Disney continues their trend of re-releasing hit films in 3D and then giving them the Blu-ray treatment with “Finding Nemo.” The Academy Award-winning movie is a new classic for both the Mouse House and Pixar and continues to charm children of all ages. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who follows the success of Pixar, who very rarely has a miss among its hits.
Little clownfish Nemo (Alexander Gould) is caught by a diver and taken away from his home in the Great Barrier Reef. While he tries to find a way to escape from his life of captivity in a fish tank full of other interesting characters, his father Marlin (Albert Brooks) sets out on a search for Nemo. He encounters all sorts of dangerous and eccentric aquatic personalities. Can Marlin and Nemo survive their misadventures and reunite with each other?
This is another example of a Pixar film I just don’t enjoy. It trudges along at a pace too slow for my tastes. My opinion doesn’t matter when the film is aimed at children and parents who love it.
It does have its moments. I enjoy the sequence with the sharks. I think this has more to do with the fact that filmmakers chose to name the great white shark Bruce (Barry Humphries) in homage to the mechanical one Steven Spielberg used while directing “Jaws.” It’s also one of the more exciting moments in “Finding Nemo.
The video and audio are dazzling just like every other high-definition release of a Disney / Pixar movie. The animation is smooth and the colors are vibrant. The picture is clean, full of life, and almost completely free of banding. Finding Nemo” boasts an elegant 7.1 surround sound mix. The film’s dialogue, sound effects, and musical score (as forgettable as it is) come at home viewers from all directions.
There’s a smorgasbord of bonus material for the Blu-ray edition. They include picture-in-picture feature commentary with director Andrew Stanton, co-director Lee Unkrich, and co-writer Bob Peterson. Several featurettes explore everything from the making of the movie to a Pixar Studio tour and exploring the Submarine Voyage at Disneyland’s ever-changing Tomorrowland. We also get deleted scenes, outtakes, publicity items, and an interactive encyclopedia of undersea creatures entitled “Mr. Ray’s Encyclopedia.”
Children and their parents will scramble to add “Finding Nemo” to their high-definition home entertainment collection. I doubt my dispassion for the movie will keep anyone from watching or purchasing this new Blu-ray edition. Who am I to argue with the members of the Academy or millions of people who love it?
“Finding Nemo” is available for the first time on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D now.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
Blu-ray Review: “Brave”
Blu-ray Review: “The Great Mouse Detective”
Blu-ray Review: “Secret of the Wings”
