Blogcritics: Comments on The Life Fantastic

Comment by kirsten

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 23:24:20 EST

Oops. Thanks for the heads up Chelseagirl (re: Anjelica and Sofia) - really appreciate it! And you're probably right about Owen. But he's always so easy to watch, that's the thing. So glad you guys liked the film as much as I did. Some of the reviews I've been coming across were seriously starting to make me doubt my own faculties. I reiterate though: I stand by Wes. This film was a corker. (As we say Down Under).

Comment by chelseagirl

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 22:54:09 EST

I'm so glad you liked the film. I think the clue to why it's getting strange reviews is in one of the lines from the opening scene of the film -- "I just don't think they got it." BY the way it's "Anjelica Houston", and "Sofia Coppola". Also, just my opinion but I think Owen works very hard at that Ned character. I think his usual lazy charm is probably 'easier'.

Comment by Bryan McKay

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 20:10:30 EST

Although the critical reviews weren't too great, everyone I know that has seen the film has absolutely loved it. Granted, this may have something to do with the fact that I attend a liberal college specializing in the arts (Film majors consitute a large percentage of the undergrad population, myself included) where many people have a soft spot (read: undying love) for Wes Anderson. I thought it was a fantastic piece and it ranked right up there with his other contemporary "classics."

Comment by Joel Caris

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 19:28:38 EST

I think Life Aquatic is probably a hard movie for a lot of people to like, but I loved the hell out of it, personally. Of course, I've loved everything Wes Anderson has done, so I'm certainly biased. But still, it was a great and completely silly--yet, somehow in a dry way--movie. It certainly was more ridiculous than his other movies. The humor is just . . . well, sillier, as I already said. It worked fine for me, but it is something of a departure. I wouldn't put the movie up there with Rushmore or Royal Tenenbaums, but it's still excellent. Possibly my biggest problem with the film is that I didn't get enough from the relationship between Zissou and Owen's character. It just never seemed to hit quite the right emotional notes to me and at the end--well, that ending didn't hit me as hard as it seems like it should have. But it was still a terribly entertaining movie and quite funny to boot.