45 out of 56 people found the following comment useful :- Great film, 31 March 2008
Author:
the-gossip-king from Australia
While on holidays I managed to see this movie and I was pleasantly
surprised. I have never liked Breslin but she is at her best in this
movie and Jodie Foster will always be the magnificent Jodie Foster.
Gerard Butler was also very funny and had me cracking up which is
something a family movie has not made me do in a while. The story is
good and witty and the movie is very family friendly. I think older
teens would be bored because although I enjoyed it the story was a bit
predictable at times. Overall I was very happy with the movie and would
recommend it first and foremost as a family movies. Kids will love it
and adults will be thoughtful enough to enjoy it.
33 out of 40 people found the following comment useful :- A good one for the whole family... Very creative!, 24 March 2008
Author:
gcoast-1 from Australia
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I went and saw this movie at the world premiere. I will start out by
saying this... It is a very good for the whole family to enjoy.
Storyline: A girl and her father are on a remote island. They are the
only ones who live their. The father is a research scientist who is
interested in microscopic creatures. Nim, the daughter, is very much in
touch with nature and enjoys reading the tales of Alex Rover, an
adventurer. The author, Alexandra Rover, is agoraphobic and hasn't left
her apartment in a very long time. Dad goes to sea, storm makes him
stranded. Nim is stuck alone on the island and is contacted by
Alexandra Rover, and calls for her help. Well, you will have to watch
the rest to find out...
Pros: A great family movie. It has the perfect recipe of drama, comedy,
suspense and a touch of romance. The acting is great. The scenery is
beautiful. The special effects are magnificent. The story of a father
and daughter living on a remote island is very creative and lends
itself to a really great story, which is what this movie is.
Cons: Being a family movie, it is predictable. There are also plot
elements which go no-where. One being there is a huge talk about Nim's
mother at the beginning, but then it really doesn't go anywhere after
that.
Summary: If you have kids, of any age, this is a good movie to go and
see with them. If you don't have kids, but are looking for something
different from the usual movies, this is still one to consider. All in
all, a good story, well told and with great characters.
22 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :- Great Family Film, 4 April 2008
Author:
tifferbear from United States
I loved this movie. I loved this movie so much that I came out of it
with mascara smudges.
Jodi Foster as a neurotic writer who lives through her novels was just
perfect. From anyone else without her chops it might have been over the
top, but she was just brilliant. I for one was so glad to see her play
an endearing character. Her past performances, and even her features
lend a hard edge to people's perception of her, but I think this movie
will give people a peek at the mom within the actress.
Gerard Butler was absolutely endearing in both roles that he played
(Jack and Alex), and he was believable as a Dad.
Amber Breslin was believable as a capable young girl, and her extended
family of animals were cute but not overly saccharine.
I am having a hard time writing a recommendation without spoilers, so
let me conclude this by saying go see it. This is not only a cute
movie, but the type of family movie that people should support. Good
action, good story, and good values.
18 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :- Above Average Family Movie, 4 April 2008
Author:
tabuno from utah
Nim's Island manages to never to go over the top and combines a nice
comedy drama genre for the big screen. This movie has elements from The
Last Action Hero (1993), Jumping Jack Flash (1986), and The Whalerider
(2002), all fascinating looks at either imaginary or fantastical
friends or exotic islands and a young woman's connection with marine
life. What this movie is able to avoid is Home Alone (1990) dumb
slapstick comedy. The script was very sensitive and careful with
physical comedy and Jodie Foster's performance was dead on without
becoming sloppy at all. Unfortunately, several of the plot points
became close to cheesy, the volcano scenes had too much in the way of
coincidental events, and the father's exploits teetered on
unbelievable. Overall, though Nim's Island handled its material well,
usually stayed within the bounds of acceptability in order to provide
an entertaining, fun performance by Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin.
Seven out of Ten Stars.
18 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :- Great movie in more ways than one, 5 April 2008
Author:
ryan_christopher from United States
I have read many comments about predictability, blah, blah, blah! I
found this film refreshingly entertaining for all ages. There was
something for everyone. Being a female around the same age, I can
relate to Jodie Foster since I practically grew up with her!! And I do
feel it was great seeing her in a lighter movie than she's been making
lately.
Abigail Breslin was cute as always. She definitely can hold her own,
but then she always has.
Gerard Butler - well I can never say enough about him. That's why I put
great movie in more ways than one. To see him in two roles was just
great. My daughter who is 15 got me into him from "Phantom" to "Dear
Frankie" to "300" (and I hate war movies usually) to "Tomb Raider" to
"P.S. I Love You" and now this movie. We went with 4 of her friends,
and after wards we had a discussion on which "Gerard" we liked better.
