Trailermania: Under the Sea!

It’s been more than a decade since we dove deep into Pixar’s undersea wonderland. And I gotta tell you, from the moment this trailer begins, I find myself longing to go back there. I don’t know that any big-screen world has had such an effect on me aesthetically. Emerging from the theater after Finding Nemo was like waking up from a dream. It wasn’t the narrative that did that for me, although I did admire Andrew Stanton’s storytelling very much — no, it was the imagery, the colors, the light and shadow. In most situations, I would be deeply worried about this project. But this is the studio that made Toy Story 2 and 3, both of which I liked better than the first film. I’m hopeful. I just can’t wait to go back there.

So? I’ll be there on opening day, in front of the biggest screen I can find.

BIG MUSIC. MUCH YELLING. SIMPLISTIC DIALOGUE. MUCH DESTRUCTION. HULK WHALE SMASH! SOUNDTRACK SMASH EVEN HARDER!

So? The participation of Brendan Gleeson is the only thing I see here that kindles my curiosity. But I would rather listen to his voice talk about whaling for two hours than watch a CGI extravaganza. No thanks. I would be more satisfied spending my time re-reading Moby Dick. I might actually learn something through the exercise of my own imagination rather than allow myself to be pummeled by the bombast of someone else’s.