There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean, they are looking for just one. You will have never seen fish prepared like this before. 'Finding Nemo' is totally wild dude!

Rating: Null/10 (8 October 2003)

People all over the world have been falling in love with a little clownfish called 'Nemo'. I have been waiting to see this film for a while and it has not disappointed me. Pixar have proven once again that they are the best when it comes bringing 'animated feature films'. This film shows of many great things, like what it is like to be a fish, life in the sea, what Australians are really like and the famous landmarks of the harbour city of 'Sydney'. But what I think is most important about 'Finding Nemo', is the warm fuzzy feeling a film such as this will leave you with.

Dive into a whole new world of computer-animated fun, fantasy, and heartfelt emotion by following the epic journeys of two 'clownfish' - the overly cautious Marlin and his curious son, Nemo - who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is taken from his ocean home. Despite his fears of the open sea, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek to find Nemo. Buoyed by the companionship of a friendly-but-forgetful fish named Dory, Marlin finds himself as the unlikely hero of a thrilling journey to rescue his son.
Firstly, I want to praise the animators that worked on this movie. They did a remarkable job in creating the world that we find all these sea animals swimming around in. The attention to detail is most noticeable, especially the way they have shown the water, which looked 'real'. The Pixar animators certainly put great detail into the film, and used a vast array of colours, which has to be another of the films major highlights.
The script for 'FN' is as classy a script I have ever seen for animated feature film. Not only is it clever, it is very funny and has some strange, but hilarious characters. I believe that the character of Dory was the funniest, one that at least I know I will be able to 'remember'. The movie's underlying themes, which include the importance of family and friends, were also very important. The story for 'FN' was written by Andrew Stanton, while the screen was done by Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds.

The direction 'FN' took onscreen was another aspect of the film I liked. It must be difficult to direct an 'animated feature film', but the way the directors' did this film, show how it can and should be done. Director Andrew Stanton (with Co-director, lee Unkrich) certainly gave the movie good flow and allowed the audience to enjoy a fine cinematic experience. Stanton's role on the film is truly great, considering he also voiced the totally wild dude, Crush the turtle.
With so many characters, I want to talk about the ones that had the biggest impact on me. The main characters include Nemo, the baby 'clownfish', who goes on an extraordinary adventure, Nemo's dad Marlin and Dory, the blue tang fish, with short term memory loss, who has to be up there as one of the great cartoon characters, ever made for a film. I also loved the impact that the three sharks have on the film. Bruce, the great white shark, Anchor, the hammerhead shark and Chum, the pointer shark, could have been (and would be for some littlies) very scary, but in this film were also hilarious. Out of the characters we meet in the fish tank aquarium at the Dentists, the strange exotic Moorish Idol fish Gill, the very amusing 'Bloat', and Nigel, the clumsy pelican, are all very good. In fact the dentist himself is a very important character for reasons that I will let the movie explain.

However these characters would be nothing without the voiceovers that accompany them. The main voices include Albert Brooks, Alexander Gould and Willem Defoe, who all are very good. But the stand out for me is the performance of Ellen DeGenres, who has proven that she totally suits doing voiceovers. I hope DeGenres is casted again in a role like this one. The voiceovers also have a very Australian flavour as well. People like Barry Humphries, Eric Bana, Bruce Spence, Bill Hunter and Geoffrey Rush are all great additions to be hearing. The additional voiceovers also see a very famous Aussie as well. While the voice of cartoon expert Jack Angel appears, we also have the latest 'Gold Logie' winner Rove McManus, being a part of the ocean too.
There are many wonderful moments in 'FN'. My favourite has to be when Marlin and Dory stumble across the three 'friendly' sharks. This scene has to be the scariest and the funniest of the film. Then when Marlin and Dory play the 'Jellyfish' game, it is also funny and dangerous at the same time. In fact the whole journey that Nemo's father has to find his son in the film is very entertaining to say the least. Then when Marlin and Dory first meet Nigel, the pelican, it is hard not to laugh at the cries of 'Mate....' by the many pidgins that we see. Also the experiences that Nemo has while trapped in the aquarium at the Dentist surgery, are not only frightening, but very fun and exciting as well, helping Nemo to grow up.

'Finding Nemo' was dedicated to the memory of Glenn McQueen, a man that obliviously had an impact on Pixar animations. While I love all the different aspects of 'Finding Nemo', I am still a bigger fan of 'Monsters, Inc.', but believe me, Finding Nemo is not far behind it, and I cannot wait for the DVD release of this movie. I believe that this movie has the perfect opening, thanks to the viewing of the 1989, first-ever Pixar production 'Knick Knack', that undoubtedly inspired 'Finding Nemo'. While this movie has as perfect and funny conclusion you will see (Note: do not get up before the credits!). What a joy it was for me to finally see 'Finding Nemo'!
CMRS gives 'Finding Nemo': 4.5 (Very Good - Brilliant Film)