Welcome to Film Legends where the most renowned films of our age battle to be crowned the greatest of all time.
We'll be analyzing and awarding points for every single thing a movie does right.
Many will compete, but in the end only the strongest will have what it takes,
To become Film Legends
Today's Challenger, Finding Nemo
Marlon: "Wow!"
Wow is right
Finding Nemo's animated ocean is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Clown fish rarely stray far from their anemone homes, so Marlon's anxiety for facing the open ocean is appropriate.
Marlon: "They'll wake up, poke their little heads out and they see a whale!"
If he only knew...
Narrative Foreshadowing!
Coral: "I like Nemo"
in Latin Nemo means nobody. Is Finding Nemo an extensional metaphor?
Nooo, it's a reference to Captain Nemo in Jules Verne "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea". Literary Allusion!
Mild-mannered Marlon is named for a apex predator with a spear coming out of its face!
The barracuda attack causes Marlon to suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D)
A condition of persistent mental distress caused by an emotionally shocking event.
Deep Thoughts!
Marlon: "Coral?"
As in many Disney movies stories, the death of Nemo's mother jumpstarts his emotional development.
It also emphasizes what a dangerous place the ocean can be, especially for sea food.
Tragically Delicious!
Marlon: "You'll never get out of there yourself, I'll do it!"
Marlon's fear turns him into a helicopter parent
A recent social trend where by parents swoop in to rescue their children at the first sign of trouble.
Timely!
Nemo's damaged fin is a metaphor for any short coming a parent can perceive in their child.
Nemo: "Just because y-you're scared of the ocean"
Consistent with the movies themes of empowerment and independence,
Nemo stands up for himself when Marlon projects his insecurities onto his son.
Marlon: "If you put one fin on that boat!" *Nemo flicks fin against boat*
But Nemo immediately gets captured, which justifies Marlon's over-protectiveness
Mixed Messages!
Combo Lost!
A-113 a reference to the classroom where many of the animators honed their craft.
As seen in every Pixar film
Dory:"Oh I forget things almost instantly, it runs in my family"
Dory has anterograde amnesia, the inability to recall recent events
Like Marlon, she's got issues
Narrative Parallels!
Bruce: "Name's Bruce!"
Bruce was named after the mechanical shark in Jaws, who in turn was named after Steven Spielberg's lawyer.
His terrifyingly toothy smile contrasts with his chummy demeanor
The shark not the lawyer
Vicious Visage!
Bruce: *bangs* "Heeeeere's Brucyyy!"
A reference to the Shining, they even nailed Jack's eyebrows!
Jack: "Heereee's Johnnyyyy!"
Hey now, count down to Easter Egg Blitz!
The dentist's office contains references to-
Monsters Inc! Toy Story! Pixar Employees! The short film Knick Knack! The location of Pixar's offices! Monsters Inc... again, and the Incredibles!
Easter Egg Super Combo!
Token Unlocked!
Gurgle: "He hasn't been decontaminated yet! Jacques!"
A shoutout to the under-the-sea explorer and conservationist, Jacques Cousteau
Environmental Homage!
Deb and Flow, referring to Ebb and Flow of Tides
Bloat: "Oh, Darla"
Nemo: "What? What's wrong with her?"
Gurgle: "She wouldn't stop shaking the bag." *DRAMATIC MUSIC*
Come on! Pixar might have well have used Sid from Toy Story here!
I mean they're the same character! Thoughtless kids who take out their destructive tendencies on their playthings!
Recycled Character!
These crazy fish were inspired by One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
Gil resembles the rebellious Randle McMurphy, who also tried to motivate his fellow inmates to rest control from their oppressors
Jack's Back!
Gil acts as Nemo's father surrogate
Aiding him in his emotional journey.
Nemo: "Eh, can you help me?"
Gil: "No"
Gil: "You get yourself in there, you can get yourself out"
In contrast to Marlon, Gil makes Nemo help himself
Nemo: "I can't! I ha-have a bad fin!"
Gil: "Never stopped me"
This makes Gil the perfect role model for Nemo
Symmetry times two!
Dory: "Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming..."
Something tells me we're gonna hear a whole lot of this.
