbaugh stuff... Life Aquatic was evidence that he's getting more stylistically peculiar (a Jacques Cousteau movie about the making of a Jacques Cousteau movie with fish by Henry Selick and isn't this new one supposed to be about thinly disguised versions of Peter Bogdonavich, Martin Scorcese and Jack Nicholson on an Indian trek?) and that's good news as far as I'm concerned. TLA was *ace*, but it was ace in a dangerously indulgent way.

There is a point in there, somewhere.

No, I agree, and I think that was very well said. The Life Aquatic was brilliant, but it also had all the hallmarks of being about to topple over into indulgent pseudo-artistic tripe. It was a very, very fine line he walked with The Life Aquatic, and it paid off, because Anderson is brilliant and handled it with consummate patience, attention, and genuine love for the art-form.

If Darjeeling turns out to be a departure (as the lack of Mothersbaugh may indicate) then I'm all for it...not because I think his formula is getting tired (I unabashedly do not) but because I have enough faith in him as a director and enough belief in his genius that I trust him no matter what direction he may choose.

A full stop-action film for Mr. Fox, for example, scares the pants off me, because it could, potentially, be a complete humiliation. But it's Anderson. And he's only gotten better over the years. I may not agree with a decision, but I trust him to do it well.

I absolutely love The Life Aquatic. I'd say that I especially love the music, but I don't know if there's any aspect of that movie that I love more than any other...basically, it's just fantastic.

Oh, and The Darjeeling Limited looks very, very promising.

Rolling Stone says The Darjeeling Limited is "the most assured, mature work from director Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic), who wrote the scripts with friends Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman."

I seriously cannot wait for this film.

You may have read this elsewhere, but Darjeeling Limited is preceeded by a short called "Hotel Chevalier" which provides a bit of background on Jason Schwartzmans character, and also stars Natalie Portman. I'm so excited I've given myself the runs.

So basically we're getting full-length Darjeeling this year, preceded by a new short film by Anderson, and then the full-length Fantastic Mr. Fox next year?

This is a very good time to be going to the theater.

(Also, I've just read that it's heavily implied that Owen Wilson's character in Darjeeling has attempted suicide sometime shortly before the film begins. Eerie? Or just method-acting in reverse...?)

CUNTFUCKSHITARSEBALLS. It seems now that the short film is only for DVD, internet and film festival screenings. Wouldn't it be lovely to see it on the big screen?

Apparently the short film, Hotel Chevalier, is available for free on itunes. I'm unable to check myself right now, but there you have it.