Search - Finding Nemo on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Excellent For Children, Scary Moments Movie Release: 2003 DVD Release: 11/04/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 1 hrs 40 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 40 Genres: Children's/Family, Adventure Comedy, Family-Oriented Adventure

Andrew Stanton, who helped write Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., co-wrote and directed this computer-animated comedy-adventure about finding a very small fish in a very large ocean. Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks) is a more-than-slightly paranoid Clown Fish who is extremely devoted to his young son, Nemo (voice of Alexander Gould), the only survivor after an undersea predator swallowed up Nemo's mother and her other offspring. It's not Marlin's nature to explore unfamiliar waters, but when he and Nemo are accidentally separated near the Great Barrier Reef en route to Nemo's first day of fish school, Marlin gathers his courage and sets out to find his son. What Marlin doesn't know, however, is that while Nemo was looking at a boat passing on the surface, he was caught in a net and given a new home in a dentist's aquarium. As Marlin searches for his son, he makes friends with a friendly but absent-minded Regal Blue Tang named Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres), a Great White Shark named Bruce (voice of Barry Humphries) who is trying to cut fish out of his diet, a beach-rat Sea Tortoise named Crush (voice of Andrew Stanton), and Nigel (voice of Geoffrey Rush), a Pelican who can take Marlin's search from the ocean to dry land. Finding Nemo's impressive voice cast also includes Willem Dafoe, Allison Janney, Eric Bana, Stephen Root, and Brad Garrett. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Albert Brooks - Marlin
Ellen DeGeneres - Dory
Alexander Gould - Nemo the Clownfish
Willem Dafoe - Gill
Brad Garrett - Bloat

A stunning animated adventure for the whole family, Pixar's runaway box-office smash gets the top-shelf treatment on this Disney/Buena Vista release. Viewable in either original 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen or 1.33:1 pan-and-scan, either way you watch it, the transfer is absolutely stunning -- even if not viewed on the preferred high-definition television. Looking just about as perfect as a film can when transferred to DVD, the image is incredibly sharp and crystal clear. Likewise, the THX-mastered soundtrack, rendered in English, Spanish, or French Dolby Digital EX, surrounds the viewer with all of the sounds of the ocean to remarkable effect. As flawless as the presentation of the film is, though, it's hard to surpass this disc in terms of impressive extras as well. Starting with a brief introduction by director Andrew Stanton and co-director Lee Unkrich, the duo offers viewers a sensible plan of attack for viewing the somewhat intimidating amount of extras, encouraging viewers to watch the film, then the making-of documentary, and then the super-informative visual commentary track.

Given all of the bonuses offered in the commentary track alone (which features Stanton, Unkrich and co-writer Bob Peterson), it seems somewhat unfair to simply label this incredibly detailed feature of the disc a "commentary" track, as it virtually redefines the boundaries of what can be accomplished in such a feature. The track is frequently interrupted to show footage of the actors performing the voice-overs, early production sketches, and deleted scenes -- future commentary tracks are bound to follow cue in including such detailed information. Clocking in at nearly a half-hour, and almost unnecessary after the commentary track, is an entertaining making-of featurette. Interviews with John Lasseter and the rest of the film crew show a marked dedication to getting details as authentic as possible, even going so far as to send the director and other crew members scuba diving in order to experience the coral reef firsthand. Subsequently addressing every detail from lighting to writing, there are few stones left unturned in the making-of featurette. The Design Gallery, separated into four categories -- Art Review (with optional commentary), Characters, Environments, and Color Scripts (which alone offers over 300 images) -- breaks down every visual aspect of the film in unparalleled detail. Rounding out the options of the first disc is the ability to turn your television into a virtual aquarium by utilizing looped footage of Finding Nemo's stunning underwater backgrounds.

Once again beginning with a brief introduction by Stanton and Unkrich, a seven-minute featurette entitled "Exploring the Reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau" kicks off disc two with an informative and entertaining look at the sea. Humorous banter between Cousteau and Finding Nemo's scaly protagonists is sure to keep the kids laughing while they learn. Next up is an early Pixar short entitled Knick Knack, and Mr. Ray's Encyclopedia offers accurate information on every ocean dweller featured in the film. After the kids play a quick game of "Fisharades," a Storytime feature is sure to keep younger fans occupied. Wrapping things up on disc two, a behind-the-scenes feature is broken into three parts including "Character Interviews," "Studio Tour," and "Publicity." "Character Interviews" are sure to amuse the kiddies by offering a quick Q & A session with Marlin, Nemo, and, of course, Dory. The Studio Tour follows young Alexander Gould (the voice of Nemo) on a fun and not too educational adventure through the Pixar studios. Publicity materials consist of four trailers, fishy facts about three of the film's supporting players, and a print gallery of poster, bus shelter, and other promotional materials. After all of these things, it probably goes without saying that this exhausting release of Finding Nemo is sure to please viewers because, like the movie itself, this incredible disc includes something for everyone. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide