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I was in PetCo the other day, buying dog food. As is my habit, I was looking at the fish in their tanks.
This tiny little girl, 3 or perhaps four at the most was standing at a fishtank, looking.
Screaming at the top of her lungs: “Find Nemo! Go find Nemo NOW!!”
Over and over again.
Her parents, of course, were nowhere to be seen.
I hate kids.
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I don’t understand these people. Last week I was visiting my grandma and we were debating what movie to see. I recommended Nemo because it’s damn cute, and G-rated, and I really liked it. “I don’t like animated movies,” she said. Okay. So we saw Seabiscuit instead. I couldn’t see Grandma at any of the other movies that were playing – or me, for that matter, I go to very very few movies – so all was well.
Heh. Nobody bugs me much about movies I simply must see, because then the conversation goes something like this…
Me: “Yeah? Well you simply MUST see Wizard of Gore. You’d just LOVE it!”
Them: “Well…I don’t really like bloody movies.”
Me: “Oh, but this has magic tricks in it! You like magic tricks!”
Them: “I…don’t think so.”
Me: “Well then, how about Bloodsucking Freaks? Yay! Freaks!”
Them, slowly backing away: “Yeah, maybe I’ll checkthatoutorsomethinggottago!”
People don’t recommend movies to me unless they want to sit through my recommendations, which no one ever seems to want to do! 
You haven’t seen it yet? Ohmygoditssogreat…really. You have to. It will completely alter your reality.
No, really.
Nailbunny, it sounds like I’d enjoy your film fest. My favorite genres: gory horror movies and crappy scifi/monster movies. Never found anyone happy to let me pick the film ‘o’ the nite. 
Okay, so my tastes are weird. They’re still mine.
While I sympathize with your plight, I must point out that not only are you criticizing a movie you haven’t seen, your criticisms are also incorrect in the extreme. Pixar is one of the few film companies I can think of that prides itself on placing far higher value in story and character than in pretty computer graphics (even though they lead the pack in that area as well). Finding Nemo, like Toy Story and Monsters Inc, is chock full of “humor that goes over [kids’] heads for the adults to enjoy.” It’s what Pixar does. They ARE the Jim Hensons of today’s film industry.
Now, taking that into account, if you still choose not to watch the film, then cool- that’s your perogative, and anyone who continues to badger you about it is an asshole. But it severely weakens your case against your annoying friends when the only reasons you offer in defense of your decision are not only blanket stereotypes of animated films in general, but completely wrong regarding the specific film you’re addressing.
I do understand that it’s supposedly a great flick, and lots of people like it, nay love it and find it a life-altering experience. I’ve read the reviews. Ebert gave it four stars, and I usually agree with his reviews once I’ve seen a movie. But I’m just not interested. My husband is a Winona Ryder fan – but he hated some of her movies, and hasn’t seen the last several. Maybe they would be life-altering experiences for him too, but he chose not to see them. Big deal. Is it really so bad if we just don’t have any interest in animated films? The Godfather series is touted as some kind of cinematic masterpiece as well. I’m sure it’s wonderful for a lot of people, but we’re not into mob movies. OK? Is that so wrong?
I might also add that content/taste were not the only reasons I gave for declining to see this movie. It’s not like we are going to movies all the time and actively boycotting this one. Yes, it might be ok, but it’s waaaaaaay down on the list – as in we might watch it on video at somebody’s house sometime if they happen to show it. We’ve been seeing MAYBE two big-screen movies a year – at MOST. If we were in full-bore moviegoing mode like we were about ten years ago, we might check it out. But we have other things to do with our time and money. I got similarly pissed at a friend who kept “teasing” us about “coming up with excuses” for not coming to his drumming circles. I finally let him have it – we still like drumming, but our life has changed to the point where we don’t go to every drumming circle that comes up. We are doing other things. It’s simply not for others to judge our reasons for politely declining an activity.
