Do not consume the blasphemous cash grabs of the War'nah Brotherhood. We must await Lisan Al Gaib. We must await Kwisaatz HaDennis.
After a disappointing bout with Asteroid City (2023), I decided to opt for an older Wes Anderson installation. I had been meaning to watch The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou for quite some time, but the interest hadn't struck me until now.
I can't say that I was particularly moved by the film's story, and at times I did find myself rather bored. However, this film does shine brilliantly for its flawed--and dare I say human--characters. Anderson gives you his classic abridged exposition that sets the frame for this story's interconnected plot-lines. However, for the remainder of the film, the tangible growth we see from our cast is shown not told.
There is nuance in the expressions of love, anger and frustration. And I think this is why I never could find myself frustrated with the choices made by the characters. It is a common narrative pitfall for a party on a perilous quest to be somewhat monolithic. The hero has the final say and most dissent is unwarranted and silenced. However, Steve's motley crew are not unquestionably bound to him, and like people in our own lives, they come and go over time.
This film’s predecessor, War for the Planet of the Apes, was a very unambiguous conclusion to the saga. Caesar’s martyrdom would usher in a new era for apes as mankind succumbed to the neurodegenerative effects of the virus. However, money talks in Hollywood, and it seems that an attempt at a blockbuster sequel was made anyway.
There’s certainly something to love here if you’re willing to overlook the shallow motivations of the characters and the boiler plate narrative structure. Our new simian cast and the landscapes they occupy have never looked this incredible and it is clear the special effects team did their part. Owen Teague and Peter Macon also voice their parts to great effect. However, once the glamour fades and the brain starts asking the most basic of questions, the disenchantment is swift and the frustration inconsolable.
