Finding Nemo Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
In the colorful and warm tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a Clownfish named Marlin
lives safe and secluded in a quiet cul-de-sac with his only son, Nemo. Fearful of the ocean
and its unpredictable risks, he struggles to protect his son. Nemo, like all young fish, is
eager to explore the mysterious reef. When Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from home and
thrust into a dentist's office fish tank, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero on an epic
journey to rescue his son. In his quest, Marlin is joined by a good Samaritan named Dory, a
Regal Blue Tang fish with the worst short-term memory and biggest heart in the entire
ocean. As the two fish continue on their journey, encountering numerous dangers, Dory's
optimism continually forces Marlin to find the courage to take risks and overcome his fears.
In doing so, Marlin gains the ability to trust and believe, like Dory, that things will work out
in the end. Confronting seabirds, sewer systems, and even man himself, father and son's
fateful separation ends in triumph. And the once-fearful Marlin becomes a true hero in the
eyes of his son, and the entire ocean.
Cars is typically labeled Pixar's most divisive film, but it's actually Finding Nemo that draws the widest and
most passionate range of responses. Some, like my colleague Brian Orndorf, struggle with, as he puts it, the film's
"overstuffed narrative, flashes of bodily function humor and screenwriting formula. I didn't hate the picture," he continues,
"but I've come to understand that any raised eyebrow directed at a Pixar production is an offense punishable by death in
some corners of the internet." Others like myself, though, recognize every one of Nemo's flaws but are so swept out
to sea by its grand underwater adventure and indelible characters that little else matters. Still, the years have indeed been
kinder to the film's surprisingly viable animation than its beached-whale script and, beloved or no, Finding Nemo isn't
the ultimate Pixar experience it once was. It's merely one of the famed animation studio's early delights, and a funny, exciting
and memorable one at that.
"I didn't come this far to be breakfast!"
When a young clownfish named Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould) is captured by a Great Barrier Reef diver and imprisoned
in a fish tank in far-away Sydney, Australia, his hyper-protective father Marlin (Albert Brooks) sets out to get him back,
whatever the cost. Along the way, Marlin reluctantly enlists the help of Dory, a blue surgeonfish with chronic short-term
memory loss, and a number of new friends, among them a group of current-surfing sea turtles, an enormous whale and even
a trio of semi-reformed sharks. ("I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first
change myself. Fish are friends, not food.") Nemo, meanwhile, is placed in a dentist-office fish tank where he makes a few
new friends of his own: moorish idol Gill (Willem Dafoe), blowfish Bloat (Brad Garrett), yellow tang Bubbles (Stephen Root),
starfish Peach (Allison Janney), Pacific cleaner shrimp Jacques (Joe Ranft), royal gramma fish Gurgle (Austin Pendleton), and
blacktail damselfish Deb (Vicki Lewis). With everything on the line, Marlin has to track down his son and Nemo has to find his
way to the sea, where his father will hopefully be waiting.
Pixar's wizards of anthropomorphism are powerful sorcerers, and the magic they conjure here is as wondrous and heartfelt as
ever. Every fish, shark and turtle is a memorable character in its own right, Marlin and Dory are still two of the studio's most
lovable leads, Mr. Ray and the Reef locals are a colorful cast of eccentrics and working Joes, Bruce and his fellow sharks
nearly steal the entire movie, and only the film's humans are shortchanged in any way. Even when Nemo's journey inland
threatens to distract and detract from Marlin and Dory's far more engrossing quest, Gil and the Tank Gang keep things light,
lively and clever enough to stay the course. More ingenious perhaps are the creatures director Andrew Stanton and his
talented team don't grant human characteristics. No speaking role for one of the film's unsung heroes, the whale,
who's more of a silent, benevolent deity of Biblical proportions than anything remotely human. No personality for the
anglerfish or jellyfish masses either. Deprived of faces, voices and relatable motivations, the deadly beasts are suddenly that
much more dangerous and frightening. And never before has the word "mine" accomplished so much with so little and
brought as many laughs to a room as it does when squawked by Pixar's hilarious flock of seagulls.
