I’ve seen this film a number of times now, and it just gets better with each viewing. It’s a subtle film which you can lose sight of if you get caught up in the technical chicanery: wacky animations, kitschy documentary inserts and willfully strange characters.

However, as an essay in grief, bereavement, disappointment and sadness, “The Life Aquatic” just hits the spot every time. The closing two scenes always make me cry – especially the sighting of the Jaguar Shark – Bill Murray is just awesome in the main role but the supporting cast add colour, tone and depth to what is after all a very complex piece of writing. There are lots of things going on in this film, it’s not just the “kooky” comedy it presents itself as initially, and it playfully invites the viewer to untangle and decode the subtexts.

Perhaps most importantly here, is the quality of gentleness that Wes Anderson allows his characters to possess, even when they are acting horribly to one another. An air of melancholy and regret permeates everything, but this never degenerates into mawkishness or viciousness.

It’s a beautifully designed film that works on an aesthetic, emotional and intellectual level. In two words: it’s fantastic!

I’ve had this movie for at least 4 years. I didn’t think I’d like it when I got it, never watched it and kinda forgot all about it. Until last night, when I was discussing movies with a friend. I told him how much I liked The Royal Tenenbaums and he recommended The Life Aquatic. So I dug up the DVD this afternoon, and I loved it. The whole ‘look & feel’ appeals to me, the colours, outfits, visuals. The red hats reminded me of my old Playmobil toys :) And I very much enjoyed the soundtrack, which I’ll get next. I guess I should start checking out more Wes Anderson movies.

I grew up watching Jacques Cousteau, so for me this movie is hilarious. My husband didn’t get it and to this day doesn’t understand why I laugh whenever I watch this movie.

Great imagery, great feel. Awesome story.

This movie is wonderfully funny. One of my friends didn’t understand the humor, so I guess that might happen with some people, but I loved it.

I did like this movie, the bad thing was that i first whatched “Rushmore” so i did had a lot of expectations on it… i rather that one.

I love this movie. The humor is normal quirky wes anderson humor. The music is fantastic, in again a goofy quirky way. Bill murry and Angelica Houston just have amusing chemistry together.

less precious. nice and slow, which is a feat for contemporary film.

unfunny, unmemorable, lots of bad language and some nudity. You keep waiting for the film to get better, it never does. Slow and slower. Why did this project attract so much talent? You know it is bad when the best thing about it is the CGI fish. At best it is a treatment of Fatherhood, but even that is going some 100 fathoms deeper than this ever gets. Do yourself a favor and watch the Discovery channel.

It’s ok, but uneven. I’m a fan of Wes Anderson’s other films and this one was good, but not brilliant. Maybe a bit too pleased with itself.