Dinosaur (2000)

Directed by: Eric Leighton, Ralph Zondag | 82 minutes | animation, adventure | Original voice cast: Alfre Woodard, Ossie Davis, Max Casella, Hayden Panettiere, DB Sweeney, Samuel E. Wright, Peter Siragusa, Julianna Margulies, Joan Plowright, Della Reese, Matt Adler, Sandina Bailo-Lape

‘The Lion King’, but with dinosaurs. That’s the thought Disney must have had when ‘Dinosaur’ got the green light. After the success of ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ it is not a strange idea, which Disney has certainly not done any harm. No studio is so adept at coming up with concepts that will get kids—and their parents as a bonus—into the cinema.

In terms of story, ‘Dinosaur’ is therefore a classic Disney film: a young hero who has to find his place in the world, and who can teach his rediscovered congeners an important life lesson due to his special background. Aladar, the monkey-raised Iguanodon, escapes with his foster family from a disastrous meteorite impact that devastates their island. Arriving on the mainland, he is reunited with his ilk and joins a large dinosaur herd on their way to ‘the breeding ground’, a mystical place that has hopefully escaped destruction. Aladar immediately collides with the other dinosaurs, who won’t budge to leave their weaker ilk if they don’t run fast enough. Anyone who has ever seen a wildlife documentary knows that this makes perfect sense, but Disney animals do have very human traits and this sentimental message fits them well.

But the story isn’t really what ‘Dinosaur’ is about either. Originally, the dinosaurs weren’t even supposed to talk. At most there would be a narrator, as in the horse movie ‘Spirit’ or the award-winning BBC documentary ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’. But Disney still wanted a story and voice actors at the last minute. Unfortunately, this rush is reflected in the simple script and clichéd dialogue, including a predictable romance between Aladar and the ruthless herd leader’s sister. The original approach probably would have worked better. The film relies mainly on the impressive computer effects and the stirring music, which indeed make the film worth watching. Eighteen years later, the digital dinosaurs no longer look as impressive as they did then. Here we see the flip side of the digital revolution in special effects – movies are dating faster than they used to be.

‘Dinosaur’ is definitely worth a look for those who have dinosaur fanatics as a kid. But for the real dinosaur lover there is still ‘Jurassic Park’, and those who want to see a real children’s movie with dinosaurs can still go to Platvoet and his friends.