But even the best underwater friends and foes would be nothing without a compelling world to inhabit, and Finding
Nemo's endless ocean remains a thriving, fully realized realm that's as much a character as Marlin or Dory. Even some
ten years after its creation -- ten years of animation advances, ten years of technical strides, ten years of computer-
generated mastery -- the film's water effects are wholly immersive. Fish don't float on screen, they float within a body of oh-
so-convincing water teeming with the tiniest particles, creatures, reflections of light, shifts in the current, rising bubbles and
settling sand. I'm sure it would pale in comparison to what Pixar could achieve in 2012, mind you, but that shouldn't take
away from everything the artists and animators were able to pull off in 2003. (Again, it's the human world that shows its age
more than anything else.) Add to that the beauty of the coral reefs, the guts of a sunken ship, the rush of riding a current, the
subtlest movements of Marlin and his companions... of Pixar's first six films, Finding Nemo's animation has best
withstood the test of time. And while that doesn't make up for the pitfalls that line the at-times uneven two-pronged story, it
definitely soothes most of the sting. There's still a lot to love in Nemo and very little to complain about. It says quite
a lot when the studio's most recent productions -- Cars 2 and Brave -- have such trouble topping a fan-
favorite film ten years past its prime.
If you're ever on a hunt for banding on Blu-ray, there are two surefire places to start: animated movies and underwater
adventures. So how does Pixar's animated underwater adventure fare? Incredibly well actually, with only the slightest hint of
banding creeping into its 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation, and even then only on rare occasion. Otherwise, Finding
Nemo is as flawless as anyone could hope for. Deep sea colors are delicate and lovely, topside hues are even more vibrant
and stunning, contrast is dialed in beautifully from start to finish, and black levels are resolved wonderfully. And detail?
Straight from the digital tap perfect. Some softness and a few instances of extremely negligible aliasing appear, but the former
is an intentional artistic choice made by the filmmakers and the latter is inherited from the film's original animation, now more
than nine years old. Edge definition is as exacting as it should be, the smallest textures are intact and showcased without
exception, and clarity is magnificent. It only helps that significant macroblocking, noise and other issues are nowhere to be
found, meaning Nemo is as gorgeous as Pixar purists have been hoping. My score? A 4.75, which rounds up to a nice,
well-deserved 5.0.
Good luck leveling even the slightest criticism at Disney's masterclass Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surrounded track. Dialogue is crystal
clear and perfectly prioritized, without a single muffled line, drowned cry for help or waterlogged whisper. No small feat
considering just the exceedingly enveloping and engaging nature of Nemo's meticulously mixed undersea soundfield.
The rear speakers never rest and never relent. Schools of fish dart by, sharks circle, predators give chase, jellyfish press in,
bubbles scurry toward the surface, fins flap, tails flick, sand swishes, anemone rustle, plankton flee a pursuing whale, seagulls
mount a hungry assault and distant sounds echo through the ocean. Moreover, water flows, currents surge and waves lap
throughout the proceedings, and there isn't a moment underwater when the sea isn't incorporated or represented to
unmistakably immersive ends. LFE output is terrific too, with powerful low-end pulses, truly intense chase sequences and deep,
resonant thooms, booms and shooms. And if a shark or whale is about to take the soundstage,
prepare yourself for a thrilling, all-encompassing surround experience. Simply put, everything from the faintest blub blub
blub to the most harrowing scene to the ebb and flow of Thomas Newman's pitch-perfect music sounds utterly fantastic.
Cine-Explore (Disc 1, HD, 101 minutes): Director Andrew Stanton, co-director Lee Unkrich and co-writer Bob
Peterson sit down to dissect the film in this deceptively simple, wonderfully thoughtful and exceedingly extensive Picture-in-
Picture commentary experience, complete with on-screen concept art, storyboards, pre-viz animation and other production
materials.
Finding Nemo: A Filmmakers' Roundtable (Disc 1, HD, 18 minutes): This newly produced exclusive
roundtable reunites Stanton, Unkrich, Peterson, producer Graham Walters, production designer Ralph Eggleston and technical
lead Oren Jacob for an engaging 10th anniversary retrospective.
