ironhorse_iv Review of A Fish Tale

A Fish Tale (2000)

OH MY COD! This movie was surprising, not that bad. However, the story is a bit fishy.

[6/10 · 29 November 2015]

At first, I kinda flounder on seeing this Danish animation movie for the longest time, until I finally gave this movie a watch. Now, that I had seen this, I really don't need any more time to mullet over it. While, this movie directed by Stefan Fjeldmark isn't as good as Pixar's 2003's 'Finding Nemo' in the masterpiece department; 'Help, I'm a Fish' wasn't as bad as critics make it out to be. Yes, it cod be batter, but it was a pretty enjoyable for the most part. This movie got me hooked, lined and sinker. I kinda like this underwater adventure film. It was decent. Still, the movie's story could had needed, a little work when it came to the science. It's seem bit too implausible for humans to turn into fishes. It also seem a bit illogical, that fishes would be able to understand, language so quick, but it never once, felt too distracting or bizarre for a kid's film. It's better off, just to ignore it and just try to enjoy the film. I think, children will easily understand, what's going on, no matter, how much exposition is spit out. Anyways, the movie tells the story of three kids, whom were accidentally turned into fishes, when a mad scientist, Professor MacKrill (Voiced by Terry Jones/ Søren Sætter-Lassen in Danish)'s experiment with global warming and its rising oceans tides goes horribly wrong. Now, left in the ocean to fend for themselves, the three kids; the adventurous, Fly (Voiced by Jeff Pace in English/ Sebastian Jessen in Danish), the child genius, Chuck (Voiced by Aaron Paul in English/ Morten Kernn Nielsen in Danish), and last, the baby sister, Stella (Voiced by Michelle Westerson in English/ Pil Neja in Danish), must find the strength and courage to fight against a power-hungry enemy fish, Joe (Voiced by Alan Rickman in English/ Nis Bank-Mikkelsen in Danish) for leadership of the ocean; while, also racing against time to recover the antidote which will turn them back into normal selves. Can the kids make it, back to solid ground or will they be end up being shark bait? Watch the movie to find out! Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, 'Help! I'm a Fish' had a very interesting production. The movie was finish in late 1999, and released in Denmark in 2000. Yet the producers felt to release the film in the U.S, a year later in 2001, under a different name and title, 'A Fish Tale'; despite already having a full English speaking cast redubbed, the original Danish lines. I guess, the producers didn't had the confidence to release it, earlier or retouches had to be done in the animation side. In my opinion, I don't see much, different, from this and the Danish version, so who knows, why it was released so late! All, I know is the hand-drawn animation in this film is just as good as two largest American animation studios at the time: Disney & Dreamsworks. It looks amazing! I have a theory, that some of those companies animators, also work on this film, because I see, a lot of familiar drawing styles. You can really tell, in the way, the animation people's heads are shape and how they moved, frame by frame. You can also tell, that the movie used some early CGI in some of its sequences. They mostly were cleverly cover by cell-shaded, so it always be too conspicuous, however, some of them, really stick out, such in the scenes featuring machines, storms or larger creatures. One thing, I didn't really didn't like, about the CGI, is how the newer DVD cover art makes it seem like a fully computer animation movie, when it was not. Another thing, that the newer DVDs gone is a really crappy 3-D rendering. It really looks horrible. Talking about horror, while, the movie is indeed rated G, the movie is full of nightmarish imagery, such as human bodies graphic degenerating, cult-like organizations & anamorphic fishes, getting eaten. These scenes might scare, little children. The movie is also full of intense moments that will get anybody heart-rate up. Lots of great suspense and action scenes. Not all things, were scary. There were some humor that audience might find funny, but they were few in between. I do like, how the movie pull on your heartstrings, however, I wish, the movie would able more time to sink in, before revealing, the big twists. One thing, the movie was really adequate; was the music. "Intelligence" by Alan Rickman & 'Help! I'm A Fish" by the band, Little Trees were alright, but none of them, were that catchy to me. Maybe, I just don't like Euro-pop. The voice talents were actually not that bad at all in this. All the child actors in this, work well. I'm still shock that Aaron Paul from 2010's TV Series, Breaking Bad, voiced the nerdy kid in this. It's so different, from the roles, he would be known for. Alan Rickman is also remarkable. He lent his gritty baritone to a cool and suave villain. Very impressed with his performance. Terry Jones was a great choice for Professor McKrill. His character is quite mad, and it works for him. Still, I really didn't like his singing voice. Way too much, silliness- there. The rest of the voice actors were fine, in their limited roles. I do like, how the movie has character development, and some importation good morals. Advocates teamwork, friendship, and "brain power" is a great message for the children. I like how the main courageous young hero has empathy, strength of character, and takes responsibility for his mistakes. His two companions are equally resourceful and the three work together to get themselves out of trouble. Overall: Engaging heroes, exciting action and all-around good animation, makes this a gill-ty pleasure for me. It will gained a cult-follow in the years to come, for sure.