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I saw SHARK TALE the other night, not expecting another FINDING NEMO. I mean, how could another movie be as good. Besides, the performance by BARRY HUMPHRIES, the alter ego of DAME EDNA EVEREGE, as BRUCE the humongous shark with the father issues could scantly be bested. But SHARK TALE is nearly as good.
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ROBERT DENIRO does a shark like nobody’s business, and along with MARTIN SCORCESE as  a blowfish with issues of his own, a s well as 2 outrageous jellyfish, ERNIE and BERNIE, played by DOUG E. DOUG and ZIGGY MARLEY, together run the oceans like the Sopranos control Jersey. Who knew SCROCESE could be so funny as a loud mouth wimp. He really is hysterical. There is a side splitting (or is that butterflied) SHRIMP played by DAVID SORAN, and I haven’t even mentioned RENEE ZELLWEGGER and the omnipresent ANGELINA JOLIE, but I digress.
The sea belongs to WILL SMITH and his MR LIMPETT imitation as OSCAR. Not since ROBIN WILLIAMS inhabited ALLADIN have the one-liners as fast. This time the jokester has a bit of a hip-hop sensibility, and less flamboyant demeanor. But that is not to say this story isn’t another fabulous, fairy tale.
The story is really told through the fins and foibles of LENNY, expertly mouthed by JACK BLACK. It seems LENNY is not like the other sharks. And to be fair, SHARK TALE is not like that other undersea cartoon. Though it’s just as entertaining.
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As good as it is, it will be hard to watch these animated wonders once THE POLAR EXPRESS in IMAX 3D hits screens in November. I was privileged to see some of the rushes for the film, and it will change forever the movie-going experience. WARNER BROTHERS and IMAX are teaming up too jointly release the ROBERT ZEMECKIS work in both 2-D and 3-D IMAX formats, and the result, at least the 3-D part is spectacular. I can’t really explain other than to say it will take your breath away, and I don’t care that much for TOM HANKS movies.
It’s been 6 years since IMAX released CLOSE ENCOUNTERS IN THE 3RD DIMENSION, and I thought then that there was nothing close to the excitement, and authenticity of the new 3-D. The viewer is fully immersed into the environment, whether it be a dark, foreboding swamp, or an out of control roller coaster. Apparently things now are even better. All I can say is that I loved SHARK TALE, but I couldn’t stop thinking how much better it could have been as an IMAX 3-D, since I had seen THE POLAR EXPRESS clips days earlier. It will blow your mind!
Both films are must-sees, as I’m sure PIXAR’S new release THE INCREDIBLES will be, but THE POLAR EXPRESS in IMAX 3-D will take you to the next level. There is no going back. IMAX says it plans to release several more full-length feature films in the 3-D format over the next 12-18 months. And they are working on technology that will expand the application to live action films, not just CGI work. It can’t be too soon. You’ll see.
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