[J.R.]

I kinda thought the last two, in part, exemplified what happens to those fisheresque types after the voyage of life wrecked havok on their idealistic and simplistic dreams and how, even after their trials and tribulations and loss of innocence (as fischer experiences so wonderfully- the gradual self-awareness of unfolding reality that permeated fischer's quixotic endeavors), their mischevious childhood imagination still persisted, proving life still has wonder and beauty in the face of so much harsh reality, but doing so in a light-hearted, non heavy handed manner atypical of films of this type.

Will much more self-indulgent and flat and uncompelling than his others, I found appeal (empathy with steve z?) in life aquatic's silly affirmation that a part of us should never grow up- that magnetic wes anderson theme - the celebration of imagination and curiosity and zest for life that is explored through those that have the courage to maintain it when those days have supposedly long since passed them by, silly and ironic or even absurd as they might appear to us on the screen (and even to the characters themselves). he really is a master at exploiting a young adult's romantic reminisence with childhood.