Critic Reviews
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The (2004) Rank 4 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (338) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Reviews by Score:
FilmFocus.Co.UK (Shay Casey)
Premiere Magazine (Glenn Kenny)
I savored every frame and gorged on every sound (being a fan of '70s Bowie helps). ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Premiere Magazine (Glenn Kenny)
Movie Gazette (Anton Bitel)
Few films are as rich and strange as this bittersweet comic odyssey into the depths of human yearning. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Movie Gazette (Anton Bitel)
FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)
Not a perfect movie, but... it is my #1 film of the year. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)
DVD Clinic (Scott Weinberg)
An arrogant, snide, and strangely lovable oceanographer hits the high seas in order to track down and destroy the sea beast who ate his pal - but he must also contend with bitter rivals, estranged ex-wives, a son he never knew he had, and a boatload ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at DVD Clinic (Scott Weinberg)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Rich, strange and almost inexplicably satisfying, Life Aquatic is very much a movie to see and treasure. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Cinema Signals by The Filmiliar Cineaste
UpcomingDiscs.com (Jeremy Frost)
Anderson has a thing for using actors that he is comfortable with, so in The Life Aquatic, we see many return actors from his previous films – Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, & Anjelica Huston. Fresh to this film, and with a good chance of appearing in ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at UpcomingDiscs.com (Jeremy Frost)
UnderGround Online (Bryan Enk)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is Anderson's best film to date. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at UnderGround Online (Bryan Enk)
Los Angeles Times (Carina Chocano)
An exquisitely evocative movie that elevates rueful melancholia to a superpower. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Los Angeles Times (Carina Chocano)
The Cinema Source (Shawn Koonin)
The Cinema Source (Paul Maniaci)
The Cinema Source (Paul Maniaci)
Check out Paul's website: www.TheCareerCookBook.com Steve Zissou ( Bill Murray ) is an oceanographer who has hit hard times with the passing of his best friend, a failing marriage, and a stalling career. He sets off on his ship, the Belafonte, to find ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at The Cinema Source (Paul Maniaci)
The Cinema Source (Shawn Koonin)
Wes Anderson has become one of the most visually and stylistically known auteurs in recent film history. His trademark style of fairy tale whimsy and quirkiness are evident in every snippet of film he shoots. It's rare these days to find such a strong ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at The Cinema Source (Shawn Koonin)
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Philip Martin)
...The Life Aquatic stirs up some sugary silt at the bottom of your gut. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Philip Martin)
Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema (Mark Pfeiffer)
The film’s storyline plays out as a comic riff on Moby-Dick , which is hilarious if you’re on Anderson’s wavelength but will probably bore to tears those who aren’t. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema (Mark Pfeiffer)
Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
I love Wes Anderson's movies. Somewhere recently (sorry, I forget the source; such is the point-and-click nature of Web surfing), I read the observation that he makes storybooks for adults. That idea has a lot of relevance when you look at The Life ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
ToxicUniverse.com (Lee Chase IV)
If The Life Aquatic does not achieve the greatness of Anderson's previous works, it is because he gets too eager to impress from time to time. The first pirate attack, for instance, has some violence that feels out of place. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (Lee Chase IV)
Cinema Source (Shawn Koonin)
Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
What might have a self-consciously quirky comedy is deepened and humanized by its rich performances, especially from Murray, who keeps getting better and better. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
In THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU. Wes Anderson, of RUSHMORE and THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS fame, again works in a rarified atmosphere with his unique auteur’s voice that will leave some viewers wondering what all the fuss is about and other flinging ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
DVD Talk (Preston Jones)
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou will delight Anderson devotees (although when released, it drew criticism for being overly precious and somewhat repetitious within the director's oeuvre) and likely confound those who are drawn to the packaging claims ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at DVD Talk (Preston Jones)
DVD Talk (Francis Rizzo III)
Boston Herald (Ed Symkus)
Now Playing Magazine (Brent Simon)
It hearkens back nicely to Rushmore ... ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Now Playing Magazine (Brent Simon)
RopeofSilicon (Steve Davis)
CineMe (Daniel Meyer)
Tampa Tribune (Bob Ross)
[Wes Anderson] fourth and most elaborate film fits no genre and defies quick summary. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Tampa Tribune (Bob Ross)
Steve Rhodes <Steve.Rhodes@internetreviews.com>
Technically, in the strict sense of the term,The Life Aquatic with Steve ZissouisWes Anderson's most ambitious and successful film to date. So militantly artful is Anderson's objective that I can look beyond his sketchbook of a screenplay and measure ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Steve Rhodes <Steve.Rhodes@internetreviews.com>
Jerry Saravia
I am not sure how to describe the effect of "The Life Aquatic" because its charms are so subtle and so minute that it will take more than patience to sit through it. Wes Anderson's films are an acquired taste either you go with the flow or you'll be ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Jerry Saravia
Reel.com
WWAD? What would Ahab do? That's the question that confronts oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) in the opening scenes of Wes Anderson's adventure comedy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou when he witnesses a leopard shark chow down on his best ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Reel.com
