Finding Nemo (2003)
There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean*, they're looking for one.
Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Joe Ranft, Geoffrey Rush, Andrew Stanton, Elizabeth Perkins, Nicholas Bird, Bob Peterson, Barry Hmphries, Eric Bana, Bruce Spence, Bill Hunter, LuLu Ebeling, Jordy Ranft, Erica Beck, Erik Per Sullivan, John Ratzenberger
Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Running Time: 104 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: U
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Andrew Stanton, the man behind the scripts for Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life and Monsters Inc. (the last of which he also directed), has now written and directed Pixar's latest CGI adventure, 'Finding Nemo', in which he repeats his now all too familiar formula of presenting a distorted view of our world through the eyes of a community of creatures (this time sealife) which we rarely, if ever, notice. A neurotic clownfish called Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) goes on a comic odyssey across the oceans in search of his missing son Nemo (Alexander Gould). Helped, and sometimes hindered, by the irrepressibly cheery and terminally forgetful Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), Marlin has encounters with all manner of unusual sealife - sharks on a 12-step programme to overcome their killer instincts, stinging jellyfish, surfer-dude turtles, a whale and a gregarious pelican - before attempting a daring rescue from the fishtank of a dental surgery overlooking Sydney Harbour.
The first word in 'Finding Nemo' is 'wow!', uttered by Marlin as he admires the ocean view from his new home on a coral reef, and it is true that this film offers a real feast for the eyes - even if, as was the case with the 'Toy Story' films, the film's CGI stylisation seems far better suited to the nonhuman than to the human characters (who just look gawky).
While the keynote of the film is comedy, there are also some serious themes lurking beneath the surface (Pixar is, after all, a subsidiary of Disney). The ocean is portrayed as a genuinely menacing place, full of danger and destruction, and I can think of few other children's films which begin with the violent death of the main character's wife and children. Marlin's crippling anxieties about anything and everything are counterbalanced by Dory's goldfish-like ethos that one should always forget the past, smile and 'just keep swimming', and in the end Marlin learns to 'let go' and stop being so overprotective towards his son - but nonetheless the impression remains that there is much in the sea to justify a judicious degree of caution, and the image near the end of Marlin, Dory and Nemo literally swimming with sharks leaves a note of unease. Certainly 'Finding Nemo' is destined to make children think hard about the provenance of the fish on their plate in much the way that 'Babe' did with bacon.
'Finding Nemo' is beautiful to look at, and not without humour, but given that we have already seen this basic storyline done in other Pixar films with toys, bugs and monsters, its waters are starting to taste just a little stale.
It's Got: Exquisite undersea scenes, cute characters and knockabout comedy for the children, film references for the adults (although not quite enough), big teethy predators.
It Needs: More originality, especially when its competition is films like Belleville Rendezvous and Spirited Away.
Alternatives: Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Antz, Monsters Inc.
Summary: A fun family film which shows that even a nobody can become a somebody - but with a story that is all too familiar from other Pixar ventures.
Review Date: 26th September 2003
External Links
Official Web Site
Finding Nemo at the IMDB
Comments18 Comments |
| just want to say one word:awesome!!!! |
| Comment by:- linda | | 20 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| I thought this film was fabulous! Entertaining and easy to watch all the way through! |
| Comment by:- Christine | | 25 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| This is a hugely entertaining film for children and adults alike. You'll enjoy it so much you'll want to buy the dvd to see it again! |
| Comment by:- Phil | | 25 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| i did buy the dvd and i haven't stop watching it since i don't useually watch films more than twice but with this i can't help myself, and you'll feel the same way. |
| Comment by:- kayy | | 09 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| i absolutely love the movie. it's my favorite disney movie! the best!!!! squirts soo cool (and dory). loved the movie soo much i wanna own it and watch it over and over again |
| Comment by:- tiggerthetiger39 | | 09 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| hello i am hookd on this movie and its characters. i have lots of finding nemo stuff love it to the MAX cya |
| Comment by:- Blah | www.matmice.com/home/catapilla... | 09 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| I love Dory so much!!! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 11 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| best film eva. soooooo funny. dory is hilarious. luv me |
| Comment by:- Jenny | | 13 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| it's a 10/10 not 6 |
| Comment by:- me | | 13 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Absalutely loved it!!!!!!!!!!! It's a 10/10 andany one who says otherwise has problems!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Comment by:- Me | www.movie-gazzet.com | 15 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Ah, this movie was pretty good. I am 17 years old, and I wouldn't of thought I would enjoy a G - Rated movie, but it sure did show me. I had to watch it for class, and now I have to do a review on it. 8/10 is my socre, well made, great animation. *Thumbs up to Disney* |
| Comment by:- Daniel | www.abers.tk | 24 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| i love IT!!! LOVE IT ALOT . ESPECIALLY SQUIRTTTTTTT!!!!! :} |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 27 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Dory is the best n Squirt is so cute, 'dude!' xXxXx |
| Comment by:- I've found Nemo!! | | 27 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| OMG this is the bestest movie made for children. im 17 own it on DVD and watch it all the time. Bruce is the bestest "Hi my name is Bruce" remember fish are friends not food. he he he love ya |
| Comment by:- Bruce is Bestest | | 16 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| can someone tell me the main parts of the story cos my dvd is broken and i need it for homework |
| Comment by:- Pete | | 17 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| i personaly liked finding nemo it showed that even thought parents and childern dont see eye to eye they would still search the world (in this case the ocean) to make sure that eachother are safe! |
| Comment by:- Amanda Clos | | 07 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| A great film! ELLEN DEGENERAS IS IN IT!!!! |
| Comment by:- Latifa | | 24 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| The best Disney movie to be released since The Lion King, I found Finding Nemo to be highly entertaining for both myself and children in my family. The newly employed animation techniques are mind-blowing. Make sure to check this one out... |
| Comment by:- gilletbd1977 | www.thedvdreport.com/dvd_revie... | 19 January 2005 | ip: logged |