Reinventing the Submarine Voyage (Disc 1, HD, 15 minutes): Step aboard the Submarine Voyage, both old and
new, one of the most beloved attractions in Disneyland's ever-evolving Tomorrowland.
A Lesson in Flashbacks (Disc 1, HD, 8 minutes): Stanton discusses one of the biggest and hardest lessons he
learned while developing and refining Nemo's story and flow.
Deleted Scene (Disc 1, HD, 3 minutes): An alternate opening presented via animated concept art.
Knick Knack (Disc 1, HD, 4 minutes): Six years before Toy Story, this short hinted at what was
to come.
Trailers and Sneak Peeks (Disc 1, HD, 6 minutes): Monsters University, Monsters, Inc. 3D,
Peter Pan: Diamond Edition and Planes.
Art Review (Disc 2, HD, 9 minutes): Production designer Ralph Eggleston, character art director Ricky Nierva and
shading art director Robin Cooper offer a running commentary of pre-production artwork.
Making Nemo (Disc 2, SD, 26 minutes): The first of many features culled from the 2003 Collector's
Edition DVD, this excellent behind-the-scenes documentary covers everything from the Pixar team's undersea research to the
finishing touches added to the finalized animation.
Exploring the Reef (Disc 2, SD, 7 minutes): An all too brief look at the beauty of the world's endangered coral
reefs with host Jean-Michel Cousteau.
Studio Tour (Disc 2, SD, 5 minutes): Young Alexander Gould explores Pixar Studios and its departments.
Old School (Disc 2, SD 9 minutes): Up next is a series of quick-hit extras: "El Capitan Pitch Selects," "School
Progression," "MA Reference," "Whale Mouth," "International Mine," "Pelican Animation," "Glenn McQueen Tribute" and
"Aquascum 2003."
Deleted Scenes (Disc 2, SD, 6 minutes): "Crush the Hippie," "Shark Volleyball," "Frantic Dad," "Scent of
Lavender," "Sewage," "Prologue Bedtime Story" and "Soap Opera/Gil Lies," all presented via animated storyboards.
Publicity Pieces (Disc 2, SD, 13 minutes): Four trailers, plus "Fishy Facts," "ABC Stunts" and "DVD Stunts."
Mr. Ray's Encyclopedia (Disc 2, SD): An interactive encyclopedia with videos of real undersea creatures.
Aquariums (Discs 1-2, HD): A collection of short-loop ocean floor screensavers. Discs 1 features one, Disc 2
features a selection of six: "Anemone," "Jellyfish," "Plate Coral," "Reef," "Sandy Reef" and "School of Fish."
Finding Nemo is many a Pixar fan's favorite studio film, and rightfully so. I can't in good conscience declare it perfect
or claim it as my ultimate Pixar powerhouse of choice, but I certainly see what draws so many people, young and old, deeper
and deeper into its underwater adventure. I've returned to it time and time again over the years and it's never failed to deliver,
which says quite a bit. Thankfully, Disney's Blu-ray release is a lot tougher to criticize thanks to a stunning video presentation,
a top-tier Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround track, and a treasure trove of special features, many of which are new to this release.
With the holiday season fast approaching, be sure to add Finding Nemo to your collection, cart or wish list. It'll be one
of the few purchases you can almost guarantee you and your family won't regret.
For the week of December 4th, Warner Home Entertainment is bringing The Dark Knight Rises to Blu-ray. Director Christopher Nolan's epically scaled follow-up to his Academy Award-winningThe Dark Knight arrived this past summer on a deluge of viewer anticipation. ...
Blu-ray.com and Walt Disney Home Entertainment are offering three members an opportunity to win a copy of Pixar's Finding Nemo, the fifth animated film from the renowned animation studio. The critically acclaimed undersea classic arrives on Blu-ray on December ...
The long awaited Disney/PIXAR underwater animated movie Finding Nemo (2003,
Lee Unkrich, Andrew Stanton) is being released for the Christmas Season this coming
December 4th, according to an early retail announcement.
A 5-disc 3D Blu-ray/DVD Ulimate ...
