Featured Audience Ratings

• Emil K

  
  One of the best films that auteur Wes Anderson has assembled so far. What makes Steve Zissou so exciting as a film is it's brave approach to material, or should i say brave and absolutely far out material. Here is a film filled with thousand ideas, some of them work some of them… More
  One of the best films that auteur Wes Anderson has assembled so far. What makes Steve Zissou so exciting as a film is it's brave approach to material, or should i say brave and absolutely far out material. Here is a film filled with thousand ideas, some of them work some of them don't. Most of the time i liked Zissou's playful tone. It never takes itself too seriously and feels free from any possible limitations as a film. For the first time it also felt that Wes Anderson was not trying too much with his dialoque. His style can be seen each and every scene of the film and some of the compostions feel unnecessary visual tricks that just does not serve the story. Still it is a film that is pleasure to watch and listen. I have noticed that i am not easiest person to make laugh in films but with Zissou there were moments that felt extremely hilarious and brilliant. I even laughed within couple of scenes. Thanks to wonderful chemistry between the fantastic ensemble cast that has names like Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Angelica Huston, Cate Blanchett, Owen Wilson, Michael Gambon and Jeff Goldblum in it. It is one of the most impressive casts that Anderson has brought together so far and some of the vrbal comedy is just genius. Zissou combines comedy, drama, action, suspense, adventure and music with such an original effect that you have to admire Anderson's capability to hold it all together as well as he does. There are some minor flaws here and the biggest one of them is the film's lenght that is just too long. Zissou is a film that would have needed heavy trimming. Now it is two hours long at it takes it's time to really begin. With more editing it would be something much more coherent than it actually ends up being. Zissou still stands as one of the best film from Wes Anderson and i can assure you that it is a experience you have never seen before.

• Jim H

  
  An oceanographer on a Moby Dick revenge mission reunites with his long-lost son as he pursues the shark who killed his partner. What is true of all Wes Anderson's films is doubly true of this one. Emotionally wrenching dynamics handled blithely and cheeky sequences of deadpan… More
  An oceanographer on a Moby Dick revenge mission reunites with his long-lost son as he pursues the shark who killed his partner. What is true of all Wes Anderson's films is doubly true of this one. Emotionally wrenching dynamics handled blithely and cheeky sequences of deadpan humor abound in this film, and while I think Anderson's style works in most of his films, this film gets overbearingly laid-back. All of the performances are classic Anderson fare (with the exception of Owen Wilson whose accent changes from scene to scene), and the actors are certainly not to blame for the film's failures; rather, I think Anderson's style becomes more gimmicky in this film than it does in his other work. Whereas Darjeeling Limited was a film with unmistakable substance, the substance of this film is hidden beneath layers of Anderson schtick, and what Anderson is saying - a warning against the dangers of obsession and selfishness - only comes out in fits and starts. Overall, I think this film is only for die-hard Anderson fans who delight in his schtick and have the patience to wait for the subject to be finally revealed.

• Lucas M

  
  Unique, criative, surrealist and very funny, The Life Aquatic of Wes Anderson it's oddly inspirer black comedy.

• Graham J

  
  In my opinion this film is a masterpiece. Visually stunning and more experimental than any of his earlier films, The Life Aquatic is touching and hilarious. With a score featuring the songs of David Bowie and a terrific ensemble, Anderson shows he's not ready to go for anything… More
  In my opinion this film is a masterpiece. Visually stunning and more experimental than any of his earlier films, The Life Aquatic is touching and hilarious. With a score featuring the songs of David Bowie and a terrific ensemble, Anderson shows he's not ready to go for anything too conventional.

• danny d

  
  underrated. i love this film. anderson always incorporates the fantastic into the real, even though his real is always artificial, but this film dives into the fantastic more than his other works. it does this while still remaining heartfelt. the characters are zaney, the visuals… More
  underrated. i love this film. anderson always incorporates the fantastic into the real, even though his real is always artificial, but this film dives into the fantastic more than his other works. it does this while still remaining heartfelt. the characters are zaney, the visuals more elaborate which is hard to say because all of his films are so aesthetic, and the story was unique. funny and memorable, i wish people understood this film a bit better.

