Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Nim's Island Blu-ray Movie Review

This charming children's adventure shines on Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 1, 2008

I do not go looking for trouble, but somehow, it finds me.

Nim's Island is the perfect family night movie, a story of adventure, survival, and friendship. Almost everyone who watches this film will come away with a sense of having enjoyed wholesome entertainment. For the entire family, Nim's Island is a story of love, trust, friendship, and hope. It's also about overcoming your fears, about breaking the boundaries of myth and reality, and shows that imagination and creativity are important traits to embrace. Above all, it is a story of high adventure. Whether you are a kid, an adventurer, or someone who has yet to discover your inner adventurer, there is a character in the film for you. Even for the very young, the natural wonders of the movie are sure to pique the curiosity, even if they do not grasp the story's concept. Indeed, Nim's Island is a beautiful movie to look at; the scenery is stunning; the color palette influenced by the tropical sun comes to vivid life in nearly every scene. The cinematography is, for lack of a better word, breathtaking. Enter Nim's Island with an open mind, prepared to accept the premise, and you'll find the film both clever and entertaining.

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts!

Abigail Breslin (No Reservations) portrays Nim, a high energy, charming, and ready-for-adventure little girl who lives on a remote island in the Pacific with her father, Jack (Gerard Butler, 300). Jack is a marine researcher, promising to name his next discovery after his daughter. Nim, whose mother is presumably deceased (swallowed by a whale, she is told), fills her time by teaching the various creatures that inhabit the island soccer and reading books that feature adventure hero Alex Rover, whom she imagines looking like her father (indeed, the imaginary Rover often appears in the film and is portrayed by Butler). When Nim's father leaves her for several days in search of a new discovery, Nim receives an e-mail from Alex Rover, who is actually Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster, The Brave One), the author of the Alex Rover novels, who is experiencing writer's block and has discovered that Jack may have some knowledge of a volcano she intends to include in her latest adventure novel. As Nim and Alexandra learn more about each other via e-mail, two occurances place Nim in danger. First, she realizes her father's return to the island is long overdue. Second, while climbing to the top of the volcano to learn a detail for Alexandra to include in her next Alex Rover book, Nim injures herself. The reclusive, agoraphobic Alexanda Rover must overcome her fears and find Nim, who may be alone, hurt, and in danger on the isolated island.

Nim's Island lacks substance, but it makes up for its shortcomings in a myriad of ways. First of all, it's a charming, yet predictable, little picture that, despite its kid-oriented style, is a pleasing enough watch for adults who care to lose themselves in the adventure and spirit of the film. It also serves as a fine refuge from so many other films that offer nothing but foul language and violence. Such films certainly have their place and appeal, but Nim's Island revels in its wholesomeness and goodhearted nature, and the feel-good nature of the movie cannot help but rub off on viewers. As mentioned above, the movie is also a stunning one, visually, and while we'll go into a bit more detail below, there is no denying the colorful appeal of the proceedings. Character development is also solid. They are well-played and scripted, and despite a somewhat corny, almost surreal but certainly idealistic approach to and outlook on life, Nim and her father serve as good role models that the younger ones in the audience will find appealing. We also come to care about their well-being, and although there are no surprises, it's hard not to become emotionally invested in them. The Jodie Foster character and her adventuresome alter-ego are both the most interesting and the deepest characters. Foster portrays her character's shortcomings admirably, and while there is never any doubt that she will overcome them, her journey from point A to point B is entertaining and well-played. Butler plays his second role, that of Alex Rover, with charm and ease, coming off just as we would expect an imaginary friend, especially one so vividly rendered and with an undoubtedly deep, rich history, albeit a fictional history, to behave. Each character is audience-friendly and appealing. The film is well-cast and and written, with solid direction from both Jennifer Flackett (her first directorial outing) and Mark Levin (Little Manhattan and no, this is not the talk radio host). The entire enterprise is aided by the gorgeous scenery of the island that comes off as a character itself.

Nim's Island Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Nim's Island brings its adventure to Blu-ray with a 1080p high definition, 2.35:1-framed transfer that is nothing short of gorgeous. The colors practically pop off the screen, and there is a fantastic vibrancy and three-dimensionality to the image. The level of detail seen throughout is amazing. Textures on everything from rock faces to a bundle of rope, and even clothing, all look fantastic. Every frame is very sharp and well-defined. There is some subtle film grain over the image, but it is neither distracting nor a hindrance to the lush scenery and beautiful colors that inhabit the island and now this wonderful Blu-ray disc. Flesh tones sometimes veer to the orange end of the scale, thanks in part to a color palette that sometimes slips to a shade that is slightly warmer than natural, but again, it is never to the detriment of the look of the film. Black levels appear spot-on accurate as well. Nim's Island is a transfer that is best described as "reference." It's one that you have to see for yourself, and no verbal description will do justice to just how stunning it really is. This is definitely a title I will be using for home theater and Blu-ray demonstrations in the future. It's eye candy through and through, and simply one of the finest looking discs I've seen to date.

