monoceros blogsLin Kiat and I finally caught Finding Nemo last Friday evening. Quality animated films are a real delight and Finding Nemo is one of the best. Pixar has produced Toy Story, a Toy Story sequel, A Bug's Life and Monsters' Inc, but the latest creation is just fabulous.
The sense of place and mystery about the ocean is very present in the film. I've always been in awe of how much is unknown about the watery world that stretches beyond our continents. That's why I've been particularly excited about the recent discovery of colossal squids (imagine that! Bigger than giant squids!). I like the possibility of mermaids, the presence of an abyss, the graveyard of ships, large whales bellowing poetic echoes in the water and the tiniset of fishes hiding in the shadow of corals.
The themes are well-known and have been used often, but used in this setting, they are apt and made new for children and those who are willing to put aside a cynical, aged state of mind. The film is about travelling to new distances and going out there with nothing but faith and a promise. Marlin, the daddy, has to learn how to let his son go - metaphorically - and love him at the same time. He's got a lot more to let go, like his fear and neurotic behaviour (I'm one to talk). Nemo is plain adorable (I want to hug him, but would probably kill him in the process), especially in the scene when he deliberately hits the base of the boat with his fin and puckers his little orange face into a scowl, outrightly disobeying his father who watches in comic horror.
Journeys - physical and emotional. Marlin and Nemo (and crazy Dory, the blue, short-term-memory fish friend that Marlin picks up) experience these through the course of the film, many of these involuntary. Journeys are always special. And the audience does journey with these creatures of the sea, and when the travelling has ended, you kind of wish it had gone on a little longer. There's still a whole lotta ocean out there.
Posted by Monoceros at June 16, 2003 12:14 PMthis is what happens when one is that far down under! Haha. I haven't heard anything about this new animated film by Pixar! Oh, i just love their creations...the people there are such geniuses. I'll have to catch this film when i'm back.
Posted by: at June 17, 2003 10:22 PMThat you, Joan? Funny you should say that -'when one is that far down under'. A few of the characters - like the sharks and a pelican (I think) called Nigel - are Australian, or have Australian accents. Nemo is captured by Australian divers and brought to Sydney. And Marlin has to ride the East Australin Current to get to the harbour to find his son! Sydney, Australia plays a big part in the film, so I'm surprised there isn't that much marketing of the film where you are!
Posted by: Van Heng at June 17, 2003 11:38 PMoops...didn't realise that i forgot to put my name.heh. yeah, there hasn't been anything on. Maybe the film distributors are waiting for a summer release. As u know, Aust's summer is at the end of the year, so perhaps that's the reason.
Haha...funny....i didn't actually realise that "that far down under" could also refer to the deep sea. I didn't want to put a capital 'D' and 'U' cos i thought that would have made it too obvious! ok ok...that's just silly me and all these stuff about typographical features.
ah well,i really should stop rambling! ;p
Posted by: joan at June 18, 2003 10:12 PM