Dinosaur (2000)

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

13 Jun 2007 11:45 PM

In this sweeping 2000 computer animated film, we get caught up in the prehistoric world of the dinosaurs. An unhatched dinosaur egg is stolen from its nest and carried off to an island inhabited by lemurs, where it is adopted by a cute little lemur family. The father of the lemur family is worried that taking in a strange animal will be harmful to the group, but as the baby dinosaur hatches and looks up at him with big, soft eyes, he can't help but accept the fact that this baby is here to stay.

Years go by and the baby has grown up into a huge Iguanodon named Alador. He plays with the lemurs just like he's one of them, having been raised by them. But then a huge meteor shower hits and destroys Lemur Island, and it's only by the skin of their teeth that Aladon and his family escape. Not all of the lemurs were that lucky - many of them perished in the fallout.

Dragging themselves onto shore, Aladon and the lemurs discover that they have washed up on a land inhabited with dinosaurs. These dinosaurs are making their way to the nesting grounds, hoping to find that the land is greener there. (This is where the movie takes on a "Land Before Time" for grown-up dinosaurs slant.) The herd is led by a cranky dinosaur named Kron, who is so caught up in his own power as leader that he ignores the needs of those in the group. Two elderly lady dinosaurs are at the back of the pack, barely able to keep up, and Aladon finds himself traveling with them, anxious to see that they not get left behind. His kindness attracts the attention of Neera, Kron's sister. Uh oh - never fall in love with a cranky dinosaur's sister. Those are words to live by, trust me.

As the dinosaurs pursue their journey to the nesting grounds, battles of the fittest ensue, and things become violent. I don't recommend this film for children under the age of seven - picture carnivores the size of strip malls, and you'll get what I'm saying. However, if your child is a little bit older and already familiar with some of the less civilized habits of dinosaurs, they will probably enjoy this film a lot. The cinematography was fabulous, and, while I wasn't around at the time of the dinosaurs and have no first hand knowledge of this, I would say that it was pretty realistic.

You'll also recognize many of the famous voices assembled to form the cast: D. B. Sweeney, Julianna Margulies, Alfre Woodard, and Della Reese are just a few. This film is rated PG.

Related Blogs:

Doogal

DINO-mite Adventure for Kids

Finding Nemo

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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