Product Details

• Actors: D.B. Sweeney, Julianna Margulies, Samuel E. Wright, Alfre Woodard, Ossie Davis
• Directors: Eric Leighton, Ralph Zondag
• Writers: Ralph Zondag, John Harrison, Rhett Reese, Robert Nelson Jacobs, Shirley Pierce
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, THX
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
• VHS Release Date: January 30, 2001
• Run Time: 82 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (267 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00003CXHR
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,609 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

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

Product Description

Join the action-packed adventure of a group of dinosaurs overcoming enormous challenges through courage, loyalty, and hope in Disney's DINOSAUR, a special effects phenomenon! Set 65 million years ago, DINOSAUR tells the compelling story of an iguanodon named Aladar, who is separated from his own kind and raised by a clan of lemurs, including the wisecracking Zini and the compassionate Plio. When a devastating meteor shower plunges their world into chaos, Aladar and his family follow a herd of dinosaurs heading for the safety of the "nesting grounds." Along the way, Aladar befriends Baylene, the dignified, elderly brachiosaur with a take-no-prisoners attitude; Eema, the unstoppable styrachosaur; and Neera, a feisty fellow iguanodon. Together, they must stand strong amid food and water shortages, the threat of attacks by carnotaurs, and Aladar's run-ins with the herd's stubborn leader, Kron. As the trip becomes one pulse-quickening adventure after another, it also forges friendships that no hardship can destroy. A landmark in filmmaking technology, Disney's DINOSAUR is a breathtaking spectacle filled with adventure, fun, and life lessons that the whole family will love!

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive animation, weak story, March 25, 2001

By 

Ofir Shachar (Tel Aviv Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dinosaur (2-Disc Collector's Edition) (DVD)

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.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Exciting, November 5, 2000

By 

mquinn25 (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dinosaur (2-Disc Collector's Edition) (DVD)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Standard Edition DVD Won't Play, March 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dinosaur (DVD)

I had read of problems with the Collector Edition not playing on some DVD players, but the standard edition won't play on my Toshiba SD-2109. This is the only DVD that I haven't been able to play on this player. It can't get past the loading function. Disney is quickly earning a reputation for shoddy quality control, between Dinosaur and the faulty surround sountrack mastering on the standard edition of Tarzan (the left front channel sound was recorded on the left rear channel as well as the left front channel).