real beast

Palma 2022-04-20 09:01:25

In my opinion, the film tells a story of responsibility and abandonment.

The fox father gave up the freedom and desire of being a beast because he took on the responsibilities of being a husband and a father.

To become a real beast, you have to give up, give up warmth, give up stability, but have freedom alone.

Is there a way to get the best of both worlds? Maybe not.

But there is the next best thing—to pursue one's own heroism within the limits of responsibility.

It’s not the saddest thing to be the next best thing. The saddest thing is that you don’t even know what your own desires are, and you can never become a real beast.

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Extended Reading

Fantastic Mr. Fox quotes

  • Kristofferson: Uh, do you mind if I slide my bed roll slightly out from under the train set? It's hard to sleep in that corkscrew position.

    Ash: [in the top bunk] There's a lot of attitudes going on around here. Don't let me get one.

    Kristofferson: No, it's only just my spinal cord getting...

    Ash: Sleep wherever you want, man. Here, take my bed! I'll just uh... I'll crawl under the bookcase! Who cares if I get splinters in my ears?

    Kristofferson: Never mind.

    Ash: Oh, you gonna pout about it? 'Cuz I've had it up to HERE

    [gestures with his hand]

    Ash: with the "sad houseguest" routine.

    [Ash turns off the light and continues to read his White Cape comic in bed]

    Kristofferson: Good night.

    [he lies down under the train set and begins to quietly sob; Ash comes down, turns on the train, Kris gets up and they watch it]

  • Beaver's Son: [lays down a box of supplies during a Science lab class] Why's your cousin such a wet sandwich?

    Kristofferson: I beg your pardon?

    Beaver's Son: What's that mean?

    Kristofferson: That means that I don't understand what you just said. A wet sandwich?

    Beaver's Son: Yeah! A wet sandwich. He's too short, he dresses like a girl, he's

    [makes a motion with his hands]

    Beaver's Son: different.

    Kristofferson: Are you a bully? You're starting to sound like a bully.

    Beaver's Son: Watch this.

    [he takes a spoonful of yellow powder and drops it into the bubbling liquid over a Bunsen burner; it explodes and covers both of them in the yellow substance]

    Kristofferson: That's... you just destroyed the whole experiment. We'd better extinguish this magnesium.

    [they raise their safety goggles]

    Kristofferson: Stand back.

    [Kris sprays the fire with an extinguisher]

    Agnes: [watching from a few feet away] Wow.

    Kristofferson: [whistles] Whew!

    Agnes: [to Kris] Hmm. I like your ears.

    [gestures to her own]

    Kristofferson: M... Mine?

    Agnes: Mmhmm.

    Kristofferson: Thank you! I like your... spots.

    Agnes: Really? I used to cover them up, but, you know...

    Ash: Ugh.

    [scoffs]

    Agnes: Hmm?

    Ash: You're supposed to be *my* lab partner.

    Agnes: I am!

    Ash: No you're not. You're disloyal.