universal studio version of flipper ( 1996 ) be a great heartwarming film for the entire family with good value and sentimentality . it be the story of sandy rick and a teenager from chicago who reluctantly spend his vacation with his uncle porter rick in the bahamas . this ultimately change the teenager life and he grow up in the process . he learn to appreciate nature and to have a respect for the environment . i grow up in the 1960 and the nbc television show flipper be my favorite childhood show . elijah wood be perfectly cast a a 1990 sandy rick and give an excellent performance . as much a i like the nbc television show and mgm theatrical feature film with luke halpin a sandy in the 1960 i like this feature the best . i feel elijah wood be the best sandy rick . with respect to luke halpin i feel elijah wood have more of a range of act talent and emote more a an actor which make his performance excellent and more believable . i think elijah wood be the best young actor work today in film . director alan shapiro also write the screenplay and have do an excellent job a both writer and director of this film . paul hogan give a comical and likable performance a sandy uncle porter rick . mr. hogan performance perfectly offset elijah role a sandy . i be a big fan of underwater film . this film be beautifully shoot in the bahamas like thunderball ( 1965 ua ) be . the director of photography be bill butler a. s. c. who lensed the film jaw in 1975. mr. butler be a very talented cinematographer . the underwater director of photography be pete romano . he do a superb job with the underwater cinematography . i enjoy the film score by joel mcneely . this good film score feature crosby and still and nash among other talented artist . this motion picture be shoot in panavision like thunderball in the aspect ratio of 2 . 35 represent1 if possible try to see this film in a scope version a originally frame and visioned by alan shapiro and bill butler . another very nice thing be that mr. shapiro give the original sandy rick ( luke halpin ) a small part in this remake . he portray bounty fisherman # 3 in this film . this be a very kind gesture on mr. shapiro part . a you can tell i be a real true fan of this film . sadly this beautiful film be meet with harsh word by the majority of movie critic . i originally saw this movie on my birthday and may 31st of 1996 in a movie theater . it mean a lot to me . i have it on numerous video version . the vhs version be in pan and scan . the laserdisc version be letterboxed 2 . 35 represent1 . i even have a vcd in 2 . 35 represent1 from hong kong which be letterboxed . but my most prized possession be an original 16mm theatrical feature print which i will treasure for the rest of my life . thank you mr. shapiro and elijah wood and paul hogan and everyone involve for make this a memorable movie for me to enjoy . p. s. i must add that the quality of the universal dvd be superb . it be the best dvd as far a quality i have ever see . the color and resolution be spectacular . the soundtrack be great . i think universal must have use the same transfer for the dvd that they do for the laserdisc version . the 35mm scope print be mint and alan film really have a wonderful look to it . a great tribute to a wonderful film . the dvd resolution be even superior to the laserdisc quality . it just spectacular . thank you universal home video for the great quality control and transfer . many thank for do a superb job on this wonderful family film . also many thank to you alan for all your extreme kindness to me . it a real honor to know you . ( review revise or update june 27 and 2005 ) .