Finding Nemo

I begin as abruptly as "Finding Nemo" unfolds. Within the first five minutes of "Nemo", we are catapulted into the disturbing, untimely, and just plain unsettling death of the yet unborn Nemo's mother. Horrified, I slid down in my seat and masked my sobs just as I had when I was a child in "Bambi". I gripped my husband's hand, dabbed my eyes, and prepared myself for another journey into the world of the familiar Disney Motherless-Land. Oh, how I was surprised. Our protagonist's life did begin abruptly with his mother's death. However, this is no Disney movie…this is Pixar. With one plot point, the film embarked on a journey into the unknown world of adult conscience and fear as deep, uncharted, and dark as the Pacific Ocean.

"Finding Nemo" is resplendent, stunning, and glorious with images and textures so utterly real, you must remind yourself you're staring at Steve Jobs' deep sea rendering, not Mother Nature's own. The film is dotted by quirky, intelligent, species with personalities closely resembling their natural characteristics (further personified by entertaining and diverse eccentricities). It's a vision so filled with unique and lovable creatures, you feel the vast expanse of the Pacific is crammed to its limit with these wonderful characters. However, "Nemo" is not just aesthetics and humor. Pixar has triumphed again with a real, simple adult story. "Toy Story" addressed our own fears of mortality, "Bugs Life" addressed Maslow's hierarchy, "Monsters Inc" presented us with our fear yet relentless pursuit of social homogenization. "Nemo" gracefully glides through the waters of the South Pacific and delivers an illustration of the freedom accompanied by the release of our complex insecurities and fears. It is an elegant fable told by a father and son. Fittingly, children will be assured there is a world of opportunity and amazement for their taking…all they can get their tiny fins around.

It is clear "Finding Nemo" is the most regal and sophisticated achievement of Pixar to date, leaving the "Toy Story" series, "Bug's Life", and "Monsters, Inc." in the distant past. Pixar will parade like peacocks around their Emeryville office for a great while, because they have the box office gross to justify it. They should because they deserve it. I don't know how they will top "Nemo", but I am confident they will. Please Pixar, don't rest on your laurels and parade too long…show us what else you can do.