The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Blu-ray Review

Criterion's Blu-ray presentation of Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" features a notable 1080p transfer presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC. Supervised by Anderson himself, this transfer was meticulously crafted from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative at Sony Colorworks. Extensive efforts were undertaken to remove dirt and debris using MTI's DRS, while Digital Vision's Phoenix corrected smaller imperfections like warps and jitter.

The overall visual quality of the film is nothing short of outstanding. The daylight sequences exhibit incredible depth and clarity, with the vibrant color palette displaying well-saturated yellows, blues, greens, and well-balanced grays and blacks. The image stability is excellent throughout the film, and there are no noticeable encoding issues or anomalies. However, underwater footage does show minor fluctuations in clarity, though these do not significantly detract from the viewing experience.

While most of the film maintains exceptional visual sharpness and vibrant colors, a few minor flaws prevent it from reaching perfection. Some scenes exhibit a slight softness, with should-be sharp lines appearing blurred, albeit sporadically. Additionally, there is a mildly oversaturated scene around the 19-minute mark, where sunset lighting overwhelms facial textures. Despite these minor blemishes, the film remains visually stunning, particularly in its night scenes which feature rich and deep black levels. The subtle film grain adds to its authentic cinematic feel without detracting from the overall pristine quality Criterion has achieved.

The audio presentation of "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" on Blu-ray is anchored by a robust English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The depth and clarity are exceptional, with a wide range of nuanced dynamics that significantly enhance the viewing experience. Mark Mothersbaugh's soundtrack, incorporating iconic David Bowie covers, skillfully supports the film’s tone, achieving an impressive balance without unexpected spikes or drops in dynamic levels. Dialogue is consistently crisp, stable, and easy to follow, contributing to an immersive auditory experience.

A notable characteristic of the sound mix is its raw and indie style, reflecting the film's aesthetic. This is particularly evident in the natural oceanic sounds that pervade scenes set on the Belafonte – waves crashing, seabirds cawing, and ambient engine noises create an authentic auditory backdrop. The vocal tracks share this raw quality, as actors’ voices naturally echo in confined ship quarters or project over ambient ocean sounds when on deck. Although the audio mostly excels, there is a minor flaw; a conversation between Steve and his potential son on the deck sounds tinny and hollow, reminiscent of poor '60s ADR recording. This, however, is an isolated issue and does not significantly detract from the overall high-quality auditory presentation.

Overall, the blend of music, natural effects, and dialogue in this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track successfully delivers an engaging and immersive audio experience, aligning perfectly with the film’s stylistic essence.

The Blu-ray release of "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" offers an extensive array of insightful and engaging extras that enrich the viewing experience. The commentary by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, recorded in a bustling restaurant, provides a wealth of information despite the distracting background noise. "This is an Adventure," a documentary by Albert Maysles and others, offers raw, unstructured footage from pre-production meetings and the film's shoot. The deleted scenes, although brief and not particularly substantial, include intriguing moments like stop-motion animation sequences. The "Mondo Monda" interview entertains with its quirky and unpredictable format, fitting Anderson's unique style. Seu Jorge's performances of David Bowie songs in Portuguese are particularly notable, adding a distinctive musical layer to the extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Original theatrical trailer for The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
• Making of Featurette: Raw footage and comments from cast and crew.
• Designs: Collection of drawings, sketches, and photographs.
• Photos: Photographs taken during filming by Philippe Antonello.
• Intern Video Journal: Behind-the-scenes documentary by Matthew Gray Gubler.
• Seu Jorge Performs David Bowie: Ten performances of Bowie songs in Portuguese.
• Mark Mothersbaugh: Interview with the composer discussing the soundtrack.
• Cast and Crew Interviews: Video interviews with cast and crew members.
• Mondo Monda: Interview program with Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach.
• Deleted Scenes: Nine deleted scenes from the film.
• This is an Adventure: Documentary made during the film's shooting in Italy.
• Commentary: Audio commentary by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach.
• Leaflet: Contains a cutaway view of The Belafonte and original illustrations.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, directed by Wes Anderson, chronicles the colorful and chaotic journey of oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) as he seeks to avenge his best friend Esteban's death by hunting down the mythical Jaguar Shark. The narrative unfolds with a bevy of eclectic characters, including Ned Plimpton (Owen Wilson), who believes Zissou might be his estranged father; the composed yet expectant journalist Jane Winslett-Richardson (Cate Blanchett); and Zissou's financial support and estranged wife Eleanor (Anjelica Huston). As Team Zissou embarks on this whimsical adventure aboard the Belafonte, they encounter numerous trials, including romantic complications, rivalry with Alistair Hennessey (Jeff Goldblum), and even a pirate attack, culminating in a mission that is as unpredictable as it is visually enchanting.

True to Anderson's signature style, The Life Aquatic is rich with idiosyncratic characters and quirky subplots, though at times these can feel disjointed. The film's charm lies in its blend of humor and melancholy, an approach that is accentuated by Seu Jorge's unique Portuguese renditions of David Bowie songs and the stop-motion animation crafted by Henry Selick, best known for his work on The Nightmare Before Christmas. This artistic choice adds a distinctive aesthetic to the underwater sequences, creating a dreamlike quality that complements Mark Mothersbaugh’s evocative soundtrack. However, while there are moments of comedic brilliance and touching character arcs, the plethora of subplots may detract from the film’s central narrative for some viewers.

Critically underrated upon its release in comparison to Anderson's other works, The Life Aquatic remains a film worth revisiting. The Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray edition offers a pristine transfer that showcases its unique visuals and provides an array of supplemental features such as audio commentary from Anderson and co-writer Noah Baumbach, deleted scenes, and insightful documentaries. These extras offer deeper dives into Anderson's creative process and the making of the film, making it a must-have for fans and cinephiles alike. Despite its initial mixed reception, The Life Aquatic demonstrates Anderson’s evolving directorial voice, blending intricate character studies with his trademark visual flair.

Criterion's Blu-ray release of Wes Anderson’s "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" excels in both technical presentation and content, making it a must-have for fans and cinephiles alike. The impeccable transfer brings the vivid and whimsical visuals of Anderson's first major budget film to life with pristine, near-perfect video and audio quality. Criterion has meticulously worked to ensure that the 10-year-old film benefits from contemporary Blu-ray standards. The colors are rich and well-defined, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

Additionally, the Blu-ray is enriched with a plethora of supplemental features. Notably, it includes an engaging video conversation between Wes Anderson, co-writer Noah Baumbach, and Italian talk show host Antonio Monda. Ported over from the previous DVD release, the extensive special features add significant value, offering behind-the-scenes insights and depth to Anderson's unique cinematic world. However, it's worth noting that some anticipated content, like new interviews with Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and Jeff Goldblum, may not be present unless hidden as Easter eggs.

In conclusion, Criterion's release of "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" is a gem for any collector or fan of Wes Anderson. The combination of flawless technical presentation and comprehensive special features makes this Blu-ray edition highly recommended.