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The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
One of Wes Anderson’s greatest achievements as a director to date has been launching the autumnal melancholy phase of Bill Murray’s career, starting with Rushmore in 1998, and Murray delivers a similarly comedic yet low-key performance here. Unfortunately, Zissou is one of the few characters in this ensemble to achieve multi-dimensionality. Even co-star Wilson doesn’t get to develop Ned much beyond Noble Southerner, and he ends up seeming more like a prop for illustrating Zissou’s emotional development rather than his own man. The Life Aquatic probably won’t be remembered as a great film, but it is still one that no Anderson (or Murray) fan can afford to miss.--Leah Weathersby, Amazon.com
RRP: £22.99
Our Price: £3.69 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
In The Life Aquatic, director Wes Anderson takes his familiar stable of actors on a field trip to a fantasy aquarium, complete with stop-motion, candy-striped crabs and rainbow seahorses. And though Anderson does expand his horizons in terms of retro-special effects and a whimsical use of color, fans will otherwise find themselves in well-charted waters. As The Life Aquatic opens, Zissou (Bill Murray), a self-involved, Jacques Cousteau-like filmmaker, has just released a documentary depicting the death of his best friend Esteban, who was eaten by some sort of sea creature--possibly a jaguar shark. Zissou’s troubles also include his waning popularity with the public, and a nemesis (Jeff Goldblum) who hogs up all the grant money. Hope arrives in the form of Ned Plimpton (Owen Wilson), an amiable Kentuckian who may be Zissou’s son. Despite his lack of enthusiasm for fatherhood, Zissou welcomes Ned--and Ned in turn saves Zissou’s new documentary (in which he seeks revenge on the jaguar shark) in more ways than one.
Not one of Bill Murray's best
Review date: 2008-11-18 Rating: 6 out of 10
Owen Wilson puts in the best turn in this. There are some funny scenes, but the dry humour doesn't always work that well and while Bill Murray is always good, this isn't him at his best, which is a shame.
Worth watching.
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Reviews
Slightly amusing, but sorry I bought it.
Review date: 2008-09-14 Rating: 4 out of 10
Not as good as Wes Anderson's other films. I bought this because I enjoyed his other films. I'd suggest that you rent it before you buy it.
Pretentious unfunny rubbish
Review date: 2008-06-29 Rating: 2 out of 10
I have to admit that I coud not get past the first 10 minutes of this film. It was so quirky and tried so hard to be witty - and failed. Bill Murray really is a very unfunny actor . And there are boring performances from Huston (talentless nobody) and Micahel Gambon (one of the most overrated actors of all time). What a pity that so much momey can be invested in such poorly written rubbish when there are talented people crying out for money. Avoid at all costs.
It really is good.
Review date: 2008-06-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
Watching this was really enjoyable with some unexpected funny bits. My favourite though is The Darjeeling Limited but the Wes Anderson's style is very interesting in his way of filming. It just is really funny in a offbeat way but if you are into normal comedy, dont watch it. I actually cried in this one i am not going to say why as you really must watch this. Some people may find it quite slow moving for the first half of the film but you really must be patient and watch the whole as at the end of the film, you would appreciate it. The use of colours in the whole film is retro like subtle but some bright colours. The sea animals are cleverly done in rather unrealistically cute by the computer graphic but if you are a kind of person who takes things too seriously, then you would find it too odd. This film is for people who are into artistic quality and likes a little bit of unexpected fun.
Love it or hate it...
Review date: 2008-05-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
A whimsical, quirky and incredibly funny film, spooned out with great big dollops of pathos. It bears re-watching as moments that initially are just incredibly amusing can also be read in other ways (the unreality of the boat springs to mind). However, to enjoy, immerse yourself in the Zizzou world and allow the ridiculous to become normal. Oh, and watch out for the wonderful Seu Jorge and his Bowie versions.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Cate Blanchett
Willem Dafoe
Anjelica Huston
Bill Murray
Owen Wilson
Creators:
Bill Murray (Primary Contributor)
Owen Wilson (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
EAN: 8717418047191
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-07-04
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 114 minutes
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)