I don’t get my panties in a twist when my friends aren’t interested in some type of entertainment that fascinates me. I don’t force them to outline their reasons and then criticize those reasons if I don’t agree. For example, I love music and listen to many kinds, and I find it very strange that some people have no interest in or even dislike music of any kind. But it’s their option, or preference, or the way they’re wired, or whatever, and not for me to argue. It’s all opinion and not subject to right or wrong.
I’m reminded of the kid I was babysitting who was eating melon and offered me some. I said no thanks, I don’t like melon. “Oh, but this one’s REALLY good! You should have some!” So? I don’t like melon, “really good” or not.
“Finding Nemo” may well be the cinematic masterpiece of the twenty-first century, OK? Yet my life (and everyone else’s) will somehow go on if I don’t see it. I have plenty of other things that fascinate and enlighten me. And I shouldn’t HAVE to defend my reasons. De gustibus, etc.
But you still have to deal with the jerks with cell phones.
You’re really freaking out my inner child. How can you not like cartoons? They’re cartoons!
Scarlett, my mom hated Nemo. She said it was an extremely boring movie. So in her opinion, you’re not missing anything.
The only person I will let force me into watching any movie is my roommate. We typically like the same kind of movies, although I’m not a fan of any action/fantasy type movies. However, he sat me down to watch The Matrix and X-Men, and I was glad he did - I loved both flicks. I’ll even go see movies I’m not all that interested in seeing if he recommends them - I usually come out liking them.
Ava
Finding Nemo is the third best movie of 2003, according to Rotten Tomatoes. It’s the best movie reviewed by a substantial number of critics.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt_year.php?year=2003
You have to see it. You just have to. No, seriously, you actually HAVE to.
You don’t want to see it. fine. You get annoyed at your friends for trying to push you into it. I agree with that.
But this board is dedicated to fighting ignorance, and I can’t let some of your comments slide:
And if you think that an animated film has nothing to give you, because it’s animated, I pity you and your ignorance. You’ve probably missed out on Iron Giant, Simpsons, Wallace & Gromit, Futurama, South Park, Shrek, Fantasia, Chicken Run and a whoe bunch of others.
A good movie is a good movie, IMO. I don’t generally dig “chick” flicks, and I was forced to watch “The Joy Luck Club”, and while the whole Mother/daughter realtionship was not something I could identify with, it was a fine film. Well-made, good writing etc.
I can more understand your disinterest in Harry Potter. Some folks just don’t like wizards and what not. Harry Potter is a pretty darn good take on the magic world genre, I love Rowlings word and name choices. But whatever.
There’s a guy I work with whose most favorable review of movies (at least non-LOTR movies), is "it wasn’t that bad. He doesn’t enjoy much, and, while irritates me to no end occasionally, I think he’s just missing out on fun stuff and it’s just “hurting” himself. That’s kind of what I get from your posts. You just don’t like animated films. You just don’t like mob movies. Great. Take a step back and just enjoy the movie, forget what kind or type of film it is. Just enjoy it for cryin’ out loud!
And Finding Nemo really is funny. Dorie just slays me!
If you are using generalizations like “I don’t like any animation” and “I don’t like any movies including anything connected to the mob” and “I don’t like any movies with any character whose name begins with T”, you are begging for people to call you on it. You are basically issuing them a challenge to find a movie in those categories that you would like.
If you really don’t want the persistent recommendations, tell them this:
As for Finding Nemo, it was OK. Not really anything to worry about missing out on.
I haven’t been to a movie theater in years because the last movie DH and I went to SUCKED. We spent 15 dollars apiece PLUS 20 dollars on 2 popcorns and 2 drinks. Hell fire for 35 dollars we could have gone to Taco Bell (my favorite fast food), ate till we were about to BUST and BOUGHT a GOOD movie to watch at home with the kids as many times as we wanted. I don’t know what the HELL is the big deal about going OUT to waste money when I can do it here at home. No cell phones, no whiney kids but my own and I can pick a movie I REALLY want to watch.
