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Aladocious goes gaga for FINDING NEMO
Hey folks, Harry here... I sooooo can't wait to see this film. PIXAR's films have consistently ranked in my top ten lists every year they come out. I love them. Love them in the deep down pit of your stomach, beating heart throbbing love love. They make films with universal truths and stories and characters. With each new trailer they've opened up and shown us an additional layer of the story they have for us. I see MATRIX RELOADED in the morning... right after that, I'll be counting down the days till this. Here ya go...
Greetings Harry, Moriarty, etc -
Ah, to be friends with a Pixar staffer - one of the perks is getting to go to the studio and view the final product before it hits theaters across the country!
Today, I was lucky enough to catch an advanced screening of Finding Nemo at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California. Upon entering the immense lobby of Pixar, my eyes were pleasantly hit with everything Nemo: three-dimensional sculptures of Nemo, Marlin, and Bruce (the shark); huge colorful banners of the characters hanging from the rafters. A line of Pixar staffers stood patiently outside the screening room doors with their youngins in tow.
A word about Pixar's theater - it's as magical as the pictures that they put out. After the lights dim, the ceiling becomes illuminated with a faux starry night sky, complete with digital crickets chirping and shooting stars. Pixar staffers, their friends, family, and guests all ooh and ahh at it everytime.
Before the feature, they ran an old John Lasseter short, Knick Knack (1989) which I'd never seen before. A tragi-comic slice of pixilated bliss, Knick Knack tells the tale of an imprisoned snow-globe Snowman who wants desperately to meet a blonde bombshell souvenir from Miami. Pure fun from start to finish.
Then, it was time for Nemo.
Without blowing too much hyperbole down your er, blowhole, I think Pixar has struck gold yet again. "Finding Nemo" is a strong animated adventure filled with an array of colorfully drawn characters. At the core of it lies a very human father-son tale that doesn't disappoint.
Most of your AICN readers know the basics--young, semi-deformed (or "lucky-finned") clownfish Nemo lives with his neurotic, doting, single father Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks.) Motherless and siblingless, Nemo puts up with his worry-wart father as best as he can. The first act depicts Nemo's first day at school, which despite Marlin's constant litany of "watch out!" "be careful!" the day goes pretty well. That is, until Nemo decides to defy Marlin and swim out to touch a human fishing boat. Nemo is scooped up by a diver and taken to an aquarium far away in Sydney. Naturally, Marlin freaks out, vows to find Nemo, and the adventure begins.
We all know that Pixar is the current gold standard of digital animation. The reason I mentioned Knick Knack in the beginning was that it provides a solid marker to illustrate the fact that, in fourteen years time, the detail in feature after feature put out by Pixar has increased in scope and vividness every time. Here we have a beautifully rendered undersea universe replete with superdetailed terrain and an explosion of colorful sea creatures. The teaser posters that you've undoubtedly seen around don't lie--"Sea it" indeed. On screen, you get a visceral sense of a (digital) ocean that moves and breathes like a real body of water does in the real world.
So, the animation is picturesque, expansive, and alive, natch. But the ultimate strengths that make Finding Nemo a winner, in my opinion, can be found in its strong script and host of quirky, fun, and interesting characters. Brooks adds depth, humor, and a huge helping of anxiety in Marlin. Marlin teams up with Dory, a sort of Mementofish with zero short-term memory. Hysterically voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, the confused Dory plays well off of anxiety-ridden Marlin. I read Mr. Beaks review of the early test print, and I'd have to disagree with his critique of this "buddy" narrative device. It may be a tired old formula, but here it works well in moving the story along.
As Marlin and Dory search high and low for Nemo we get to meet a throng of other dynamic characters--Bruce, the razortoothed shark, Crush the sea turtle with the surfer-dude patois, and an aquarium full of misfit fish watched over by Gill (voiced by Willem Dafoe.) Again, the characters shine: Bruce with his Fish Are Our Friends, a support group for sharks; Crush, who surfs down the EAC (Eastern Australian Current) dishing out wisdom to Marlin and Dory with all of the verve of Keanu's best "whoa dude" demeanor. Gill and his rag-tag band of aquarium dwellers (including a starfish and a blow fish) prove to be a warm second family for Nemo.
The pacing of the film is very fluid (no pun intended); the narrative cuts back and forth from Marlin/Dory's journey and Nemo's forced stay in the aquarium, and we're rooting for all parties involved to reunite. There are stand-out set pieces a plenty: Marlin and Dory navigating a depth-charge forest; Nemo undergoing a pseudo Hawaiian-mystical welcoming ritual when he first arrives at the aquariumz; Marlin and Dory swimming through an army of jellyfish; a sea turtle armada hurtling down a Stargate-like current (or as Marlin calls it, "a swirling vortex of death.")