The vote was four for the swash-buckling Alex Rover (myself included)
to two for the more clean-cut Jack! We all agreed that we loved this
movie.
7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :- A nice "family" film that refreshingly helped bring out the kid in the adults., 4 April 2008
Author:
cnet from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I had no idea what to expect of this film, and after reading the
synopsis I wasn't to jazzed to see it. But I like both Jodie Foster and
Gerald Butler, and the kids were bored so off to the movies we go.
I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. The movie was a great
escape. It had humor, adventure, sharks, flying lizards, volcanoes,
hurricanes, neurotic shrews, phantom heroes, and British tourists. All
the makings of a classic family movie.
The film, for those unfamiliar with the book, revolves around Nim and
her Father and the secret island the live on. When Nim's father goes
missing while doing research, she reaches out to the neurotic,
reclusive, and "borderline Agoraphobic" Alexandria Rover for help.
Comedy, fun, and adventure ensue.
One of the best parts of this movie was how it encouraged both reading
and using one's imagination.
My kids (both girls, ages six and nine) enjoyed it and my wife and I
also thought it was just great.
Update 4/11/2008 - My oldest daughter is about halfway through the book
and reports that the movie stays very true to the book for the most
part.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :- Certainly, an acceptable film for families, but a great film it is not, 27 April 2008
Author:
Amy Adler from Toledo, Ohio
Nim (Abigail Breslin) and her marine biologist father (Gerard Butler)
live on an island in the South Pacific. Dad's main area of study is
microorganisms so this is a perfect venue for his work, in addition to
being a kingdom where only the two of them rule. As Nim's mother died
in an accident on the waters, it is also a good place for them to shut
out the rest of the world and heal their spirits. Nim's only close
friends are her beloved animals, a seal, a seabird, and a lizard. One
day, father wants to make a boat trek nearby to look for a new protozoa
and, for once, Nim convinces him to let her remain alone on the island.
It turns out to be a bad decision, as father gets caught in a storm and
can not return home at the appointed time. Nim appeals to an adventure
writer named Alex Rover to come to the island and help look for her
father (the island does have computer technology!) But, unknown to Nim,
Alex is really Alexandra (Jodie Foster) and she is a shy agoraphobic
who resides in San Francisco. Nevertheless, due to the gravity of the
situation, Alex boards a plane and begins a journey to the island. Will
she get there in time to save Nim and her father from destruction? On
paper, this is a certain winner, for the basic premise of the movie is
quite good and the undiscovered island setting is the stuff of dreams.
Throw in the great threesome of Foster, Breslin, and Butler, and one
could hardly ask for more, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case
and it is difficult to say why, for the principal actors are quite good
and the scenery is lovely. Also, there is some sly humor, as in the
scene where a hula dancer is stopped in mid-wave to escape an exploding
volcano! Perhaps, it is the story's inconsistencies and the slap-dash
direction that are at fault, for the scenes seem put together in a
mozaic that doesn't quite fit. Then, too, Butler takes on two roles,
one as the father and one as the fictional alter-ego, Alex Rover, of
Foster's books, with mixed results. To sum it up, the movie probably
tries to do "too many things" and ends up lacking a real focus.
However, it is absolutely an acceptable film for families, with enough
adventure to please most age groups and a setting that is exotic and
lovely beyond belief. Anyone searching for something new in the
"child-friendly" category would find this one a good watch, but not a
great one, alas.
5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :- Nim's comments, 10 April 2008
Author:
Jahala_Dudley from United States
It was a cute movie. But, there were some parts that were 'too cute' to
enjoy. Some of the animals used...though they were real, looked fake,
cheesy, and unrealistic..like the bird.The seal was probably the most
realistic acting animal and did a nice job. The lizards used in the
film looked real but the the 'voices' they were given were way too
cheesy and was the one thing that made them seem fake...although they
got a giggle from the kids in the audience. Foster did a great job of
portraying a character with agoraphobia, she hit it right on. The rest
of the actors did quite well also, Breslin has proved herself to be a
known name in the future. I definitely recommend this for the kids.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- A good family friendly movie with two story lines, 25 April 2008
Author:
Douglas Young (the-movie-guy) from Memphis, Tennessee
(Synopsis) Nim's Island is a beautiful uncharted island located in the
south Pacific, occupied only by a young girl named Nim (Abigail
Breslin) and her father Jack Rusoe (Gerard Butler), a research
scientist studying microscopic marine organisms. Nim is an avid reader
who loves to read Alex Rover adventure stories. On the island, Nim
lives her life as if it were a wonderful adventure story surrounded by
her animal friends, Fred the lizard, Galileo the pelican, and Selki the
300 pound seal. Jack is about to take Nim on a two day research trip
looking for protozoa, but Nim begs to be left behind so she can help
the hatching baby sea turtles. Jack reluctantly leaves Nim behind and
sails out to sea. While he is away, Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) the
author of the Rover books emails Jack to get his knowledge about
volcanoes for her next book. Nim replies thinking he is the great
adventurer Alex Rover. Everything goes well until a huge storm hits the
island and Jack becomes lost at sea. Alone and scared, Nim emails Alex
Rover asking him to come to her island and find her dad. The only
problem is that Alex Rover is a woman, and she is agoraphobic and can't
leave the house. Alexandra knows that this is a life or death situation
and Nim needs help. Alexandra leaves the confines of her home and
travels to the island to help Nim.
