‘Finding Nemo’ stunning in 3D

It’s hard to find a movie as cute as “Finding Nemo.” The 2003 tale of Marlin the clownfish and Dory the blue tang is one that likely has a special place in the hearts of anyone who grew up during the 2000s. This past Friday, it was rereleased in 3D.

For those who are unaware, “Finding Nemo” focuses on Nemo, a young, disabled clownfish, who is captured by humans and taken to a dentist’s office in Sydney, Australia as a gift for the dentist’s niece, Darla. Marlin, Nemo’s overprotective father, is extremely cautious and frightened of the creatures of the ocean, due to a traumatic event involving a barracuda that cost him both his wife and all of his children but Nemo. He steels himself and heads out into the water to search for his son. Along the way, he meets Dory, a sweet but memory-impaired fish, who serves as his companion in facing dangers such as schools of jellyfish, a whale and three “vegetarian” sharks.

“Finding Nemo” is one of those movies where critics are hard-pressed to come up with much, if any, criticism. After hours of thought, the only thing that I can come up with is that some scenes might frighten young children. But then again, this is likely something that would only affect children under the age of five. But, everything else about the movie is, to sum it up, perfect. The plot is imaginative, fun and had adults and children in the theatre laughing together. The quirky characters, each with their own, distinct personalities, will have you feeling like you’ve really gotten to know a new group of friends by the end of the film.

Visually, the movie is one of Pixar’s best works. Everything from Nemo’s fins to the coral on the seabed is beautifully detailed. This is absolutely remarkable for a movie made almost 10 years ago. Most modern films still can’t hold up against “Nemo.”

Unfortunately, the 3D aspect of the movie left a lot to be desired. This didn’t surprise me, as the movie was originally designed to be viewed only in 2D. Yes, the 3D allows for a different movie watching experience, but not necessarily a better one. I would have personally been fine simply watching a straight re-release in 2D and saving the extra money I spent to watch it in 3D. Anyone who remembers this from their childhood will want to go back to theatres for a fun, nostalgic experience, and anyone that hasn’t seen it will want to go for the movie experience of a lifetime. I recommend this film to anybody who enjoys any of the following: fun, laughter and joy.

9/10