Truly a gem!

Rating: 9/10 (3 August 2003)

Since it was hard to imagine Pixar ever topping its original Toy Story, and upon first learning on who was going to provide the voices of the characters, I was not enthusiastic about Finding Nemo. None of the other Pixar releases (Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc.) quite measured up to the original Toy Story, so I had reduced Nemo to rental status. It took a sold out show of Pirates of the Caribbean to make me experience one of the most enjoyable movies I have had the pleasure of watching on the big screen. There are movies that can be enjoyed equally on the theaters or at home, and there are others that you just have to shell out the 8 or so dollars and watch it on theater, and Finding Nemo is definitely one of the latter.
The computer recreation of water and light should in itself amaze you. I know it did to me. The way sand floats, how light shines through rippling water, how algae looks in a dirty aquarium...all recreated in a way that exceeded any expectations I may have had. The story, albeit simplistic in form, is touching and quick paced. The movie never feels like it is an hour and forty minutes long, and that is because Nemo has what I consider one of the best voiced over animated character ever in movie cinema. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Ellen DeGeneres, whom I never cared for as an actor, could match, and even toppled Woody Allen's comedic delivery as Z in ANTZ, but she delivers the goods, and then some. As the voice of the memory lacking Dory, DeGeneres performance is truly worthy of recognition. Add the amazing way the animators converted DeGeneres excellent voice performance into animated facial expression on Dory, and you have one exquisite character. She is truly the highlight of the film.
Funny, addictive, surprising, mesmerizing, Finding Nemo has the substance to please both young and old alike. Just be sure you experience Nemo on a theater...you will be sorry if you don't.