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From:Jodie Foster , Michael Carman , Anthony Simcoe , Gerard Butler , Peter Callan , NIM'S ISLAND (WS) (DVD MOVIE) , Mark Levin , Jennifer Flackett , 20th Century Fox ,
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 FUN, FUNNY AND EXOTIC, 2008-08-23
I don't think Walden Media is ever going to produce a five-star film, so I'm going to stop waiting. They just don't seem to have it in them. They lack the vision, I suppose. So, I'm just going to enjoy the four-star fare that seems to be their forte. Few family films rise above the level of "good mediocrity" nowadays anyway. (Pixar is the obvious exception to this.) Not so two generations ago. Two generations ago, five-star family films were the norm. But we in America have forsaken the family film, just as we have forsaken the family. I guess that is to be expected (forsaking the family film, I mean). I don't think the family film will make a comeback until the family makes one first.
That said, Nim's Island is a very enjoyable family film that is almost like taking a cheap vacation. It's fun, funny and exotic. It has three strong stars that carry it, in spite of a weak script and weak direction. You really can't do much better than Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) for a child actress, Jodie Foster (Maverick) for a female comedian, or Gerard Butler (300, PS: I Love You, Tomb Raider: Cradle Of Life) for a romantic hero. The story is quirky and unrealistic, but it is enjoyable and does have a message: "Be the hero of your own story."
Nim's Island can be forgiven its lack of realism because it is being told from the viewpoint of eleven-year-old Nim (Abigail Breslin), who has an active imagination that is fueled by reading adventure stories written by Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) and featuring Alex Rover (Gerard Butler) as the hero. Butler also plays Nim's father, Jack Ruscoe, who is a marine biologist living alone on a South Pacific island with his daughter. Jack goes off for two days on his boat to search for a new specimen of marine life, but does not return when he said he would because he is caught in a storm, which all but destroys his boat. Meanwhile, Alexandra, who is doing research for her latest novel, contacts Jack via e-mail to ask about his island, which has an active volcano on it. Thinking that Alexandra is the heroic Alex from her books, Nim asks Alex to come help her find her dad, whom she believes is lost at sea, and to help save her island, which is being invaded by tourists from a questionable cruise ship called the Buccaneer. Unlike Alex, Alexandra is deathly afraid of everything, and thinks of every excuse why she can't come. But the imaginary Alex, who is as real to Alexandra as he is to Nim, talks her into it. So off they go to help Nim, with Alexandra kicking and screaming.
The story is strangely reminiscent of Romancing The Stone, but toned down for kids. It also has a host of animal actors, including a seal, a frigate pelican and a bearded dragon lizard, all of which are Nim's pets and friends. The film is based on an illustrated children's book by Wendy Orr. I can see why the producers wanted to make this book into a film. I just can't see why they chose a pair of weak directors (Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin) instead of one strong one. Directing is not a job that can be shared. Nor can I see why they chose a team of weak writers (in addition to Flackett and Levin, Joseph Kwong and Paula Mazur) instead of one or two strong ones. Too many cooks spoil the soup, especially when the characters and plot have already been worked out in the book. So, much is lost that could have been saved with greater wisdom on the part of the producers. But the actors are enjoyable and the locations gorgeous, and it does make a nice escapist film for the family. The DVD may be worth buying because it comes with a book of exotic creatures; but the special features are rather slim unless you're an Abigail Breslin fan.
Waitsel Smith
 NOT just "a kid's movie", 2008-08-23
We watched Nim's Island last night, and I discovered a real keeper. I am definitely buying this one. Jodie Foster was simply hilarious! And the story is so unique. I love the mix of the possible with the improbable; it is a real hope booster, and at the least, an excellent analogy of what can transpire, what a difference one life can make, if it will go over the back of itself.
Also, I encouraged my young adult son as we watched it together, "See, everybody's life doesn't have to be the 'same'. Our family has made some rather unique choices in how we live - not simply living where we're "from," for one, and encouraging him to pursue what he's good at, not at just what will make him money or make him "fit in" - and even though there are real challenges living life "from the heart," there is also real joy. This aspect of the story is realized right off, and never spoiled.
 A good film for kids , 2008-08-18
Nim (Abigail Breslin) lives with her scientist father (Gerard Butler) on their own tropical island. They have all the modern conveniences and are devoted to one another. One day, Dad gets lost at sea and Nim starts an email correspondence with Alex Rover (Jodie Foster), the neurotic, agoraphobic author of Nim's favorite adventure novels. Alex vows to come to Nim's island to help the little girl.
If I were eight years old, I would love this movie; it's all about girl power and a great father/daughter relationship. But I'm not eight, and I found the movie way too precious and utterly boring. The actors are all okay, although Foster seemed wrong for the part, Butler phoned in his performance, and Breslin was too old to be Nim. She was too perfect, too confident, and too capable and lacked the sincerity she had in earlier movies (Signs and Little Miss Sunshine). I didn't much care what happened to her.
While the island scenery was lovely, there was a lot of obvious CGI and the movie felt like an over-long cartoon. There is never any doubt that the movie will end happily and the lack of suspense ruined it for me. Highly recommended for kids; adults may find it provides a nice nap.
The writer the scientist and the island, 2008-08-17
Nim Rusoe (Abigail Breslin) lives on an unknown island with her scientist father Jack (Gerard Butler.) One day her father sets out on the sea to make a discovery. Unfortunately there was a storm and her father did not return. So Nim turns to her adventure book hero Alex Rover to help her find her father. Well you guessed it Alex is really Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) the writer of the adventure novels. Can Alexia overcome her agoraphobia and help Nim? Mean time back at the ranch or island Nim but throat off an invasion from a ship, "The buccaneer."
Loosely based on a story "Nim's Island" by Wendy Orr, with all its hokeyness and predictability could well turn out to be one of the best kid's films available. There is no underlying moral clap trap; it is just pure fun adventure.
The only real problem is that they crank the music scenes up so loud that you can not hear the dialog or is it the dialog so low that when you turn the sound up the music decibels shakes the whole abode.
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The film was just asking for the Blu-ray treatment and even with Blu-ray and a big screen it is impossible to tell when the Nim's anthropomorphic friend lizard "Fred" is animal, CGI, rubber or a hybrid of all three.
Joe Versus the Volcano ~ Tom Hanks
3 of 3 customers found the following review helpful:
"Nim's Island" is a fun-filled fantasy for nearly all ages., 2008-08-17
This is exactly the kind of film I've been waiting for Jody Foster to do. I always knew she had this well-hidden comedic side. In addition, Gerard Butler makes a great Scottish Indiana Jones!
Again, Amazon has done a nice job summarizing the film, so not much of that here. This is just a special film to me because I just love how this family friendly film intertwines fantasy, adventure, relationships and love into one clever package. Gerard Butler does terrific double duty as Abigail Breslin's father and Jodie Foster's alter ego who gives her the courage to face her fears to save Breslin who has been separated from her father on their island, which has been "invaded" (another clever storyline). Foster must get over her fear of the outside world in order to get to Breslin's character on that isolated island and those moments when she battle with herself and her alter ego (Bulter) are the show stopping moments for me.
The films sparkles with originality and heart. I was delighted by the performances and left smiling when the closing credits ran. This film may not delight all though. It is an awkward mix and bounces around wildly as if the writer and director had forgotten to take their A.D.D. medications, but for some, like me, that is the charm of this film, but for others, that can grate on one's nerves. It's a matter of taste.
Although just a bit too uneven at times, I completely enjoyed this film.
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