Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #264833 in DVD
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: German, English
• Subtitled in: German, English, French, Italian, Spanish

Amazon.com
Dinosaurs come alive like never before in this costly computer-animated film from Disney. After a breathtaking opening (a dino egg is kidnapped), the film changes style; realistic dinosaurs are given human characteristics and voices. The kidnapped egg grows into an iguanodon named Aladar (voiced by D.B. Sweeney), who is raised by lemurs (shades of Tarzan) on a lush island void of other dinosaurs. When a meteorite destroys their island home in a thrilling sequence, the lemur family and Aladar become part of a dinosaur troop roaming the mainland deserts looking for the lush nesting grounds (shades of the fourth installment of the Land Before Time series and Fantasia). Disney's usual mix of modern language (one lemur calls himself "a love monkey") is present, as is its typical capital punishment law: anyone against our forward-thinking hero (or even disagreeing with him) ends up dead. Curiously, the meanies, a pair of carnotaurs following the group, are nameless and voiceless. This more realistic approach might have been a bigger wow, as in the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs, which looked extraordinary with only a fraction of the budget. The complexity and scope of Dinosaur's visual scale is impressive, and group shots and a point-of-view angle are stunning. Rated PG for general intensity, the film should be a favorite for the 6- to 11-year-old set. --Doug Thomas

From The New Yorker
A fabulously expensive talking-animal movie from Disney that literalizes the art of animation out of existence. The animators took genuine footage of California, Jordan, and Australia and then placed computer-generated images of dinosaurs lumbering or fighting in the foreground of the shots. The detail in the computer images can be wonderful, but the photographed backgrounds, and the misguided need for "realism," drastically limit the fantastic play that animation is capable of: nothing happens that compares to the airborne absurdities of "Aladdin" or Tarzan's surfing through the upper branches of the forest. The story itself is regulation Disney stuff about an orphaned child-an iguanodon named Aladar (the voice of D. B. Sweeney)-who gets raised by lemurs and then joins a group of herbivores heading for a fabled nesting ground. Ossie Davis, Della Reese, Alfre Woodard, and Joan Plowright can be heard among the voices. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Newsweek
"Not Quite Like Anything We've Seen Before."

Customer Reviews

Impressive animation, weak story
I thought a lot about this review.

I'm an animation buff, so I can well say that this film received the maximum rank on animation - the amount of details and thought that was put into every movement and shot is admirable, and the result shows. It is certain that the animators did an excellent job - even went down to details such as having the muscles of the dinosaurs vibrate when the foot hits the floor. Sometimes I actually forgot that this was an animation movie, and mistook it for a National Geographic feature.

The story, on the other hand, is rather disappointing. It seems like the development process stopped after the story became reasonable. The characters are only skin-deep, and it is frustrating for someone who had already seen a couple of movies before that this one brings nothing new to the screen. It's sad to notice so many 'deja vu's while watching, seeing so many thing that you have already seen before, especially that the main character - Aladar - is an orphan dinosaur raised by monkeys, carries a close resemblance to Disney's previous feature, Tarzan.

Two thumbs up for the music - it really hits the spot. The composer captured every moment so naturally that it fits like a glove. Nothing I say can convey the impression, so you might as well see it for yourself.

All in all, an amazing animation feature with a weak plot. This film - in itself - receives 4 stars from me, although if I had calculated my impression on the Collector's edition, I would have definitely lowered it to 3. It simply wasn't worth the extra money I added. The second DVD contains very little material, and I really expected more from a highly documented production such as this one to include more material. People purchase this item to get more information about the animation process, and I really feel like I wanted more. I really think that I should have bought the regular edition and saved some cash.

Fun and Exciting
I am not sure what critics were expecting when they shot this movie down. It is a fun and exciting adventure for children and adults alike. It may be a little too scary for children under 6, so be warned. Let's get one thing straight, folks. Dinosaur is a movie for CHILDREN. So, don't go in expecting to see the second coming of Jurassic Park. The movie does offer brilliant CGI special effects and breathtaking scenery. I like the story for kids because it stresses teamwork and the value of every individual. The lead character, an Iguanadon named Aladar, is very likeable and I found myself rooting for him time and again. Was the movie expensive? Yes. Is it one of Disney's best ever? No. BUT, it is fun and exciting. There are SO many movies out there for adults. This one is a winner for kids. Don't cheat your kids out of enjoying it because they will.

Great for dino-loving kids
I would have prefered to be able to give this movie two ratings: one for adults and one for kids. It seems a lot of reviewers who disliked this movie had expected a movie that would interest adults, while many people who gave it good ratings did so because their kids loved it. I watched the movie once and thought it a solid 3 stars because of the good animation but simplistic acting. My 3-year old son, however, LOVES the movie and would give it 5 stars if he could type. If your kid loves dinosaurs; get this movie! But don't expect to watch and enjoy it more than once as an adult.