• Kase V

  
  If i couldn't call myself a Wes Anderson fan before, I sure can now. Easily his most poorly received film, i couldn't help but fall in love with 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou'. Bill Murray carries the film with such quirkiness and superb comic timing that he… More
  If i couldn't call myself a Wes Anderson fan before, I sure can now. Easily his most poorly received film, i couldn't help but fall in love with 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou'. Bill Murray carries the film with such quirkiness and superb comic timing that he immediately makes the film irresistible. Anderson's trademark quirk and whimsy is still here, and some might say its even been multiplied. So why not a 5 star rating like 'Rushmore' or 'The Royal Tenenbaums'? One of my favorite aspects of Anderson's films is the music, and there was a heavy lack of such brilliance that is found in his other films. Seu Jorge's talent is interesting, but i was disappointed to not see too much classic british rock in the mix, an Anderson film template. 'The Life Aquatic' would fall flat sometimes too in the middle third of the film. Also, it seems like Anderson does not know how to handle his action sequences. Despite these minor complaints, the film is a delight to behold. There is action, emotion, flair, and quirk, and combined with great performances, it all blends together so wonderfully.

• Tyler C

  
  Unique and infused with Wes Anderson's typicla techniques, The Life Aquatic is an eccentric dramedy featuring on one Bill Murray's greatest performances.

• Jeff "

  
  I found that The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou was fairly flawed but decent comedy nonetheless. Director Wes Anderson directs this whimsical comedy and does a fairly decent job at delivering a good little film. Some may hate this film, and though I found things that I didn't… More
  I found that The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou was fairly flawed but decent comedy nonetheless. Director Wes Anderson directs this whimsical comedy and does a fairly decent job at delivering a good little film. Some may hate this film, and though I found things that I didn't enjoy about the film, for what it was The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou had enough wit and charm to make it worth watching. Bill Murray gives a good performance in the title character and Owen Wilson and Cate Blanchett. The performances make up this eccentric comedy, and they make the film what it is. I enjoyed the film, but didn't find it great. Overall, the film was a decent little comedy. The film has its flaws, but is still a fun little quirky comedy. I thought that despite its flaws, that the good cast delivered here, and their performances alone save this film from being a total disappointment. Wes Anderson is a talented director, and he's made a fine little film. Not a perfect film by any means, this film does deliver a good story, and is pretty entertaining. I enjoyed the film, but did feel it could have been better. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a decent comedy overall, though not perfect, it's still an amusing little film that delivers a few good laughs and good performances. Worth watching with your family.

• David L

  
  The strangest thing about this movie is that, being so weird and original, it still strikes hard on your feelings. The characters have a life of their own that makes you think that you know them from before. And you love them for that. Bill Murray is just wonderful here. The music and… More
  The strangest thing about this movie is that, being so weird and original, it still strikes hard on your feelings. The characters have a life of their own that makes you think that you know them from before. And you love them for that. Bill Murray is just wonderful here. The music and the CGI images are so original, so modern and so anachronistic at the same time that make the perfect complement for this weird story that is, in fact, a work of fantasy about what could have been the life of a maritime show celebrity as Jacques Cousteau. There were moments when I saw this film that I did not know if this was a dream or if it was an actual movie. It also touches you in so many ways with its melancholy and its hints at the meaning of friendship and fatherhood? I am not a fan of Wes Anderson per se but let me tell you, he hit me hard with this film.

• Manu G

  
  With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, oceanographer Steve Zissou rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife, a journalist, and a man who may or may not be his son. Good movie. The story seems bizarre and weird but it was still decent and at… More
  With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, oceanographer Steve Zissou rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife, a journalist, and a man who may or may not be his son. Good movie. The story seems bizarre and weird but it was still decent and at times funny. Bill Murray always does quirky and not so common characters in his movie roles and he always delivers quite good including here with a ravishing performance. Very good cast! Steve Zissou, sea-film auteur a la Jacques Cousteau, has reason to be melancholy: his partner has been eaten, perhaps by a mythic jaguar shark, his wife may be taking up with her ex-husband, a young man appears claiming Steve is his father (Steve hates fathers), his most recent films have tanked, he's having trouble raising money for his venture to revenge his partner, and he's attracted to a pregnant reporter who prefers the pretender. At sea, in pursuit of the shark, will he escape pirates and mutiny, forge the bonds of fatherhood, place his arm around his wife, find the monster of the deep, re-establish box office hegemony, and discover a reason to smile?

• Drake T

  
  Everything you love about Wes Anderson's style packed into this quirky comedy about... I'm not even sure what it's about.

