Finding Nemo

[Maximus]

I know there is a Finding Nemo thread over on OBOB, but I wanted to comment on the film here.

Have you all seen it?

Do you see Christ in the film the way I did?

I just saw the film this evening. My parents sent the DVD for my 1-year-old daughter Anna.

I realize that Disney/Pixar probably intended no Christian message in Finding Nemo, but I saw one there anyway. To me it was strong.

Okay . . . maybe I'm goofy.

After muttering under his breath to his father, "I hate you," Nemo swims off into the deep water against his dad's command. He is netted by a scuba diver, a dentist, who takes him to his office and places him in his saltwater aquarium.

Nemo's father begins a frantic search for his lost son.

At one point he is even, like Jonah, swallowed by a whale.

A pelican flies to the window of the dentist's office and brings Nemo (and the other captive fish) the news that Nemo's dad is searching for him, braving sharks and all sorts of other dangers.

Ultimately, encouraged by this good news, Nemo escapes from the tank and into Sydney harbor, not far beyond the dentist's window. He is reunited with his father.

I don't want to tell the whole story (I've told too much already), but I think there is some more Christian imagery near the end.

I seem to remember once upon a time reading that the pelican was an ancient Christian symbol for something, but I cannot remember what.

What do you all think?

At any rate, I think it would be a great tool for teaching kids about the love of God in Christ.

[Philip]

Maybe I'll have to put aside my Disney animation boycot and see this one.

I seem to remember once upon a time reading that the pelican was an ancient Christian symbol for something, but I cannot remember what.


Vaguely, I recall this to.

[Maximus]

I found this web site on Christian symbolism that shows the pelican as "a symbol of Christ's sacrificial death" :

http://clawww.lmu.edu/faculty/fjust/Koch-ChristianSymbols.htm

You might want to check it out. It has some cool graphics.

Is the pelican in Finding Nemo merely a coincidence, along with the swallowing by the whale?

Near the end Nemo nearly sacrifices his life for his dad's friend and some other fish trapped in the net of a fishing trawler. There are images of a wooden beam and crossbar (supporting the net) that reminded me of the Cross.

You need to see it and make up your own mind.

Here's the pelican symbol.

[Photini]

I know there is a Finding Nemo thread over on OBOB, but I wanted to comment on the film here.

Have you all seen it?

Do you see Christ in the film the way I did?

.
I love the movie, and so do my kids.

There are so many other movies as well, that you can "baptise" and draw a very good Christian message from. I try to do that with every movie that I possibly can. :)

[Maximus]

I love the movie, and so do my kids.

There are so many other movies as well, that you can "baptise" and draw a very good Christian message from. I try to do that with every movie that I possibly can. :)
I agree.

How about Snow White as a symbol of the Church, resurrected from her glass coffin by the kiss of the Prince?

How about Sleeping Beauty, likewise a symbol of the Church, resurrected from a deathlike enchanted sleep by the Prince, who must fight a dragon and cut his way through a forest of thorns (as in the crown of thorns) to reach her?

[Peter]

When I watch a movie, I do so for one reason and one reason alone, to be distracted (some call it entertained).

I don't go to movies to find hidden meanings. I don't look for hidden meanings. Sure, there are things that will remind me of my faith. All movies have a redemption message. Either a person makes a change for the better or else they reject the change.
The only film I've ever seen that didn't fit this was the original "Thomas Crown Affair." No change of heart and the dude gets away with the crime.

A director friend of mine says that every story is a love story. The love may be disfunctional or misplaced, but love is at the heart of the story.
Seeing as how love is also the center of Christianity, "For God so loved the world," it's not hard to see every story with some spiritual significance. Besides, the messiah image is a strong one and makes for great story telling. Look at the (Ficticious) Klingons. They have their "Jesus." He's called Kaless (kay-less). And the whole Star Trek theme? To boldly go...(Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations...)
And on and on....

Peace

Peter

[Maximus]

Maybe so, Peter. But in some films and stories the symbolism is real and does not have to be forced or read into what is going on.

There is nothing wrong with distraction and entertainment for the sake of relaxation and recreation.

In some tales, however, - especially the very old ones - the Christian significance is there on purpose and is meant to be found.

In some of them it is there despite what the authors intended, put there by God, who is ever leading us to Himself.

[Peter]

And that's my point. You can find symbolism, real or imagined, in just about every film.

