Sunday 28 March, 2004
Finding Nemo
Last night we finally watched Finding Nemo that I had bought based on Chu's recommentadion. And I have to say it was one of the most charming and warmest movies I have seen in ages - the characters were brilliant and funny: my favourite was the "three second memory" Dory who just cracked me up time after time. There were other ingenious ideas in the movie too - the "fish eaters anonymous" where the sharks tried not to eat fish, the hippie turtles and the frighteningly realistic tank with crazy fish and the even more scary fish-shaking nephew.
And I was once again in awe of Pixar's animation - it just keeps getting better and better. I think it's just coming to the stage where you can just forget about it and concentrate on the story - which is surely the purpose. There were still some scenes where you notice the computer effects (like when the fish go to the surface and they appear wet), but all in all, it just looks so good you forgot all about it.
The plot was simple but effective - a father goes on a search for his missing son, and in the end learns to let go and lets him grow up. There are many dangers in the way, and there's an environmental lesson for the younger (and maybe for the older) audience too.
I just hope the success of the movie doesn't ruin the possible benefits - as about 20 million tropical fish and about 12 million corals are captured each year from the reefs for the aquarium market. The methods used are usually barbaric - mostly used methods are poison and explosives. Poison (cyanide) is used with nearly-lethal doses that stunns the fish, and while the fish survive the trip to the shops they typically die very soon of liver failure. And you can just image what kind of effect the poison has on the reefs and other life forms. Another popular and just as destructive method for catching fish is explosives, that also stunns the fish and for those that surive and easily captured. This also has huge effect for the reefs and ecosystems.
More reading: BBC's story on the subject, and Terrible Tackle.
Posted by kolibri at 28 March 13:17, 2004I saw 'Nemo' this past summer with my sisters who were visiting L.A. -- and before I knew it I found myself looking for a Kleenex! This movie was really good! I guess I have become a little wary of all those Disney movies with sugar-sweet soundtracks and all... so this was such a nice surprise!
And yeah - I also feel bad about all those clownfish that have been flushed down toilets by kids since the release of that movie! A bit like the sudden appearance of dalmatians after the '101 Dalmatian' movie...
Stupid parents!
# 2 - Chu (on March 30, 2004 12:23 PM):
Or think of Lassie. Or how everybody wanted a tiny, cute, smart dog after The Mask came out :P.
The examples are numerous - vestigia terrent and all that.
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