(My Comment) This is a family friendly movie with two story lines,
Nim's story and Alexandra's story. Abigail Breslin was a delight in the
title role as Nim. Kids will love Nim's animal friends, especially, the
lizard named Fred. I believe kids will think lizards can really do the
things this lizard does, and they will beg their parents to get them
one. However, I liked the real animal hero, the pelican Galileo, who
helped Jack at sea. Gerard Butler played two parts as Alex and Jack and
performed them very well. Some of his scenes were so funny, that he
cracked me up. Jodi Foster as a neurotic writer played her part well,
but I think she was miscast. The movie had humor, adventure, an island
volcano, flying lizards, and other adorable animals. The movie was made
for the younger audience, and the kids will love it, and adults will
enjoy it. (Walden Media, Run Time 1:35, Rated PG)(6/10)
2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :- Charming and Entertaining, 14 April 2008
Author:
zonistonate from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
"Although this movie is geared towards a younger audience, it has it's
own innocent allure for the adult audience as well. With whimsical
characters and exotic locations, the writers have managed to create a
lovely little world that pulls you in and entertains you.
The actors all do a good job in their respective roles. Abigail Breslin
is a delight in the title role of Nim and both Jody Foster and 300's
Gerard Butler both show us they can entertain us in a different genre
then we are used to seeing them. Foster is convincing in this comedic
turn as writer Alexandra Rover and the charming Scottish Butler, in a
dual role as Nim's father and Foster's adventurous alter ego, shows us
glimpses of why he has suddenly become Hollywood's new "go to" leading
man.
This movie works as family entertainment, but there is something for
everyone to enjoy, as evidenced by the adult turnout in the theaters."
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Nim's Island (2008)
45 out of 56 people found the following comment useful :-
Great film, 31 March 2008
Author: the-gossip-king from Australia
While on holidays I managed to see this movie and I was pleasantly surprised. I have never liked Breslin but she is at her best in this movie and Jodie Foster will always be the magnificent Jodie Foster. Gerard Butler was also very funny and had me cracking up which is something a family movie has not made me do in a while. The story is good and witty and the movie is very family friendly. I think older teens would be bored because although I enjoyed it the story was a bit predictable at times. Overall I was very happy with the movie and would recommend it first and foremost as a family movies. Kids will love it and adults will be thoughtful enough to enjoy it.
33 out of 40 people found the following comment useful :-
A good one for the whole family... Very creative!, 24 March 2008
Author: gcoast-1 from Australia
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I went and saw this movie at the world premiere. I will start out by saying this... It is a very good for the whole family to enjoy.
Storyline: A girl and her father are on a remote island. They are the only ones who live their. The father is a research scientist who is interested in microscopic creatures. Nim, the daughter, is very much in touch with nature and enjoys reading the tales of Alex Rover, an adventurer. The author, Alexandra Rover, is agoraphobic and hasn't left her apartment in a very long time. Dad goes to sea, storm makes him stranded. Nim is stuck alone on the island and is contacted by Alexandra Rover, and calls for her help. Well, you will have to watch the rest to find out...
Pros: A great family movie. It has the perfect recipe of drama, comedy, suspense and a touch of romance. The acting is great. The scenery is beautiful. The special effects are magnificent. The story of a father and daughter living on a remote island is very creative and lends itself to a really great story, which is what this movie is.
Cons: Being a family movie, it is predictable. There are also plot elements which go no-where. One being there is a huge talk about Nim's mother at the beginning, but then it really doesn't go anywhere after that.
Summary: If you have kids, of any age, this is a good movie to go and see with them. If you don't have kids, but are looking for something different from the usual movies, this is still one to consider. All in all, a good story, well told and with great characters.
22 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :-
Great Family Film, 4 April 2008
Author: tifferbear from United States
I loved this movie. I loved this movie so much that I came out of it with mascara smudges.