Speaking of sybolism in media, has anyone heard that the original "Battlestar Galactica" was a Mormon propaganda show? I heard that somewhere in a galaxy far, far away...
Peace.

Peter

[Photini]

I particularly enjoy finding all the symbolism in The Lord of the Rings series.
We also have a movie "The Neverending Story" and also, "The Neverending Story II" which I always find a strong message in too.

[Maximus]

You can find symbolism, real or imagined, in just about every film.

Well, if it can be found, it's real. That's the way the human psyche works.

[Benedicta00]

I found this web site on Christian symbolism that shows the pelican as "a symbol of Christ's sacrificial death" :

http://clawww.lmu.edu/faculty/fjust/Koch-ChristianSymbols.htm

You might want to check it out. It has some cool graphics.

Is the pelican in Finding Nemo merely a coincidence, along with the swallowing by the whale?

Near the end Nemo nearly sacrifices his life for his dad's friend and some other fish trapped in the net of a fishing trawler. There are images of a wooden beam and crossbar (supporting the net) that reminded me of the Cross.

You need to see it and make up your own mind.

Here's the pelican symbol.

Well that is nice to know since the Pelican is my official state bird, Louisiana.

[Maximus]

Well that is nice to know since the Pelican is my official state bird, Louisiana.
My dad is a native of New Orleans. :cool:

[Miss Shelby]

Maybe I'll have to put aside my Disney animation boycot and see this one.



Why have you boycotted seeing Disney films, Philip?

Michelle

[Benedicta00]

My dad is a native of New Orleans. :cool:

That's where I'm at.

[Benedicta00]

Why have you boycotted seeing Disney films, Philip?

Michelle

The Catholic league as asked all Catholics to boycott anything Disney because all those anti Catholic movies that come out of Hollywood are all owned by Disney and the CEO of Disney is personally very, very, anti Catholic.

[Miss Shelby]

The Catholic league as asked all Catholics to boycott anything Disney because all those anti Catholic movies that come out of Hollywood are all owned by Disney and the CEO of Disney is personally very, very, anti Catholic.I am behind on the times. I'm gonna search the web for that info right now.

Michelle

[Miss Shelby]

Michelle,

That would probably include the Disney channel, too wouldn't it?

Michelle

[brewmama]

I agree.

How about Snow White as a symbol of the Church, resurrected from her glass coffin by the kiss of the Prince?

How about Sleeping Beauty, likewise a symbol of the Church, resurrected from a deathlike enchanted sleep by the Prince, who must fight a dragon and cut his way through a forest of thorns (as in the crown of thorns) to reach her?
I was blown away when I saw Sleeping Beauty with my kids last year. The 3 fairies give the prince the sword and the shield with the cross on it to fight evil. It was really powerful.

[Maximus]

I agree, brewmama. I think Sleeping Beauty, a German fairy tale, was designed to be a Christian allegory.

Back on the subject of the Christian symbolism in Finding Nemo, here is something from St. Thomas Aquinas on the pelican as a symbol of Christ's sacrificial death:

Pie pellicane, Jesu Domine
Me immundum munda tuo sanguine
Cujus una stilla salvum facere
Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere.

It was brought to my attention by a friend on another forum who goes by the screen name "LatinTrad."

In English it is:

Merciful Pelican, Lord Jesus
Cleanse me, the unclean one, with Thy blood
Of which one drop would suffice
To save the world entirely from wickedness.

It is a reference to the belief that, in the absence of other food, a mother pelican will pierce her breast to feed her young with her own blood.

[Benedicta00]

Michelle,

It wasn't Walt Dinsey who was bad, it has only been in the recent 10 or so years, the CEO, his name is Michael something, (I forget) but he is a open homosexual and is anti anything Christian and since the Catholic Church is the voice on morals, guess who gets attacked?

The anti Catholic campaign has settled down a lot in the last few years because the Catholic League did fight back, so Disney has chilled a bit.

The sponsoring of "gay pride day" once a year at Disney Land did it for me, it is a yearly tradition there.

Bottom line is, we can't just cut all Disney out, it's every where, my kids watch the Disney Channel, it is kind of pointless to boycott IMO, because they own everything, ABC, etc, so what you gonna do?

[Tinker Grey]

Michelle,

It wasn't Walt Dinsey who was bad, it has only been in the recent 10 or so years, the CEO, his name is Michael something,
Eisner, I believe.

[Benedicta00]

Eisner, I believe.

Yes, that's him, thanks.