The Life Aquatic
Jun. 29th, 2006 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
callistotoniTo quote Roger Ebert, that was the damndest movie. Like Ebert, I don't exacty recommend it to y'all, but if you want to take a fun house mirror look at Jaques Cousteau and midlife and facing death but moving on with colorful stop motion animation I wouldn't discourage you either. Oh, and did I mention the soundtrack of David Bowie tunes as interpreted by a Brazilian playing guitar?
I watched this, my latest netflix choice last night. My gut reaction was that it didn't really work as a whole, but each element is interesting in and of itself. I think the problem of overall integration was that there are too many elements. I think that they failed to successfully integrate Cate Blanchett's character into the overall story -- probably because there was just too many other arcs. But I say the complete movie (a Criterion edition, no less) so If you saw this film in the theater you and I may have seen different versions.
There are two deaths in the film, one at the beginning and one towards the end. First death, no problem. Second death, wierd. My initial reaction was "OK, that was pointless" but upon reflection it made sense in the overall "facing death" theme of Bill Murray's character.
That's really the vibe I got from the film. Each element is really interesting if you think about it, but when you see it the first reaction is Wow, That's off the wall. The art direction fosters this feel, because the movie takes place in a surreal universe. At one level the move is funny, especially if a) you grew up watching Jaques Cousteau specials; b) you like very dry humor, and c) you can get behind the art direction which is clever, whimsical, and sometimes sarcastic.
I can't say that I "enjoyed" this movie in the usual sense, but I'm still thinking about it. I felt when I was watching it that it was too long. But looking back on all the elements I don't know what I'd cut. If nothing else I admire a movie that someone thought a lot about and that respected the wit and intelligence of its audience.
I'll have to check out Rushmore now, which was written/directed by the same guy (Wes Anderson). This guy also did the Royal Taunenbaums, which just sounded to me like one of those disfunctional family please don't share kind of movies.
I watched this, my latest netflix choice last night. My gut reaction was that it didn't really work as a whole, but each element is interesting in and of itself. I think the problem of overall integration was that there are too many elements. I think that they failed to successfully integrate Cate Blanchett's character into the overall story -- probably because there was just too many other arcs. But I say the complete movie (a Criterion edition, no less) so If you saw this film in the theater you and I may have seen different versions.
There are two deaths in the film, one at the beginning and one towards the end. First death, no problem. Second death, wierd. My initial reaction was "OK, that was pointless" but upon reflection it made sense in the overall "facing death" theme of Bill Murray's character.
That's really the vibe I got from the film. Each element is really interesting if you think about it, but when you see it the first reaction is Wow, That's off the wall. The art direction fosters this feel, because the movie takes place in a surreal universe. At one level the move is funny, especially if a) you grew up watching Jaques Cousteau specials; b) you like very dry humor, and c) you can get behind the art direction which is clever, whimsical, and sometimes sarcastic.
I can't say that I "enjoyed" this movie in the usual sense, but I'm still thinking about it. I felt when I was watching it that it was too long. But looking back on all the elements I don't know what I'd cut. If nothing else I admire a movie that someone thought a lot about and that respected the wit and intelligence of its audience.
I'll have to check out Rushmore now, which was written/directed by the same guy (Wes Anderson). This guy also did the Royal Taunenbaums, which just sounded to me like one of those disfunctional family please don't share kind of movies.