Does Marlin find Nemo? I ain't gonna spoil it for ya. Is the flick worth your time and money? Definitely. To AICNers reading this: If you're a regular Pixar faithful, rejoice because adventurous eye candy awaits. If you're new to the wonders of Pixar--welcome. You won't be disappointed.
Lastly, if any talkbackers want to knee-jerk this review with "Plant!" let me save you the trouble - I don't work for Pixar. I'm just your average film geek who had a lucky opportunity to check this out early.
Peace,
Aladocious
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keep em rollin pixar, you treat customers very nicely
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This has just confirmed my thinking and made me want to see the movie even more. The animation looks so damn nice in the movie. I see an Oscar in this movies future!
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Everyone knows that when somebody says they're not a plant that they're just giving themselves away.
Geez. -
first
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Well make sure you make the distinction between Dreamworks and PDI. Dreamworks maybe the puppetmasters but PDI are the artists behind Shrek. Now I like Shrek but comparing it to Pixar's body of work is a bit hard. Shrek is funny but honestly it's dialogue was very contemporary and has a short shelf life and it oozed with contempt for Disney (Katzenberg hates their guts). But to me there is something deeper.. PDI told a story that drips with satire of fairy tales... where as Pixar creates new ones based on universally constant themes. Pixar tells timeless tales analagous to the classic Disney period. To me if there is an analogy between Pixar and PDI it's like classic Disney and classic WB (looney tunes) both have their place but as great and hysterical as looney tunes is they never created a Bambi, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty etc. PDI is amazing and tell great funny stories, Pixar tells timeless classics.
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i was fortunate to see finding nemo in las vegas several weeks ago and the one thing the 'reviewer' seemed to not notice was how pixar changed knick knack. if you've seen the short, you'll remember the amply endowed female characters that get the snowman's attention. now, when you see the short you'll notice the extreme breast reduction work, probably done at the behest of disney. the star fish bikini top is gone.
on another note, i wrote before about how, while this movie is fun and gorgeous to look at, i really didn't care about the characters or their plight. the best characters were the supporting ones, such as bruce the shark and his fellow fisheaters anonymous members and the sea turtle and his kid. too bad the work that went into making woody and buzz so likeable is absent from this movie.
go see this movie and enjoy the scenery, the jellyfish, the sunken submarine (and chase), and especially bruce.
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But hey! Who am I to judge? Not the kind of person to judge, that's for dang sure!
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I wont be seeing Finding Nemo afterall.
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May 12, 2003 2:35:49 AM CDT
Pixar: The only film-makers more reliable than the Coen Brothers
by cash bailey
I can't wait to see this one. MONSTER'S INC was roughly 8,000,000,000 times better than SHREK and should have had that Oscar last year.
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I very rarely post around here, but Pixar being the only ones more reliable than the Coen Brothers just begs for an Amen, brother! That's a perfect comment.
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It's true, Pixar have yet to make a bad or even mediocre film, and for me Toy Story 2 is the best animated film of all time. Monsters Inc soooooo deserved the Oscar over Shrek, and it's a crying shame that they didn't get it. Here's pinning my hopes on Finding Nemo for next year - it seems that in the animation category, not coming out next to deadline doesn't make much of a difference in the voting, and it's gotta be a shoo-in after last year's snub.
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I got the water wheres the motherfucking plant chief!
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gloat much?
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That "I see MATRIX RELOADED in the morning" was so out-of-place I have whiplash from reading it. Is Harry going to drop that into every article and conversation he has today? I pity the telemarketers who call his house for the next 24 hours.
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I'm a 29yr old bloke, yet I want to watch an animated film about a fish.
A fish. A goddamn movie about a fish. Help *is* being saught. -
May 12, 2003 7:15:35 AM CDT
I think Di$ney should make "Lizzie McGuire Dose Rome" with Hulk
by mbaker
Stick with me,I'll make you A star, Brother!
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it was worth reading that review just for that bit. Does it have lots of tattoos and blow off Joe Pantoliano's head at the end/beginning?
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I'll add my vote to the list of people who prefer Monsters Inc. Shrek has a certain charm, but the jokes have gotten real old real fast, and the "we're making fun of Disney!" thing is pretty hypocritical coming from a company that's STILL ripping off the Disney formula in their classically animated flicks. (Especially considering Disney's output now consists of fun and inventive stuff like The Emperor's New Groove and Lilo & Stitch, far superior to snoozers like The Road to El Dorado and Spirit.) There's also a visual mastery to Pixar's work--both in terms of the animation and the design/composition--that's entirely absent from the drab Shrek. And don't get me started on the incredibly clunky plot. I think all you need to know about PDI right now is that they're hard at work on a movie called "Sharkslayer". Wow, where do they get their ideas from?
