#11 Finding Nemo

FILMS FOR THOUGHT

By: Alex Holzum

    The next film that I will be discussing is another animated masterpiece: Finding Nemo.  This is another one of those children's movies that has a terribly sad opening scene.  It starts out really happy with the clownfish couple, Marlin and Coral.  We learn that they are very excited because they have a bunch of baby fish who are waiting to hatch in an ocean floor alcove.  It seems like the beginning to a very generic and happy tale of two fish raising their fish children; unfortunately, this is not the case.   A barracuda dives in and eats Coral and all but one of the fish eggs.  Marlin is left to raise this one fish all on his own.  He chooses the name, Nemo, because that is the one name that Coral said that she wanted for at least one of her fish babies.

                                           

   The movie picks up with Nemo starting his first day of school.  We learn that Marlin is a very protective father who kind of smothers Nemo.  He raises Nemo to think that the ocean is scary so that Nemo will not try anything too adventurous.  Of course, Marlin does this with the intention of keeping Nemo safe, but he stunts Nemo's growth and fun in the process.

    While at school, Nemo ends up getting kidnapped and Marlin goes on a hunt throughout the ocean to find his son.  During the search, we meet Dory who becomes another main character.  Dory and Marlin make a very fun search party as they find a lot of adventure in meeting new ocean creatures and try to find Nemo.  While Dory and Marlin are searching the ocean, Nemo is trapped inside a tank in a dentist's office in Australia.  He also meets a lot of new friends who end up teaching him how to be brave enough to take on new things. 

    This movie is so quotable and has not gotten old for me yet even though my cousins make me watch it every other day during the summers.  If you are looking for a light-hearted movie to watch with your family, I honestly think this movie would be appropriate for a group of all different ages.