Dory: " I remembered what it said!"
Dory: "I usually forget things but I remembered it that time!"
Wait a minute. How does this whole short-term-memory-loss-thing work again?
Too Convenient *Sad noise*
Nemo sleeps inside a Nipa hut
a structure used in Filipino culture to represent communal unity
Here it symbolizes the concerted effort to help Nemo.
Fish: "Hey, you!"
That's John Ratzenberger, he's played a role in every Pixar feature to date.
Darkness symbolizes Marlin's fear of the unknown
We see Marlin confronting darkness throughout the film to test his courage and resolve.
Dory: "Something's telling me we should swim through it. Not over it."
Marlin: "Are you even looking at this thing?"
Dory: "C'mon, trust me on this!"
Not gonna happen. Marlin can't trust Dory any more than he can trust Nemo.
No half-measures for Pixar.
It's Marlin and Dory versus approximately 77 thousand Jelly fish.
I don't like those odds.
"Sweet viz"
Okay, 76,997 Jelly fish and one hidden Mickey.
Still pretty tough though.
"Doubly sweet viz"
Gil's escape scheme almost gets Nemo sliced and diced by the filter
and Marlin gets a little redemption.
Some protectiveness is okay.
"#filter"
Marlin: "Oh my goodness!"
Crush: "Woah, kill the motor dude."
Crush: "Tell us see what squirt does flying solo."
Everybody's got parenting advise for Marlin. Ease up on your kid.
Seagulls: "Mine, mine, mine etc..."
The selfish creed of the seagulls plays against the films moral of co-operation.
Dory and Marlin's journey into the whale resembles the biblical story of Jonah and the whale.
"Biblical Allusion!"
Just as Jonah gets deliverance from the whale once he declares his devotion to God.
Marlin must take a leap of faith for salvation.
"Deep thoughts!"
Good rule of thumb, when you hear the music from Pyscho...
...Run for it! Fish: "Darla!"
Gil: "He's gonna get flushed down the toilet, he's gonna get out of here!"
Deb: "Yay!"
Not so fast!
According to Water treatment experts Nemo would have been ground into Fish-burger before he even sniffed the ocean.
And now a moment of silence.
For all the fish freed by their owners because of this film.
"Don't dump your fish down the drain!"
Marlin: "Just keep swimming!"
There it is!
I knew that would come in handy.
See Marlin, Nemo CAN handle himself. Life lessons for the win.
"Symmetry!"
Marlin: "Nemo?"
Marlin: "...Nemo?"
Marlin's recollection is a flashbulb memory
a vivid recollection of an emotionally profound moment.
The studio dedicated the film to Glenn McQueen, an animator who passed away during filming.
"Respect!"
But there's still time for a couple more Easter eggs
namely Luigi from Cars and Mike Wazowski from Monster's Inc
"one more Easter egg for the road!"
Alright 'Finding Nemo' let's see how you did!
High marks in style, solid technique, definitely the marks of a Pixar film.
and while it's no 'Marianas Trench' it's still pretty deep for a fish story
and don't forget Pixar's the king of the Easter egg
I'll be cleaning yolk off my screen for the next month!
The egg-heads over at Pixar stuff this one full of hidden references earning it a special bonus!
and now let's check out the leader board...
nice job 'Finding Nemo' up to number... Two!
but I wouldn't get too comfortable up there, we've seen some heavy hitters in the comments
So keep those suggestions coming
Does our next challenger have what it takes to win the whole Chimichanga?
We'll have to wait and see...
"Is the next challenger ready?"
Crush?: "Yo theorists! What up?"
"If you haven't seen the film legends episodes on the 'Matrix' or 'Captain America Civil War'
"Make sure you click 'here' or 'here' to check 'em out!"
"and hey, check out the Wisecrack channel too!"
"They're soooo dope"
"They've got totally excellent episodes on video games, TV shows, movies, and lots more."
"You dudes are totally gonna love it"
"So click 'here' to check out their channel page."
"Give 'em a little whirl, show 'em a little love, hit that subscribe button"
"and hey, tell 'em you're a theorist"
"That's all for now, see you later... Woooooah!"