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Remember the first scene in Toy Story 2, when Buzz is running, flying and doing flips? Just imagine what Pixar could do with that franchise. Good Lord it would rival the invention of pockets !
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Remember the first scene in Toy Story 2, when Buzz is running, flying and doing flips? Just imagine what Pixar could do with the Micronaut franchise. Gear it toward a teenage crowd. Good Lord it would rival the invention of pockets !
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even I think this smells like a plant, and I try to give Harry the benefit of the doubt. on the other hand, maybe it's because I don't want to have to watch yet another kid's movie 50 million times with my nephew. hope he grows out of the animated pap phase real soon and starts watching Time Bandits 3 times a day like the previous generation used to do.
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Unless you are 10 years old (or have the mentality of a 10 year old), this movie is going to blow. Toy Story I and II were great, Monsters Inc was good, but this one just looks horrible. Sometimes the previews do lie, but usually not.
I will probably rent this on DVD in a few months and watch it with the volume off after I get disgusted after a few minutes. It will certainly be a pretty film, but the story and characters look very lame. -
To be honest im a movie fan and i loved Toy Story one and two but monsters inc and bugs life were both pretty sucky shrek was a hell of a lot better than monsters inc but is till have high hopes for this film.
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May 12, 2003 4:42:08 PM CDT
Sigh. I'm getting tired of my friends who are stuck with wives a
by sea bass
Just because you're no longer 'allowed' to watch real movies doesn't man you have to drag me into your nightware. I mean, I'm not disputing the technical proficiency of these movies but are any of them actually funny or entertaining to adults? Is slipping in a few oh so clever adult oriented cultural refences supposed to make us shit ourselves in glee because we get a joke that our kids didn't? And how does anyone even watch any of these movies without picturing the failed TV star sitting in a sound proof booth with headphones? Grow up, people, jeez.
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May 12, 2003 6:44:43 PM CDT
I'd rather plunk $10 down on a VHS copy of LITTLE NEMO: ADVENTUR
by beamish13
The trailers for FN don't look very promising.
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the only gag that worked was the scene where the characters inflate forest animals.
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Thought it'd be worth bigging up Johnboy, the evil genius behind so many of Pixar's successes. Everything this man touches turns to cinema gold, and whether your sit in the Shrek or the Monster Inc camp, you can't deny this man's extraordinary talent. The consistency of Pixar is what is most staggering. Nothing they have made falls short of a nine point five. And even if you are going debate that other films are better than Pixar's because of blah blah blah, there is not one of studio today that has such consistent excellence and creative ability and integrity. In short, they fucking rule.
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May 12, 2003 6:59:21 PM CDT
Harry, if you don't post this right now, I'm coming to your hous
by terry_1978
http://www.comingsoon.net/cgi-bin/archive/fullnews.cgi?newsid1052775219,71565,
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Anyway, the use of pants as an insult is quite simple, bearing in mind its pants in the British sense, i.e underwear, and all the things you associate with them. Dankness, rot, fetid smells, that sort of thing....or is that just me?
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May 13, 2003 11:09:22 AM CDT
"are any of them actually funny or entertaining to adults?"
by minderbinder
Um...yeah. Extremely entertaining, in fact.
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May 13, 2003 11:10:11 AM CDT
"are any of them actually funny or entertaining to adults?"
by minderbinder
Um...yeah. Extremely entertaining, in fact.
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May 13, 2003 11:10:29 AM CDT
"are any of them actually funny or entertaining to adults?"
by minderbinder
Um...yeah. Extremely entertaining, in fact.
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Ferrell rocks.
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May 13, 2003 10:01:13 PM CDT
Anytime someone predicts he's gonna be called a plant, I just ha
by devil0509
PLANT. This is the most obvious, piece of crap plant review I have seen yet. Pathetic attempt at a plant. Sadly enough, it's probably unnecessary. This movie looks cool, it'll probably be terrific, so, PIXAR, please fire the plant and let us just enjoy the flick.
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did they happen to show that teaser for 'the incredibles' when you saw 'nemo'? and if so, how are the first impressions?!?
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John Lasseter is going to be remembered as one of the greats of the entertainment world. I don't think he's the second coming of Walt, but he's defintely a talent on par with Henson. His company puts out great work that not only entertains me, but connects with me emotionally. Plus lets not forget that if not for John, Spirited Away would probably not gotten a US release (and thus an Oscar), and I'm sure he twisted some arms at Disney to get the Miyazaki DVD set out. Gotta give the man some props for doing that.
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