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Author Topic: Finding Dory Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 06-25-2016 06:07 PM                     You can see the logic behind Disney Pixar's Finding Dory. Released 13 years after it's predecessor, Finding Nemo, Disney wish to ensnare a new generation of children in the Nemo-verse. And so Finding Dory is targeted squarely at everyone who hasn't seen Finding Nemo - which is no one. And this is the problem. Finding Nemo is such a timeless institution in our movie culture - whether you be a child or adult - that a sequel which in large parts rehashes it's predecessor is simply a moot exercise. Finding Dory follows almost identical beats and set ups - a fish searching the open ocean for lost loved ones; encountering frightening denizens of the sea; aided by new found friends; becomes "imprisoned" in an aquarium from which they must escape etc. In fact, every element of Nemo has its corresponding element in Dory. This is not to say Finding Dory is a bad film - it is not. It is Pixar. It is competently made with great storytelling, lovable characters and CGI which is stupidly good. It is perfect holiday fodder for all ages. It feels familiar and comfy and very safe. Very, very safe. But we have seen it all before and most of us have probably seen it many times before if only under a marginally different title. This, of course, will dissuade no one from seeing it all over again. And nor should it. 6 out of 10  |  IP: Logged Mike Schulz Expert Film Handler Posts: 122 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: May 2007 posted 06-25-2016 08:30 PM                     I quite like it. While I agree with your assessment, there are many good movies that use this same formula one of which we saw last winter called The Force Awakens. It was similar to the first film, but it also had some new adventures that were really fun. The animation was incredible but that is pretty much expected at this point in time for Pixar. The Good Dinosaur had arguably the best animation they have done so far even though the film itself was sub-par. Overall, I would give this film 8/10 and the attached short 10/10.  |  IP: Logged Terry Monohan Master Film Handler Posts: 379 From: San Francisco CA USA Registered: May 2014 posted 06-25-2016 08:31 PM                     Stu*How was the 3-D on the new Dory? Did anything pop off the screen or was It a cheap Disney 2-D to 3-D rip off like most of their 3-D films.  |  IP: Logged Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 06-26-2016 02:52 AM                     I can't comment on the 3D, sorry Terry. I saw it only in 2D.  |  IP: Logged Sean Weitzel Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 619 From: Vacaville, CA (1790 miles west of Rockwall) Registered: Dec 1999 posted 06-26-2016 03:12 AM                     I guess I'm one of... well sounds like the only one who has not seen Finding Nemo. BTW as an aside I have always enjoyed your reviews, Stu.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-26-2016 08:57 PM                        I went into this with high expectations given Nemo is my favorite Pixar film (and one of my favorite films, period). I was a little disappointed for basically the reasons Stu mentioned, but also because Dory's "forgetfulness" got somewhat repetitive and annoying throughout the movie. The writers (according to an article I read) had a hard time integrating this "condition" of hers into the story, understandably so. I also didn't like their use of "lazy storytelling" which is, if a character needs some kind of superpower or miracle to get out of a situation, so be it...a superpower or miracle they will have. In "Up," it was the dog having a machine which allowed him to talk. In this movie, it's the miraculous use of "echolocation" which in this story is sort of a combination of X-ray vision and super-hearing. That, and the uber-fantastic notion of a squid (or octopus or whatever he was) somehow being able to drive a truck on a freeway while a fish in a glass of water is telling him where to go stretches the limits of..... well, OK I realize it's a cartoon but even cartoons should still operate within SOME limits. Such as, gravity always makes Wile E. Coyote fall....but in a modern Pixar movie he might suddenly find an antigravity machine that would actually work. I also got annoyed with how every time a character needed a body of water to float in, there a body would be...whether it was a coffeepot, a fish tank, a glass of water or an ocean. A little more "peril" would have served the movie well. All that said, the movie is a ton of fun to watch, recycled story and all -- and the last 20 minutes ranks right up there with some of the best Pixar last-reels ever, goofy octopus-driving notwithstanding. And I did enjoy the tag at the end which was kind of the icing on the cake, moreso than most of those easter eggs. So I will give it a 3.5 out of 5, which would have been a 4.5 if the story had been better. The short, "Piper," is another short Pixar masterpiece. Lately these shorts have been as good, or better, than the movie they're opening, and this is no exception. It's beautifully done, and it's also a movie every parent should see and take to heart, since it would teach them a lot of what it takes to be an effective parent. (For some parents, explanatory subtitles might be necessary.)  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 06-28-2016 09:43 PM                        Stu: your review KILLED it. (complement)  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 07-02-2016 04:12 PM                        Even with the faults listed (and no small faults at that) its box office is excellent in a year that box office in general is anything but.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-02-2016 08:34 PM                        Actually our year is going well, but late summer/fall is going to be a challenge I think.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 07-04-2016 01:46 AM                     ^^ definitely agree. After Star Trek, and Pete's Dragon, the slowdown might begin.  |  IP: Logged Matt Russell Expert Film Handler Posts: 142 From: Aurora, USA Registered: Aug 2015 posted 07-04-2016 11:39 AM                    I haven't got a chance to see this yet (work keeps you busy ), but I have also been seeing great business with this film. Not as leggy so far as Zootopia played out earlier this year, but it's still bringing in big crowds. I'm curious how this will play against the direct competition in the next few weeks (The Secret Life of Pets, Ghostbusters, and Ice Age all open a week apart and will be fighting for the family audience).  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 07-07-2016 11:06 AM                        Theaters with limited 3D screens have to begin to make decision weather to play features in 2D only or drop them all together. I find if you have 3D and 2D on at the same time 2D will win out hands down, I'm afraid that the biggest fans are 3D are film companies, directors, and RealD and others with vested interest. while I have customers only interested in seeing a 3D picture in 3D the opposite is far more common.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-07-2016 12:44 PM                        We made a decision a while back to only show kid-oriented movies in 2-D, due to most people being irritated with paying the extra price only to have their kids refuse to keep the glasses on. For Finding Dory, we have had a few people ask about it in 3-D and a small handful have been disappointed in our 2-D-only policy on it, but once we explain the why, they're totally agreeing with our decision. With Zootopia, not one person asked about 3-D to my knowledge The other factor here is, our 3-D unit (Dolby) has been out of whack for about 3 or 4 months now anyway so we haven't played anything in 3-D since The Jungle Book. Given the level of demand, I'm not too worried about it -- as long as we get it fixed by the time the next Avatar comes out. Back on topic - Finding Dory continues to do well here, too. Our week 3 has been nearly the equal of week 2. I figured it'd be all crickets this week, but that's not been the case. Very happy with the results.  |  IP: Logged Aron Toplitsky Expert Film Handler Posts: 113 From: Gardena, CA, USA Registered: May 2012 posted 07-09-2016 07:57 AM                     When Finding Dory was released I thought of seeing it in Dolby Vision at El Capitan in Hollywood. When I saw it was only showing in 3D, I decided not to see it there. Now when I look at the website, it no longer lists the movie as a 3D presentation. While I'm quite happy about out this, I wonder why they decided to show 2D instead?  |  IP: Logged Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 07-09-2016 05:52 PM                     We rarely show 3D at my cinema. And as a viewer, I rarely seek it out. I have 3D at home too but I can't remember the last time I bothered to put on the glasses. As a result, the batteries in my shutter glasses are dying from non-use.  |  IP: Logged

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