Toronto Star
The comic world of Wes Anderson is hermetic, like an old-fashioned bathysphere, and that applies to both tone and characters. If Anderson's movies leave some viewers feeling they're missing the joke, so are Anderson's people. What makes his ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Toronto Star
IOFilm
A fey, friendly commentary on everything from father/son rivalry to the filmmaking profession itself, Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic is more flippant than The Royal Tenenbaums, but also more (forgive the pun) buoyant. Gene Hackman is an actor who likes ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at IOFilm
The Popkorn Junkie
If only every character could be as emotionally rich and intriguing as Steve Zissou. He is someone that you love one minute and then hate the next. He is a genius. He is a bastard. He is dedicated. He is a real prick. Murray manages to blend all of this ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at The Popkorn Junkie
Philadelphia Inquirer
In Wes Anderson's Rushmore, Max Fischer, the multitasking renaissance boy played by Jason Schwartzman, mounts several preposterously ambitious school productions. There is a dramatization of Serpico, full of terse cop-speak, and an Apocalypse ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer
Boston Herald (James Verniere)
The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
But the fact remains that the film, like Steve Zissou, is emotionally distant. You almost have to work at it to feel what Steve and Ned are feeling, and I don't think it's wise of Anderson to make audiences have to toil just to get his point. If you ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Stylish, quirky, enjoyable comedy-drama, with a superb ensemble cast and a terrific soundtrack - this is a treat for fans of Anderson’s work, although the uninitiated may be less impressed.The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is writer-director Wes ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Three Movie Buffs (Scott Nash)
In the hands of less capable filmmakers this quirky fish tale might have sunk itself, but Murray and Anderson manage to reel it in. ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Scott Nash)
RopeofSilicon (Steve Davis)
Wes Anderson has become one of today's hottest directors, and has developed a cult following for his quirky, original films like Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. Now he re-unites with Bill Murray and Owen Wilson to bring us the new film, The Life ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at RopeofSilicon (Steve Davis)
The King's Room (Clyde Ayles)
In "THE LIFE
AQUATIC" the very capable BILL MURRAY is an underwater filmmaker. He and his
crew of the Belafonte, his living quarters filled boat, make movies about
undersea life and treasures. Filmmaker Steve Zissou (Murray) sets ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at The King's Room (Clyde Ayles)
CineMe (Daniel Meyer)
Jerry Saravia
I am not sure how to describe the effect of "The Life Aquatic" because its charms are so subtle and so minute that it will take more than patience to sit through it. Wes Anderson's films are an acquired taste either you go with the flow or you'll be ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Jerry Saravia
Jerry Saravia
Along for the ride is a pregnant reporter, Jane WinsletRichardson (Cate Blanchett), who is eager to interview Zissou for a cover story. She is easily intimidated by Zissou and even cries at his dismissal of his own achievements and of her lack of ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at Jerry Saravia
MovieFreak.com (Dennis Landmann)
I highly anticipated the release of Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic last December because the trailer looked good and I'm a fan of the director's previous movies, The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore. Perhaps because of my high expectations I ended up not ...read the complete Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou movie review at MovieFreak.com (Dennis Landmann)
User Reviews
by kenny on January 22, 2009
This is my favorite Anderson movie. I don't know what it is the outlandish adventures or the fact that Bill Murray's character is going to kill that dolphin one of these days. This movie tickles my dark funny bone every time. ...
by Compulsive Reader on August 06, 2009
Anyone who doesn't rate this film with five stars not only completely lacks a sense of irony, but is deaf to Wes Anderson's poetry. A dry, visually gorgeous and impeccably scripted and acted take on Jacques Cousteau's documentary series, this film is now ...
by jumpy1 on June 26, 2009
I've never felt inside a story so much as I feel watching this film. People have criticized this film a lot but it brings me back to the great kids' adventure shows of the past but with more cynical dialogue and more sophisticated sets. And while ...
by The Tao of Netfli... on May 06, 2009
This movie is a wonderful viewing experience. Wes Anderson has a very distinct flair for ...
by The Northern Ligh... on February 24, 2009
I must have watched this film like 5 times already, and more viewings are bound to follow. It is just so hilariously amusing and strange that you can't but love it. Of course, this might not be everyone's cup of tea when it comes to ...
by Linda L. Miller "... on December 29, 2008
Loved it , the cast is always a good time....very funny...The ocean scenes are beautiful...and Angelica Houston is exceptionally ...
by Surferofromantica... on December 24, 2008
A totally wacked out film, and the second Bill Murray flick about a guy who may or may not be coming face to face with the son he may have had with an old ...
by Susan E. Goldman on November 08, 2008
I believe too many are quick to write off the film as bad or not as good as Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, etc. Part of the genius of this movie is Mr. Andersons contrast of childhood fantasies with adult realities. The whimsical story, ridiculous ...
by Narizdura La Carr... on June 25, 2008
I think a lot of people don't get this film at all. I happen to think this is Wes Anderson's best, most fully realized work. It's also one of the hardest films to try and explain to someone who hasn't seen it. For me it succeeds on all levels, narrative, ...
by Sean R. Tingley on March 27, 2008
Bill Murray is great in this flick, and teamed with Wes Anderson, it's a sure bet. ...
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