| The Movie Mystic by Stephen Simon Editor's Note: Stephen Simon is currently producing and directing the film, Indigo [see update at www.indigothemovie.com]. The following is a past review of recent films that may be out of the theaters. Look for them on video. Finding Nemo Those of you who have been reading this column since its inception 18 months ago know that we try to focus on films that inspire and empower us; therefore, I do not write about movies that I don't enjoy. If I see a film that I cannot, in good conscience, recommend as an uplifting experience, I will just stay silent about it. My philosophy has been sorely tested this year -- particularly in this summer of our dis(sed)content!! In 1975, Jaws ushered in the era of summer blockbuster "popcorn" pictures and Hollywood fell in love (actually, I think it was more like lust) with big action sequels, broad comedies, and comic book films. Like any paradigm, the "genre" had a great run -- until it started to die three years ago and, this summer, it has reached its nadir. In my opinion, there hasn't been a single studio film so far in 2003 that will be remembered when we hit Academy Award season and I truthfully do not remember a year in which I could have said that as we enter August. (Seasbiscuit may have ended that drought.) There has been one studio film, however, that does stand out as a beacon this summer -- and it must be rated as the heavy early favorite for the Academy's newest category: Best Animated Film -- and that film is Finding Nemo. Now -- wait -- keep reading -- it's NOT just a children's film -- it's much more in the vein of Shrek and I believe that adults will enjoy the film as much as kids. I went to see the film alone and just loved it. (My youngest daughter is now 17, so my days of taking young kids to the movies are over until my grandparenting era begins -- and, although that's not imminent, I look forward to it eagerly!) Finding Nemo is absolutely delightful. Its visuals are stunning to behold -- a world of color underneath the sea that has never before been rendered on screen. The hero, little Nemo, is a clown fish who strays too far from his coral reef, is captured and winds up in the fish tank of a dentist in Australia. His father, Marlin, actually trails him into the Sydney harbor and attempts to affect a daring rescue. (The one quibble that I would have with the film is that the fish in the dentist's aquarium see their best escape route as being flushed down the toilet because, as they say, "all drains lead to the ocean." I can only imagine how many kids are going to try to "rescue" aquarium fish in this manner -- and, sadly, almost all drains mostly lead, not to the ocean, but to sewage treatment plants where the fish....well, enough said.) Like Shrek, the film has dazzling visuals and wonderful humor and action for the kids, and it also contains humor that will soar right over the heads of all but the most precocious kids right into the hearts and minds of adults. As just one example, Nemo runs into a group of sharks that have formed an Alcoholics Anonymous-like group to wean themselves from eating fish once a week! Finding Nemo is also the rare Disney film wherein a single father is actually the hero -- so, Dads, here's a movie for us!! Spellbound Those of us who enjoy character and drama and content have been well served this summer by independent films such as the glorious Whale Rider and Bend It Like Beckham. I would like to add Spellbound to that list. When I first saw the ads for Spellbound, I thought it was either a re-release of the classic film of that title or a remake. Delightfully, it is rather an absorbing documentary that follows eight kids as they prepare for and compete in the National Spelling Bee contest. The dedication that these young kids devote to their quest (up to nine hours per day of studying tens of thousands of obscure words!) is deeply inspiring and fascinating to watch. Parents, friends and communities rally behind the kids to root them on their way (one of the most hilarious moments in the film is accomplished with a single visual: a local Hooters bar puts a congratulatory note on its marquee -- and misspells the key word!) The kids themselves discuss their obsession with words and one of them even comments that the preparation for the contest could be considered child abuse, except, in this case, it is the kids, not the parents, who drive themselves. In fact, some of the parents even lament that they want to take their kids to the mall for some relaxation and the kids just want to study! Spellbound concludes at the National Bee and, wonderfully, one of the kids we have been following actually wins! In a time in which so many Hollywood movies portray kids as slackers, thieves or even worse!, Spellbound is a refreshing reminder that our future is indeed in safe hands. Stephen Simon has produced such films as Somewhere in Time and What Dreams May Come. He is currently producing and directing Indigo. His book The Force is With You: Mystical Movie Messages That Inspire Our Lives, published by Walsch Books/Hampton Roads, is now available. Stephen also leads seminars, telecourses and inspirational Mystical Movie events around the world. For more information, please visit MysticalMovies.com. Stephen welcomes your comments by e-mail: Stephen @MysticalMovies.com. Copyright © 2003 Stephen Simon |
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