Return to Nim's Island (2013)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Excellent but underrated film

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

I thought the first movie was interesting and fun to watch. But this one was not quite as good. First of all it is basically a stripped down version of the first one in that the first one integrates into the story a "fictional" character, Alex Rover, from Alexandria's novels. But nothing like that is done here. Also they wrote out Alexandria. In the first movie she added an extra dynamic to the movie because we got to see how her agoraphobia played out in contrast to Nim's adventurism. I don't recall for sure but I believe Alexandria hit it off with Jack but in the new movie it is like, where did she go?Though the two movies have some continuity, it is obvious that there is some that is missing. For instance there are completely new actors portraying the characters. In the first movie both Nim and Jack spoke with an American accent. But in the 2nd movie, Jack speaks with one but Nim has sort of a British accent. That makes the story unbelievable when you have seen the first one. Especially considering that Jack is Nim's father. What happened between the two movies? Did Nim go live in the UK for a while?If you have seen the first one, you will probably end up putting it in either part way through or after you see this one. But if you haven't seen the first one, then I think you would like this one. It's not a bad movie at all. Just disappointing that they didn't make it as interesting or really build on the previous one.

The thing that bothers me the most is the casted none of the original characters. Am I supposed to sit back and enjoy that each character does not match up with the previous movie? Jack should not be played by Matthew Lillard, and Bindi should not play Nim. Those characters should be played by the original actor and actress Gerard Butler and Abigail Breslin. And what happened to Jodi Foster's character? They just completely wrote out one of my favorite characters in the movie. I loved the original movie don't get me wrong, I watched the trailer for this movie and though to myself that it will be horrid and a waste of my time, the only reason I'm ranting about this is because of the fact my favorite characters were taken away.

The 2008 version of Nims Island with Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin playing the young girl, wasn't great but it was watchable. Return to Nim's Island isn't. I love the Irwins; but Bindi Irwin cannot act. Her over the top performance was straight out of a middle school talent show. Her trying to be tough and feisty against her over the top bubbly image is a little creepy. She isn't an actress. Her father was paving the way for her to stardom having her star in several TV shows when he passed away. Without him though, this is just another vehicle for her to get famous. Her acting is horrific and phony and the rest of the cast should get double the pay for being in this. The book Nim at Sea by Wendy Orr in which this was based on is a charming book; this movie isn't. The lack of chemistry between Bindi and competent young actor Toby Wallace (who is her crush in the movie) is uncomfortable to watch sometimes. Matthew Lillard who is a long time solid and hard working actor must have wondered what was he doing in this film. Using real and trained animals is always a crowd pleaser; especially with kids; but the sets are so phony that it's hard to take anything serious. The "bad guys" are straight out of the Home Alone series and it's a huge disappointment. In ending, this movie was one of the worst I've seen in a while and Bindi's acting is really bad. It will be interesting to see how far her father's fame and popularity will take her. I just wish the adults in her life would get super stardom out of her head, and get her back to where she belongs. Teaching people about animals, and conservation.

I'm learning how to embrace the chaos of life...love it! I was happy that Felix, the lovable nerd actually experiences victory. Bindi Irwin is well cast since in reality, she actually has real relationships with animals. The animals/nature all beautiful--educational and interesting to meet the endangered species, researcher's perspective, the birds, reptiles, sea lion,under water swim scenes, caves, all nicely photographed. Cool the way the animals intuitively help. A couple of funny, yet gratifying revenge scenes. The danger scenes are cool and the innocent coming of age romance is believable. Edmund's fighting parents make us root for him and the poachers fighting/sibling rivalry thing works. Love dancing with Selkie. The young girl scientist/ girl power thing is on point and current.