BTW I agree… chick flicks SUCK but my DH likes them (go figure). I like horror. The bloodier the better!!
Jesus H. Christ. Since when does “lack of interest” equate to “ignorance” and “I am hurting myself”? It’s ONE freakin’ MOVIE, not a religion. We LOVE movies and have a lot of favorites. But do I HAVE to be fascinated by a particular type of film just because a lot of other people are? Do I HAVE to love ALL movies? Hell no. I KNOW the technology is really advanced. I KNOW this film is really popular. I KNOW that animated films for grown-ups is becoming a big trend. I just have no interest in them. I’m not automatically dismissing them as “they suck and if you like them you are an idiot.” Other people are welcome to enjoy them. I am just NOT INTERESTED. Not drawn in. Not curious.
Yeah, I watch some cartoons on occasion. The Charlie Brown specials, Simpsons once in a while, The Critic. Liked the old Looney Toons and Pink Panther stuff. But I don’t go out of my way to pursue them. I watch if there’s nothing else going on.
I am also not interested in Douglas Adams, reality television, Tex-Mex food, hip-hop, gardening, tae-bo, or cribbage. I’m sure those are all wonderful things to the people who enjoy them. Great for them. But I’m not about to dive into them because (1) they haven’t drawn my interest and (2) I’m already busy spending time on the things that I know I like. Are you all going to start ripping into me for THAT?
I can’t imagine that any of you would find it particularly pleasant to have people attempt to BROWBEAT you into enjoying something, whether it be your personal friends or strangers on a message board. Did you all discover your interests on your own, or were they FORCED on you?
I keep thinking I could redo this thread, replacing “going to see Finding Nemo” with “having children” (something else I have no interest in) and the passions would run just as high. Sheesh. It’s a movie, not a life decision.
Another poster has already mentioned this, Scarlett, but it’s very strange that you say that you can appreciate the Muppet movies because they have elements for adults that go over the heads of kids.
Disney and Pixar discovered this secret long ago – or maybe they “borrowed” the idea from the Muppet movies. Anyway, all their animated films now have plenty of inside jokes and references to popular culture that only adults can appreciate. This keeps the adults happy while the kids are enjoying a basic, well-told story – complete with the appealing slapstick characteristics that are expected in animation.
So, while it’s certainly your perogative to not see this movie – and your friends ARE pricks for browbeating you – please don’t imply that Finding Nemo and other Disney and Pixar films don’t have elements that adults can appreciate, because they are chock full of them.
And a comment on MarkofT’s post: One thing that Pixar sucks at is human animation. There has been much improvement in other stuff like the hair and water you mentioned in your post.
So, I was hoping that there would be some improvement in the human animation in Nemo, but alas, I was dead wrong. The humans move like crude stick figures. They may have bulges … but they still move like stick figures.
But I swear that that blue fish (I forgot her name 
) HAD the facial expressions of Ellen Degeneres!
For me, I would replace it with “NASCAR RACING”.
My friends keep telling me it’s fun, cool, exciting, sexy, nirvana, etc.
To me its just pretty cars going fast and then turning left…over…and over…and over.
Fine. Go watch the noisy cars. Get drunk, sun burned, deaf or whatever. I can’t go with you. I’ll be at the theater watching the little fishies hunt for Nemo.
I never did imply that. Saying that I enjoy the Muppets because they do that != saying that other works don’t. I’ve read the reviews.
Finding Nemo was absolutely hilarious. My best friend and I went to see it for my birthday, and neither of us have or even want any kids.
We went because we liked Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. and A Bug’s Life and we laughed harder than the kids in there.
Dori (sp) was the Ellen Degeneres fish, and she definitely had Ellen’s personality quirks and facial expressions.
The little short film they showed at the beginning with the knick-knacks, that cracked us up too.