Jodi Foster as a neurotic writer who lives through her novels was just perfect. From anyone else without her chops it might have been over the top, but she was just brilliant. I for one was so glad to see her play an endearing character. Her past performances, and even her features lend a hard edge to people's perception of her, but I think this movie will give people a peek at the mom within the actress.
Gerard Butler was absolutely endearing in both roles that he played (Jack and Alex), and he was believable as a Dad.
Amber Breslin was believable as a capable young girl, and her extended family of animals were cute but not overly saccharine.
I am having a hard time writing a recommendation without spoilers, so let me conclude this by saying go see it. This is not only a cute movie, but the type of family movie that people should support. Good action, good story, and good values.
18 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
Above Average Family Movie, 4 April 2008
Author: tabuno from utah
Nim's Island manages to never to go over the top and combines a nice comedy drama genre for the big screen. This movie has elements from The Last Action Hero (1993), Jumping Jack Flash (1986), and The Whalerider (2002), all fascinating looks at either imaginary or fantastical friends or exotic islands and a young woman's connection with marine life. What this movie is able to avoid is Home Alone (1990) dumb slapstick comedy. The script was very sensitive and careful with physical comedy and Jodie Foster's performance was dead on without becoming sloppy at all. Unfortunately, several of the plot points became close to cheesy, the volcano scenes had too much in the way of coincidental events, and the father's exploits teetered on unbelievable. Overall, though Nim's Island handled its material well, usually stayed within the bounds of acceptability in order to provide an entertaining, fun performance by Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin. Seven out of Ten Stars.
18 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :-
Great movie in more ways than one, 5 April 2008
Author: ryan_christopher from United States
I have read many comments about predictability, blah, blah, blah! I found this film refreshingly entertaining for all ages. There was something for everyone. Being a female around the same age, I can relate to Jodie Foster since I practically grew up with her!! And I do feel it was great seeing her in a lighter movie than she's been making lately.
Abigail Breslin was cute as always. She definitely can hold her own, but then she always has.
Gerard Butler - well I can never say enough about him. That's why I put great movie in more ways than one. To see him in two roles was just great. My daughter who is 15 got me into him from "Phantom" to "Dear Frankie" to "300" (and I hate war movies usually) to "Tomb Raider" to "P.S. I Love You" and now this movie. We went with 4 of her friends, and after wards we had a discussion on which "Gerard" we liked better. The vote was four for the swash-buckling Alex Rover (myself included) to two for the more clean-cut Jack! We all agreed that we loved this movie.
7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
A nice "family" film that refreshingly helped bring out the kid in the adults., 4 April 2008
Author: cnet from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I had no idea what to expect of this film, and after reading the synopsis I wasn't to jazzed to see it. But I like both Jodie Foster and Gerald Butler, and the kids were bored so off to the movies we go.
I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. The movie was a great escape. It had humor, adventure, sharks, flying lizards, volcanoes, hurricanes, neurotic shrews, phantom heroes, and British tourists. All the makings of a classic family movie.
The film, for those unfamiliar with the book, revolves around Nim and her Father and the secret island the live on. When Nim's father goes missing while doing research, she reaches out to the neurotic, reclusive, and "borderline Agoraphobic" Alexandria Rover for help.
Comedy, fun, and adventure ensue.
One of the best parts of this movie was how it encouraged both reading and using one's imagination.
My kids (both girls, ages six and nine) enjoyed it and my wife and I also thought it was just great.
Update 4/11/2008 - My oldest daughter is about halfway through the book and reports that the movie stays very true to the book for the most part.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Certainly, an acceptable film for families, but a great film it is not, 27 April 2008
Author: Amy Adler from Toledo, Ohio
Nim (Abigail Breslin) and her marine biologist father (Gerard Butler) live on an island in the South Pacific. Dad's main area of study is microorganisms so this is a perfect venue for his work, in addition to being a kingdom where only the two of them rule. As Nim's mother died in an accident on the waters, it is also a good place for them to shut out the rest of the world and heal their spirits. Nim's only close friends are her beloved animals, a seal, a seabird, and a lizard. One day, father wants to make a boat trek nearby to look for a new protozoa and, for once, Nim convinces him to let her remain alone on the island. It turns out to be a bad decision, as father gets caught in a storm and can not return home at the appointed time. Nim appeals to an adventure writer named Alex Rover to come to the island and help look for her father (the island does have computer technology!) But, unknown to Nim, Alex is really Alexandra (Jodie Foster) and she is a shy agoraphobic who resides in San Francisco. Nevertheless, due to the gravity of the situation, Alex boards a plane and begins a journey to the island. Will she get there in time to save Nim and her father from destruction? On paper, this is a certain winner, for the basic premise of the movie is quite good and the undiscovered island setting is the stuff of dreams. Throw in the great threesome of Foster, Breslin, and Butler, and one could hardly ask for more, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case and it is difficult to say why, for the principal actors are quite good and the scenery is lovely. Also, there is some sly humor, as in the scene where a hula dancer is stopped in mid-wave to escape an exploding volcano! Perhaps, it is the story's inconsistencies and the slap-dash direction that are at fault, for the scenes seem put together in a mozaic that doesn't quite fit. Then, too, Butler takes on two roles, one as the father and one as the fictional alter-ego, Alex Rover, of Foster's books, with mixed results. To sum it up, the movie probably tries to do "too many things" and ends up lacking a real focus. However, it is absolutely an acceptable film for families, with enough adventure to please most age groups and a setting that is exotic and lovely beyond belief. Anyone searching for something new in the "child-friendly" category would find this one a good watch, but not a great one, alas.
