£16 in premium fund, thanks Ciao :-). You can also read my reviews at http://lou-reviews.blogspot.co...
£16 in premium fund, thanks Ciao :-). You can also read my reviews at http://lou-reviews.blogspot.co m/
Member since:25.11.2008
Reviews:136
Members who trust:24
A pleasant little film this one, not the greatest children's adventure film ever made, but a reasonable effort.
Synopsis
Nim is an 11 year old girl who lost her mother when she was a toddler. He father who's a writer and marine biologist told her she was swallowed by a blue whale which was on the run from a ship called the Buccaneer.
Nim and her father Jack live on an island they discovered after sailing around the world for several years. They are the only inhabitants, unless you count a collection of animals which Nim has befriended, included a sealion, a bearded dragon and a pelican. Occasionally they receive parcels from the mainland which contain items they can't produce for themselves, some of Nim's favourite items are books, particularly those of the great adventurer Alex Rover.
Across the other side of the world in San Francisco, Alex Rover sits at her computer trying to pen her next novel, but
with limited success. She needs inspiration and decides to email the legendary biologist Jack Rusoe to ask him about the volcano which he lives close to. She can't find out for herself because she hasn't left the house in months, she's an agoraphobic with obsessive compulsive disorder.
Meanwhile Jack has set of to find a new species of plankton. When a storm brews up both he and Nim are in trouble, added to this the Buccaneer rears it's ugly head again. Can a woman who can't even collect her own mail do anything to help Nim?
Cast
Abigail Breslin as Nim Rusoe
Jodie Foster as Alexandra Rover
Gerard Butler as Jack Rusoe / Alex Rover
My Thoughts
As I said before, it's not the greatest film in the world, but it is enjoyable and in some parts quite funny.
The worst thing about the film first, throughout the film Alex interacted with her alter-ego, the 'Alex Rover' of the adventure books. For the kids this was quite difficult for them to grasp at first (well I think my son got it, but it went right over my daughter's head), and I found it a bit irritating that he'd just pop up all over the place.
The strongest acting in this film comes from the youngest actor, Abigail Breslin. Jodie Foster does a passable job but she didn't seem to suit the role at all, her earlier scenes were the better ones, but she just couldn't seem to interact with Abigail properly, and there was no connection between them.
Gerard Butler did a good job as Jack Rusoe, but was not as convincing as Alex Rover, perhaps that was the Jodie Foster effect at work, but I think it was because the character was weak and had little to offer the film.
The animals made my kids laugh the most, lizards flying through the air aren't something you see every day, and the sealion was extremely cute.
The special effects aren't all that special, you can see were they've used a green screen on many occasions, although I don't think the kids noticed it too much.
It really is a film where you have to suspend your realism, because the story is really far fetched, Nim's ability to communicate with the animals is incredible and the whole story is so obvious from the start. But it's all good fun, and it's a kids film after all, when have they ever been realistic?
DVD Extras
Deleted Scenes
"Imaginary Friends" Originally Nim was meant to have imaginary friends in the guides of Huck Finn, Alice (from Wonderland) and Black Beard to keep her company.
"Alexandra's Assistant 'Russell' " Scenes which featured Alex's fed up and worn out assistant.
" The Great Blue Whale " These scenes made more of the story that Jack told Nim about her mum.
I think the imaginary friends and the whale scenes would have been better left it, the imaginary friends ones in particular would have added quite bit to the film.
Abigail's Journey
- A bit of background on how Abigail copes with schooling and filming.
Working on Water
A look behind the scenes of the water scenes (which there were a lot of!), and the difficulties they faced since Abigail was not a strong swimmer.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Anything can happen on Nim's Island a magical place ruled by a young girl's imagination. ... more
It is an existence that mirrors that of her favorite literary character Alex Rover - the world's greatest adventurer. But Alexandra the author of the Rover book...
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exceptional by (4%):
very helpful by (96%):