Nim's Island Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Presented in Fox's usual lossless audio offering, DTS-HD MA 5.1, Nim's Island sounds great, though the audio is generally overshadowed by the wonderful picture quality. Dialogue is well prioritized throughout the movie with no volume or placement issues. Surrounds are nicely used for ambience, music, and action. Check out chapter two when Nim talks to her father about Alex Rover. We can hear very subtle background noises, the sounds of nature that make for a nice realism on the track, effectively placing us in their island home. Also, a rainstorm in chapter three is all-enveloping and natural. The nuances of the film are so vivid that the sound had me fooled a few times into thinking that I had a new e-mail, but it was the computer in the movie, not my laptop, making the beeps. Bass is never overwhelming but is present and accounted for when called upon, such as during the mini-disaster on the volcano in chapter eight. Another volcano sequence later in the movie in chapter 18 featured a foundation-rattling low end, but it was presented in such a way so as not to overwhelm but to compliment to great effect the action on the screen. There is no shortage of lively sound in the movie, and the quality of the track is perhaps best evidenced by a terrible storm that plays an important role in chapter 19. The sound immerses us in the downpour, the thunder booms and rumbles, and the rain comes down from every direction. You'll feel everything but wet through the sequence. This fine lossless surround soundtrack compliments the movie very well, and the immersive, natural experience it offers listeners is nothing short of fantastic.

Nim's Island Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

20th Century Fox's Blu-ray release of Nim's Island contains a wide array of supplemental features sure to please both hardcore Blu-ray fans and younger children alike. The set is headlined by two commentary tracks. The first is labeled as an "adventure commentary" and features actresses Abigail Breslin and Jodie Foster. This is a very nice approach to the track; it is as kid-friendly and as pleasing as the movie itself. It comes off as perhaps a teacher and student discussing the film and the adventure in making it, or perhaps like a museum tour guide and patron. Foster definitely plays the role of leader here, providing more practical information while Breslin offers up more of the "adventure" side of the track, seeing everything in the movie through a child's eyes. Younger children will absolutely love this track. Commentary number two features director/writers Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett. These participants are eager to discuss the film and all that went into making it. They're proud of what we see on the screen and are neither pretentious nor haughty in their chat. This track, too, has an easygoing feel to it, almost like they are reading a children's story to a group of young children, and this approach works very well for this style of movie. I'm most impressed by both tracks, and definitely recommend listening to them.

'Nim's Spyglass' BonusView Mode is a picture-in-picture feature that plays over the film, offering viewers behind-the-scenes glimpses at the making of the film, interviews with cast and crew, and more. Like we saw with a similar feature on Street Kings, this material is playable separately for those without BonusView (Blu-ray profile 1.1) enabled players. Separately, the features are presented in 480p and run for 32:37, with 25 segments available. Next in line are three deleted scenes (480p, 15:29) with occasional commentary by the filmmakers. Three featurettes are also included. Nim's Friends (480p, 6:17) takes a closer look at the various creatures that inhabit the movie. Abigail's Journey (480p, 6:42) features interviews with the directors, the cast, and Abigail Breslin, who discusses the similarities between herself and her character. Other participants discuss the Nim character and praise Breslin's work on the film. Working on Water (480p, 6:07) is a brief feature that examines the work that went into creating the various aquatic scenes in the film. Three interactive games are next. Write Your Own Island Adventure! allows users to fill in several blanks to create their own adventure story. Unfortunately, I could not get past the first page on my PlayStation 3 and was unable to finish the story and see it play out. Coconut Soccer is a simple game where players select a creature to play as, and proceed to kick as many coconuts onto the beach as they can. Seaside Shuffle is a bejeweled-style game where you must swap shells to make a row of three or more, which disappear and are replaced with more shells. Last but not least is a pop-up trivia track called Island Explorer Mode. During the movie, when select icons appear, viewers can learn more about four categories, all represented by different icons: Cast and Crew, Page to Screen, Science & Education, and Behind the Scenes.

Nim's Island Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While Nim's Island is about as far as one can get from "meaningful" cinema, taken for what it is and all it hopes to accomplish, the movie is a success. Younger audiences will love the film, and older moviegoers with an open mind and a yearning for some harmless, family-friendly fun and adventure will find many things to like about this film, too. If for no other reason, Nim's Island is worth watching for the lavish, stunning visuals that represent the peak of eye candy, and they are only all the more stunning on Blu-ray. 20th Century Fox's presentation is nothing short of first-rate. The picture quality is reference-grade, the soundtrack comes in a close second, and the extras, while kid-friendly, are still interesting. Nim's Island is definitely recommended!