• Michael G

  
  I haven't seen The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou since it came out on video about six years ago and I loved it then. But watching it last night was almost like watching a different movie. The cinematography and direction came off just as great as they did with my initial… More
  I haven't seen The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou since it came out on video about six years ago and I loved it then. But watching it last night was almost like watching a different movie. The cinematography and direction came off just as great as they did with my initial viewing, so did the music. But what seemed to stick out a little more this time around was the acting and the dialogue and how hysterical this movie was. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou also had me thinking this may have been Bill Murray's best performance. And considering the company he was in here, that's a pretty big feat.

• Steven C

  
  "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" is Wes Anderson's most ambitious film that includes great locations and sets (the scenes with the boat set are very memorable) and a cast that is clearly having a blast. Too bad that the film is tonally all over the place and the… More
  "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" is Wes Anderson's most ambitious film that includes great locations and sets (the scenes with the boat set are very memorable) and a cast that is clearly having a blast. Too bad that the film is tonally all over the place and the comedy never really works. It's an oddball picture for sure, and beloved by it's target audience, but I guess that just isn't me.

• Spencer S

  
  Another Wes Anderson creation of epic proportions, the illustrious relationships, pivotal ease of the characters dialouge and attitudes towards one another, and Steve's illicit honesty in his wrath upon the shark who killed his partner, make for another great hipster chic comedy,… More
  Another Wes Anderson creation of epic proportions, the illustrious relationships, pivotal ease of the characters dialouge and attitudes towards one another, and Steve's illicit honesty in his wrath upon the shark who killed his partner, make for another great hipster chic comedy, with a tad of posterity for actors whose careers have emanated to this film.

• Cynthia S

  
  This was either a satire with little bite, or a comedy with little humor, or a travelogue of an imaginary universe. No one in the film had any connection to reality (including the pretty, imaginary, animated sea life) or acted as anyone with a half a brain would act, or responded… More
  This was either a satire with little bite, or a comedy with little humor, or a travelogue of an imaginary universe. No one in the film had any connection to reality (including the pretty, imaginary, animated sea life) or acted as anyone with a half a brain would act, or responded emotionally as anyone with half a heart would respond. It was handsome enough, in its own way, but all in all, a mess of talents that didn't quite get together on what they were doing.

• Gregory D

  
  No one likes this film, but me... :-[ It makes me second guess whether or not its a good movie... Nope. Ur all wrong!! The movie wouldn't work w/out Murray. Its his type of humor. Its a weird, ackward type of funny. U laff at the strange silences and appreciate the social… More
  No one likes this film, but me... :-[ It makes me second guess whether or not its a good movie... Nope. Ur all wrong!! The movie wouldn't work w/out Murray. Its his type of humor. Its a weird, ackward type of funny. U laff at the strange silences and appreciate the social mis-steps. Id really like to meet sum1 else who "gets it." Mayb its just me... I just find socializing a parody of itself. I can't be myself cuz someone decides what Im doing is strange.

• Conner R

  
  I really enjoyed this film because it was so different from most comedies. It's not one that you necessarily laugh out loud at, but it is still a really great piece of work. It doesn't desperately try to insert humor to curb the audience's attention like most movies. It… More
  I really enjoyed this film because it was so different from most comedies. It's not one that you necessarily laugh out loud at, but it is still a really great piece of work. It doesn't desperately try to insert humor to curb the audience's attention like most movies. It also has a lot of heart. You actually care about the characters on screen.

• Jennifer D

  
  It got a lot better as it went. I was torn about the film, because I am not a huge fan of Bill Murray, but I really love Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson and Willem Dafoe. So it was a toss up. Also, pleasantly shocked at Matthew Gray Guber's first major acting appearance as the Intern.… More
  It got a lot better as it went. I was torn about the film, because I am not a huge fan of Bill Murray, but I really love Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson and Willem Dafoe. So it was a toss up. Also, pleasantly shocked at Matthew Gray Guber's first major acting appearance as the Intern. It wasn't my favorite Wes Anderson film, but it very much rang true to what he does best. Awkward "family" comedies that re-define what family is. There were definitely a few twists that caught me off guard. I didn't totally and completely love it, but I didn't hate it either. LOVED Owen Wilson in it. It's strange to see him in such a totally normal role for once.

• Lenny M

  
  Bull Dyke.

• Lewis C

  
  This is a charming, odd, and entertaining movie. Steve Zissou may be my favorite Bill Murray character. The music was cool, the action bit was AWESOME, and the crew of the Belafonte was always entertaining. I'd love to see some more Team Zissou documentaries.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings