Finding Nemo (2003)

From the studio that brought you the stories of toys that come to life and monsters in your closet comes a new tale of horror!  This is the story of Marlin, a father who's family is brutally murdered by a serial killer who eats his victims.  Marlin miraculously survives this vicious killer's attack, along with a young son, Nemo, who ends up wounded and crippled.  But tragedy does not stay away from this small family; when the young crippled son is just barely old enough for school Marlin is forced to watch helplessly as Nemo is kidnapped right before his eyes!  Marlin sets off on a race against time trying to track down the kidnappers on his own.  Tragically, it seems the police will not help and the only person that will come to Marlin's aid is mentally handicapped.  Meanwhile, Nemo is kept in a small cell along with several other captives of a twisted personality who is simply called "the Dentist."  These captives are forced to see and hear the Dentist inflict cruel torture on people, and they can only wait helplessly wondering what their own fate will be.  But for Nemo that fate seems to be Darla, a remorseless and wicked villain who literally shakes her victims to death!  Nemo is doomed -unless Marlin can find him first!  Disney is proud to present this great thriller of terror and suspense: Finding Nemo!

Seriously, that's the plot of a kid's movie?  But they make it colorful, playful, make the ocean along the Australian coastline the setting (along with the accents), and make our characters fish and whammo, it really is a kids movie!  A really great and wonderful kids movie!

And yet this is a film sure to please adults as well.  There is much humor, and an abundance of decidedly quotable lines and moments: "Hello Bruce."  "A game?  I love games!  Pick me!"  "I sure wish I could speak whale."  "Mine!"  "Just keep swimming."  "Mr. Turtle is my father."  "'Offspring, Jellyman.  Jellyman, Offspring.'  'Jellies?  Wicked!'  'Totally.'"  "Sharkbait, ooh hah hah!"  ...and on and on.  The writing is simply fantastic.

The animation is wonderful and amazingly real -they really seemed to know their fish.  The vocal acting is great -especially Ellen DeGeneres as Dory.  And the music is simply magic -perfect for that undersea feel.  It's the story of normal people doing extraordinary things, and a story of how different people can come together and help each other in the face of adversity.

Entertainment: 8/10
Artistic Value: 6/10
Technical Merit: 8/10

Overall: 8/10