Pixar are renowned for producing films of varied levity from the fun Finding Nemo to the much more serious Inside Out which is capable of reducing adults to a blubbering mess. They’re all primarily aimed at kids though, so from a tyke’s perspective they’re all fun (mum and dad are just wusses).

From the outset (and on the strength of the promotional trailer), The Good Dinosaur looks like one of Pixar’s lightweight affairs but upon viewing it quickly becomes apparent that there is a darkness here, which belies the cutesy animation. Indeed following the movie, my 8-year-old daughter stated that this was the first film she’s seen which made her sad – this is a child who giggled and chortled her way through Inside Out!

Arlo, the fearful but ‘good’ dinosaur, and his family suffer some serious hardship throughout this film but it’s all deftly handled within a kiddie friendly package. Even so, the film doesn’t end quite as kids will expect – hence my daughter’s sadness. It’s a mature, realistic conclusion but relax mum and dad, no one dies in the end; this isn’t a tragedy.

The level of environmental detail on display is incredible! Computer generated imagery is getting seriously good and there are times here when you wonder if Pixar have slipped in some live action footage. The CGI is so good that computer generated landscapes adorn the closing credits and you’d swear they were photographed.

The decision to use these photorealistic backdrops behind cartoonish characters is a little jarring at first but you quickly get used to it. It has nowhere near the jarring effect of Wall-E. Ultimately this is an affecting tale about the strength of friends and family. There is perhaps a sequence or two that could be excised to tighten the proceedings a little but it works well as is.

Stuart Jamieson
www.movies.disney.com.au/the-good-dinosaur

That’s not to say that Jurassic World is terrible – it’s not – it’s easily the second best of the franchise but it is yet another re-run of practically the same story. Again we have two children loose in a dinosaur park run amok while the park’s controller (and relative of the children) attempts to retrieve them with the aid of a mercenary type.

The script throws all caution and common sense to the wind in ways that would never be allowed in the real world – how these two youngsters come to be adrift in a theme park full of prehistoric monsters defies belief! Jurassic Park gave a feasible explanation as to how this may happen but here it is just ridiculous.

In true Hollywood style, melodramatic plotlines are ramped up in haste for just about every character but ultimately lead nowhere leaving you wondering why they are there at all.

The film throws tired themes about of dangerous genetic tinkering and militarisation of technology and everything goes haywire largely due to ridiculously stupid decisions made by everybody from the owner of the park down to the two kids that will ultimately require rescuing.

The film’s saving grace is, of course, the dinosaurs that are lovingly created in dangerous, growling detail in all their claws, teeth and reptilian eyes glory. Ever since King Kong all we’ve ever wanted to see is these prehistoric behemoths fight and we get plenty of that action here.

The film’s other saving grace is Bryce Dallas Howard who is lovely in any guise. Doubtless others will think the same of Chris Pratt and I’m willing to pay that as well.

Ultimately, Jurassic World is just like Jurassic Park but ‘Bigger and Better™’ with CGI and digital sound design which is now the norm for any Hollywood blockbuster. Let’s be honest, this is a cash grab; it possesses neither the technical innovation nor the originality of storyline of the original. Jurassic Park nailed it; it still looks great; there was no imperative to remake it. But Jurassic World is fun enough and if the volume of popcorn left on the floor of the cinema after the movie is any indication, patrons are having a lot of fun indeed!

Stuart Jamieson
www.jurassicworldintl.com