There are few characters more beloved and adorable than Disney/Pixar's Nemo.  From the moment I first laid eyes the on this lovable little clownfish, I was hooked.  Until recently, however, I hadn't had an opportunity to introduce my 4 1/2 year-old daughter Sadie to the Disney classic Finding Nemo - a situation that clearly needed to be rectified!  Sadie's become quite the movie aficionado this year, and has grown particularly enamored of 3D movies (personally, I think she just digs wearing the special glasses), so of course I knew she would jump at the chance to attend a sneak preview of Finding Nemo in 3D.  That's right, the Academy-Award-winning Best Animated Feature Finding Nemo will be returning to the big screen this Friday September 14th, and this time it's going to be in thrilling Disney Digital 3D!  

In case you missed it the first time around, here's the scoop.  Finding Nemo follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould), who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken from his ocean home by divers and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist's office.  Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly but forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son - who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home. 

Until last weekend's screening, I hadn't seen Finding Nemo in years, and I'm pleased to report that it was just as charming and engaging as I remembered.  The story is touching (and yes, I got a bit misty-eyed when Nemo and Marlin were finally reunited), the characters are hilarious (I couldn't get enough of Ellen DeGeneres as Dory), and the animation is stunning (indeed, the film was even more vibrant than I remembered), which of course is no surprise considering it's a Disney/Pixar movie.  Sadie particularly appreciated the humor in the film, especially that of Crush, the surfer turtle.  Indeed, Sadie's new favorite word, which has been used on an all-too-frequent basis since the screening, is "Duuuuuuude."  Fingers crossed that this is a passing phase, although with a trip to Disney World in the works, chances are good that we'll be experiencing Epcot's "Turtle Talk with Crush" about a million times! 

Personally, I think Finding Nemo is a classic movie worthy of anyone's attention whether in 3D or not, but the 3D remastering brings the film to another level that you and your kids will definitely enjoy.  You'll notice the 3D more in the small details here because it's not a special effects type of flick, but it is fun to feel like you're swimming along with Nemo and Dory and that you're getting a sense of the underwater world in which they live. 

One of the best parts of seeing Finding Nemo in 3D is getting the chance to view the latest Toy Story animated short that precedes the film, Partysaurus Rex.  The toon follows Toy Story's Rex as he leads a team of rogue bath toys in a bubble-filled, disco ball-lit, rave-style bath party that had Sadie and I in stitches from start to finish.  It was one of the funniest, most entertaining things I've watched in ages, and I'd venture to say it's worth the price of admission just to see Rex and his friends in action.  Finding Nemo 3D will be in theaters for a limited run beginning September 14th, and will be released for the first time ever in high-definition Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on December 4, 2012.  For more information, visit Disney's Finding Nemo website.