Review of Finding Nemo (2003) by Russell S — 10 Jun 2016

6/11/16.

Just keep watching, just keep watching, just keep watching, watching, watching, watching... Which I've done for the last thirteen years. And in said time, almost everyone's seen this. So for those who (for whatever reason) haven't seen this modern classic, it's basically Taken (a more recent, adult-oriented kidnapping film) with fish, and it's the usual Pixar deal: made primarily for kids, but with enough for adults that parents will get it and have fun, while when the kids watching become adults, they get the reference and discover something new. We start with a clownfish couple and their soon-to-hatch eggs: Marlin (Albert Brooks), Coral (Elizabeth Perkins), and their 400 eggs living happily in their new home. That is, until a shark attacks, and when Marlin wakes up, Coral is gone, and only one egg is left. Marlin picks up the last (albeit damaged) egg, which he names Nemo (Alexander Gould), a name that Coral said she liked. Fast forward a few years, and Nemo's ready for his first day of school. After a sequence that perfectly showcases Marlin's overprotectiveness, Nemo goes off to his first day of school, and after swimming out to a boat, Nemo gets taken, right in front of Marlin. Marlin doesn't know who he was. He didn't know what he wanted. If it's money he wanted, Marlin didn't have any. So he went to look for him. He does not find them right away, but he does find a fish named Dory (Ellen Degeneres), who has a particular set of skills; skills she's acquired mysteriously. Together, they boldly go where Marlin would never have gone before. They look for the kidnappers. Do they find them? If you're my age, you must know the answer. If you're a parent, you know the answer, if you're a kid, I really hope you know the answer, because Finding Nemo is a classic! In a short time, you get to know these characters enough to care for them, the plot moves smoothly and makes sense. The animation holds up extremely well after thirteen years; it's realistic and tangible, but not so realistic that they try to render live-action (which, by the way, didn't end well for this movie based on Final Fantasy, but I digress). Everything is there for a reason: each obstacle Marlin and Dory encounter builds Marlin's confidence, and the escape plan of Gill (Willem Dafoe), the other fish in the tank Nemo is imprisoned in, helps Nemo learn to act independently, after an overbearing father makes him cry "Daddy" at the first sign of trouble. Thomas Newman's soundtrack is wonderful: it feels playful at fun moments like Marlin and Dory's trip through the EAC, it intensifies when there is imminent danger, and it's all used appropriately. It's been thirteen years since my first time watching Marlin and Dory look for Nemo, and it's been a few minutes since my last viewing (as I write this). I cannot live in denial: you want to just keep watching! Because it is a funny, heartwarming story that children and adults will love, and full of the usual Pixar goodies that will make it easier for certain adults to get into it, and everyone will just keep watching!

5/31/14.

Pixar's first summer release still holds up after 11 years (It was released 11 years ago yesterday as of writing this.) Many of you, young and old, must have seen this movie already. If you haven't, what the (shhhhh) are you doing? You've got lovable fishy (Fishes, not the "fishy" type) characters from title character Nemo, his father Marlin and the one fish he gets to help him, Dory. The story moves fast, as tragedy strikes the clownfish (Not so funny now) family of Marlin, Coral, and their 400 or so eggs. One survives, and a few years later, Marlin overprotectively keeps Nemo (The survivor with a "lucky" fin from everything until he lets him go to school, and Marlin helplessly watches Nemo get abducted by humans. From there, it's an adventure across the gorgeously animated ocean against time to find Nemo (Hence the title) filled with the best and worst of the ocean, in a hilarious Taken-for-kids (And adults). But it's not all fun and games, at least it isn't at some points, with screnes that made me look away at first, so be warned parents. Thomas Newman does an amazing job with the score, using xilaphones in the ocean, making it sound as deep as the ocean, and using each piece correctly. The humor never falls flat, and parents will be entertained just as much as kids. Cleverly written, heart-warmingly told, Finding Nemo is a masterpiece, and after 11 years, is worthy of being called a classic, and should be seen by everyone, from babies to the elderly.

9/15/12.

It was glorious. It was simply the most glorious 3D Rerelease I've ever seen. The fish looked so tangible, and the depth felt so realistic. I felt almost like I could reach out and pull characters like Dory (Who was funny in an annoying way, I would not like to travel with someone like her.) or the pelican's beaks. Still visully impressing, I almost felt like I was six years old again, when I saw it at a drive in. To this day, Finding Nemo stands as one of my favorite Pixar movies, behind The Incredibles and the Toy Story Trilogy. Speaking of Toy Story, I really loved the new Toy Story Toon Partysauraus Rex, which premiered right before Finding Nemo (And yes, Partysauraus Rex was in 3D). All in all, a better 3D rerelease than the Phantom Menace was for me, and probably better Disney 3D rerelease than The Lion King, or Beauty and the Beast were (I didn't bother going to those ones, since they were traditionally animated).