finding nemo

THE FLICK: Even before “Finding Nemo,” it was patently obvious that Pixar Studios had found the key to producing consistently outstanding animated films. What separates “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life” and “Monsters Inc.” from other family fare are strong scripts and characters that appeal to every age, not just children. It’s that ability to entertain beyond the so-called “target audience” that explains how “Nemo” swam to the of the box office last year...and now dives into home video with a two-disc collector’s edition DVD. More of a typical Disney plot, “Finding Nemo” follows the deep sea quest of Marlin, a clownfish (voiced by Albert Brooks) as he crosses the ocean to find his son who’s been scooped up and plopped in an Australian dentist’s fish tank. Marlin’s misadventures along the way, including a run-in with sharks, sea turtles, whales, ravenous seagulls, and a dimwitted tag-along named Dory (Ellen Degeneres), make for a charming, funny, and warmly familiar fish tale. THE FEATURES: Just like the movie, this is a family DVD doesn’t talk down to kids. And there’s no shortage of new material, including more made for DVD material with Marlin and Dory, along with original voice talent, Brooks and Degeneres. Here’s just some of the highlights – - A Virtual Aquarium that turns your TV into a CG fish tank • A half-hour documentary about the making of the film • Exploring the Reef – a witty and wild live-action underwater tour hosted by Jean-Michel Cousteau, along with guests Marlin, Nemo & Dory. Very fun! • “Knick-Knack” – the early Pixar short that accompanied “Nemo” in theaters. • “Fisharades” – a point-and-click guessing game • Read-Along feature for more Nemo adventures • Mr. Ray’s Encyclopedia: underwater education about the different species of fish in the film • A lighthearted Pixar Studio. • A Visual Commentary that interrupts the film periodically to explain the filmmaking process in more detail. Here’s where you’ll find the deleted scenes (although they’re in storyboard format only). • Artwork galleries including characters, backgrounds and advertising. • Widescreen (yeah!) and full screen (boo!) transfers in the same package. FINAL SCORE: Don’t feel bad if you’re first in line to pick this up...and don’t have any kids! “Finding Nemo” is that good. And the DVD looks even better!