5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Nim's comments, 10 April 2008
Author: Jahala_Dudley from United States
It was a cute movie. But, there were some parts that were 'too cute' to enjoy. Some of the animals used...though they were real, looked fake, cheesy, and unrealistic..like the bird.The seal was probably the most realistic acting animal and did a nice job. The lizards used in the film looked real but the the 'voices' they were given were way too cheesy and was the one thing that made them seem fake...although they got a giggle from the kids in the audience. Foster did a great job of portraying a character with agoraphobia, she hit it right on. The rest of the actors did quite well also, Breslin has proved herself to be a known name in the future. I definitely recommend this for the kids.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
A good family friendly movie with two story lines, 25 April 2008
Author: Douglas Young (the-movie-guy) from Memphis, Tennessee
(Synopsis) Nim's Island is a beautiful uncharted island located in the south Pacific, occupied only by a young girl named Nim (Abigail Breslin) and her father Jack Rusoe (Gerard Butler), a research scientist studying microscopic marine organisms. Nim is an avid reader who loves to read Alex Rover adventure stories. On the island, Nim lives her life as if it were a wonderful adventure story surrounded by her animal friends, Fred the lizard, Galileo the pelican, and Selki the 300 pound seal. Jack is about to take Nim on a two day research trip looking for protozoa, but Nim begs to be left behind so she can help the hatching baby sea turtles. Jack reluctantly leaves Nim behind and sails out to sea. While he is away, Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) the author of the Rover books emails Jack to get his knowledge about volcanoes for her next book. Nim replies thinking he is the great adventurer Alex Rover. Everything goes well until a huge storm hits the island and Jack becomes lost at sea. Alone and scared, Nim emails Alex Rover asking him to come to her island and find her dad. The only problem is that Alex Rover is a woman, and she is agoraphobic and can't leave the house. Alexandra knows that this is a life or death situation and Nim needs help. Alexandra leaves the confines of her home and travels to the island to help Nim.
(My Comment) This is a family friendly movie with two story lines, Nim's story and Alexandra's story. Abigail Breslin was a delight in the title role as Nim. Kids will love Nim's animal friends, especially, the lizard named Fred. I believe kids will think lizards can really do the things this lizard does, and they will beg their parents to get them one. However, I liked the real animal hero, the pelican Galileo, who helped Jack at sea. Gerard Butler played two parts as Alex and Jack and performed them very well. Some of his scenes were so funny, that he cracked me up. Jodi Foster as a neurotic writer played her part well, but I think she was miscast. The movie had humor, adventure, an island volcano, flying lizards, and other adorable animals. The movie was made for the younger audience, and the kids will love it, and adults will enjoy it. (Walden Media, Run Time 1:35, Rated PG)(6/10)
2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Charming and Entertaining, 14 April 2008
Author: zonistonate from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
"Although this movie is geared towards a younger audience, it has it's own innocent allure for the adult audience as well. With whimsical characters and exotic locations, the writers have managed to create a lovely little world that pulls you in and entertains you.
The actors all do a good job in their respective roles. Abigail Breslin is a delight in the title role of Nim and both Jody Foster and 300's Gerard Butler both show us they can entertain us in a different genre then we are used to seeing them. Foster is convincing in this comedic turn as writer Alexandra Rover and the charming Scottish Butler, in a dual role as Nim's father and Foster's adventurous alter ego, shows us glimpses of why he has suddenly become Hollywood's new "go to" leading man.
This movie works as family entertainment, but there is something for everyone to enjoy, as evidenced by the adult turnout in the theaters."
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