From
the
hearth
of
BBC
Earth
Films,
Walking
The
Dinosaurs
is
an
edutainment
film
that
educates
the
audience
about
animals,
particularly
the
dinosaurs
that
wandered
on
the
surface
of
the
planet,
about
70
million
years
ago,
during
the
Creataceous
period.
This
is
not
a
documentary
film.
In
fact,
it
is
a
charming
love
story
bordered
around
the
hero's
journey
of
existence.
It
exposes
the
dinosaurs'
survival
instincts
in
a
truthful
and
convincing
manner.
The
film
starts
off
with
a
present-day
scene,
where
Paleontologist
Zack
(Karl
Urban)
tugs
along
his
niece
Jade
(Angourie
Rice)
and
disinterested
nephew
Ricky
(Charlie
Rowe)
to
the
Alaskan
hinterland
to
excavate
and
study
a
dinosaur
tooth
in
his
custody.
On
the
outskirts
of
the
forested
land,
Ricky
encounters
Alex
(John
Leguizamo),
a
talking
crow
who
tells
him,
"Every
fossil
tells
a
story.
It
opens
a
window
to
the
ancient
past."
With
this,
Alex
morphs
into
an
Alexornis,
or
a
sort
of
prehistoric
parrot
and
zooms
into
the
sky
teleporting
the
audience
to
the
prehistoric
period.
Here,
Alex
introduces
the
audience
to
Patchi,
(Justin
Long)
a
baby
Pachyrhinosaurus
and
his
tribe.
The
Pachyrhinosaurus
is
a
strange
choice
for
heroism.
This
dinosaur,
which
looks
like
a
rhinoceros,
has
a
thick
skin,
a
bulbous
nose
and
several
horns,
one
of
them
growing
from
a
tuft
of
flesh
that
blooms
on
its
head
like
a
thick
leaf.
Patchi,
who
is
the
weakest
among
the
litter,
lacks
in
size
but
makes
up
with
his
courage.
During
one
of
his
early
adventurous
exposures,
he
acquires
a
hole
in
his
crown
thus
making
him
unique.
He
often
stumbles
along
behind
the
herd,
occasionally
being
tormented
by
his
older
alpha
sibling
Scowler
(Skyler
Stone).
Apart
from
the
Pachyrhinosaurus,
there
are
a
plethora
of
dinosaurs
and
other
wildlife
creatures
that
keep
you
glued
to
the
screen.
The
most
prominent
and
magnificent
of
the
lot
are
the
lizard
hipped
dinosaurs,
the
two
and
a
half
tonnes,
fierce
looking
Gorgosaurus
and
the
duck-billed
Edmontonsaurus.
The
film
shows
the
rugged
and
harsh
realities
of
nature's
survival
dispositions.
To
make
the
film
palpable,
the
plot
involves
family
bonding,
romance
between
Patchi
and
Juniper
(Tiya
Sircar),
a
Pachyrhinosaurus
from
another
tribe,
and
team
spirit.
John
Collee's
screenplay
is
simple
and
uncomplicated,
keeping
in
mind
that
it
is
targeting
kids.
But,
unfortunately,
the
narration
is
verbose
and
continuous,
and
thus
one
tends
to
be
attentive
in
order
to
ensure
that
you
do
not
miss
a
vital
link.
Dialogues
like,
"When
life
gives
you
lemons,
make
lemonade." or
"They
are
going
to
have
a
dinner
party
and
you
are
going
to
be
the
main
course,"
bring
in
the
wry
British
humour.
The
images
provided
by
director
of
photography,
John
Brooks
are
life-like
and
real.
The
animated,
computer
generated
images
seem
so
authentic
that
it
makes
you
believe
you
are
in
that
era.
The
wide-angled
images
capturing
the
migrating
herds
look
amazingly
naturalistic.
The
3D
effects
are
very
effective
especially
in
the
scene
where
Patchi
shrugs
off
the
crab
or
when
the
omnivorous
squirrel
jumps
to
catch
its
prey.
These
scenes
are
out
of
the
ordinary.
The
background
score
too
is
engaging.
The
vocals
are
lively
and
especially
the
last
number
"Live
like
a
warrior,"
invigorates
a
sense
of
heroism.
Directors
Neil
Nightingale
and
Barry
Cook's
Walking
With
Dinosaurs
is
indeed
a
gorgeous
visual
feast
that
would
delight
kids.
Cast:
Karl
Urban,
Angourie
Rice,
Charlie
Rowe;
Voiceovers:
John
Leguizamo,
Justin
Long,
Tiya
Sircar,
Skyler
Stone
Directors:
Neil
Nightingale,
Barry
Cook
IANS