The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Criterion Collection (2-Disc Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Criterion Collection (2-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: Underrated
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie confirmed the suspicons of many critics that Anderson's "style" could be located in the hip, meta-cinematic moments, the thick irony and the overall Godard-ian sense of arbitrary film narrative. So despite the commercial success of the film, Anderson's craftsmanship (not an overstatement: this film took two years to complete), The Life Aquatic, according to some, redeployed the familiar: the formalization of witticisms and dry humor. So, it has yet to join the critical ranks of Rushmore and The Royal Tennenbaums, for better or worse.
Noah Baumbach replaced Owen Wilson in the writing process, a director whose deapan appeal might complement the tragi-comic tone of Anderson's other films? Yes and no. While this movie is distinctively Andersonian--from the thematized daily log titles, to the intern named "Nico" (Nico, or Christa Päffgen, is featured on at least one previous Anderson soundtrack) -- there does seem to be something missing. As Bowie queues the outro and the crew synchs up with the credits, this movie just feels a little thinner than the others. Still, The Life Aquatic proves nuanced and very funny...it probably deserves another viewing.
Movie Review: Okay
Summary: 4 Stars
Not as funny as the Royal Tenenbaums (spelling?), which was absolutely hilarious. Was a bit weak on laughs, but kind of touching. We never really know whether Ned Plimpton ("Kingsley Zissou") is actually Steve's son. But who cares? That's not the point.
Although the underwater graphics were amateurish, they added to the comedy, especially when we actually get to see the phantom "Jaguar shark".
Movie Review: Wes Anderson at his best...
Summary: 5 Stars
People who don't like this movie do not get this movie. This is an intellectual comedy of the highest quality. The incredible talent of the entire cast as well as Wes Anderson's highly stylized form makes The Life Aquatic a real treat. If you liked the Royal Tenenbaums, you will love The Life Aquatic. If you did not, do not bother. Anderson's style is unique and caters to a specific audience. If you have never seen his movies, give it a shot. If you have and didn't like or get the movies, do not waste any more time. For those of you looking for cinematic art and comedic entertainment of the highest quality, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is about as good as it gets in my book and it is worth every penny.Movie Review: Wonderful Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I really liked this movie for its subtle humor, creativity, and visuals. If you found this movie too boring then you are a fool who should stick to comedies like Dumb and Dumber. Intelligent comedies aren't for unintelligent people.Movie Review: "The Life Aquatic" revels in Bill Murray's twilight melancholy
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a huge fan of Wes Anderson's debut effort, "Rushmore." It was one of the most original, well-written, soulful comedies about teenage life (and our inability to grow beyond it) that I'd ever seen. And "Rushmore" also had a great cast, led by perhaps my favorite actor of all time, Bill Murray.
But then came the follow-up, "The Royal Tennenbaums," and Bill Murray was there once again. It was not a coincidence that "Tennenbaums" is not in the same class as "Rushmore" either as a comedy or a film, and that it also put Murray off to one side, barely using him. One was left to speculate about the possibilities of Anderson and Murray teaming up where Murray got the spotlight 100% of the time.
Those speculations were brought to fruition with "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," and things are generally what you would expect from this team. "The Life Aquatic" looks and sounds just like a movie one would expect from Max Fisher, the hero from "Rushmore." It's a low-budget, slap-dash affair (watch the hilariously-amateurish gunfight scenes) with whimsical special effects and ludicrous stabs at tragedy. But the blasting thing's got a heart, and its heart is in the melancholy, bemused visage of Bill Murray.
Murray plays the titular Steve Zissou, a minor-league Jacques Cousteau whose best years are both behind him and not all that great. Murray captures Zissou as a man looking into the abyss of his own mortality and his own futility with an elan only he could muster. Murray says more with a sidelong glance than many actors can evoke with a soliloquy, and for fans of this long-time great, "The Life Aquatic" offers many sterling moments.
But the rest of the movie, for all its heart and imagination, does not exceed the sum of its parts. It's funny in the traditional Wes Anderson way, populated with people who have no idea how pathetic they really are. And there are lines of brilliant comedy and insight. But just like Aaron Sorkin's dialogue from "A Few Good Men" to "The American President" to "The West Wing" sounds exactly the same regardless of who is speaking the lines, the Wes Anderson motif is starting to wear a bit thin. Particularly tiresome is Owen Wilson as a Kentucky Air pilot, whose southern-ness seems to play no role except for Wilson to fulfill some outmoded stereotypes. And Willem Dafoe, God bless him, shoots for the moon with his German side-kick, but he brings rage and intensity to a movie where the rest of the cast seems so mellow that you have to believe they are more than a little "baked," so he often seems to be coming from a different movie altogether.
If you love Bill Murray, or Wes Anderson, you will love "The Life Aquatic." As much as big a fan as I am of Murray, I still can't rave about the movie. But it is definitely worth your time, if only to see the magical wonder that is the Jaguar Shark. And to see draw the unparalled pleasure of seeing Jeff Goldblum get shot.