Dinosaur 2000 Movie Review

**Dinosaur (2000): A Misunderstood Experiment or Disney's Forgotten Relic?**

For many people who grew up in the early 2000s, *Dinosaur* may hold a special place in their childhood memories. Released in 2000 by Walt Disney Feature Animation, the film was an ambitious blend of CGI dinosaurs and real-life backgrounds, a visual experiment unlike anything Disney had attempted before. At the time, the idea of hyper-realistic dinosaurs seemed groundbreaking, promising an epic adventure that could rival the likes of *Jurassic Park*. However, despite grossing a respectable $349 million at the box office, *Dinosaur* has since faded into obscurity.

Was it a victim of its own ambition? Or is it simply one of Disney’s lesser offerings, doomed to be forgotten among the studio’s richer, more beloved classics? To answer that, let’s take a deep dive into *Dinosaur*—its strengths, its failures, and whether or not it deserves the recent surge of harsh criticism it has received from YouTube film reviewers.

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### A Link to the Past: The *Dinosaur* Ride at Animal Kingdom

Before delving into the movie itself, it’s worth mentioning the connection *Dinosaur* has to one of Disney’s theme park attractions. If you’ve ever visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you might be familiar with the *Dinosaur* ride (originally called *Countdown to Extinction*). This thrilling dark ride, which takes guests on a high-speed, perilous mission through prehistoric times, was rebranded to align with the film’s release.

For many kids—including myself—the ride was terrifying. The fast-paced action, deafening sounds, and towering animatronic Carnotaurus made it a truly pulse-pounding experience. However, over the years, *Dinosaur*'s presence in the park has dwindled, and now, Disney is reportedly planning to replace the entire DinoLand U.S.A. area with franchises like *Indiana Jones* and *Encanto*. This decision has been met with backlash from longtime fans who argue that Animal Kingdom should stay true to its original theme of celebrating animals and prehistoric life, rather than cramming in more corporate-owned properties.

But I digress. Let’s get back to the film itself.

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### Animation: Revolutionary or Outdated?

At the time of its release, *Dinosaur* was considered a visual marvel. Combining CGI characters with real-world backgrounds, the film pushed the boundaries of animation in a way that had never been done before at Disney. However, while the film may have been cutting-edge for its time, it hasn’t aged particularly well. The CGI looks stiff, the dinosaurs’ facial expressions are limited, and there’s an uncanny quality to their designs—particularly their teeth, which appear oddly sharp and unnatural.

That being said, *Dinosaur* deserves credit for its ambition. Many of the film’s landscapes were created using practical effects and real-life locations, giving the world a sense of realism that purely CGI-rendered environments often lack. This was an impressive technical achievement, especially for a film released in 2000. While the animation itself may not have stood the test of time, the effort that went into crafting the film’s world is evident.

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### A Story Without Substance

One of the biggest criticisms of *Dinosaur* is its lackluster plot. The film follows Aladar, a dinosaur who was raised by lemurs after his egg was separated from its nest. When a meteor shower devastates the island he calls home, Aladar and his lemur family are forced to journey across the land in search of other dinosaurs. They eventually join a herd of migrating dinosaurs led by the ruthless Kron, who is determined to reach a nesting ground, no matter the cost. Along the way, Aladar clashes with Kron’s survival-of-the-fittest philosophy and must prove that compassion is just as important as strength.

On paper, the plot has potential. The idea of a young dinosaur trying to challenge a hardened leader and unite a fractured herd could have made for an emotionally compelling narrative. Unfortunately, *Dinosaur* fails to make the journey engaging. The characters don’t undergo significant development, and many of the conflicts feel surface-level.

The stakes, while present, never feel particularly high. There are moments where the herd faces danger—dehydration, predators, and exhaustion—but the film never takes the time to fully explore the emotional weight of these struggles. The pacing is uneven, and much of the film feels like a series of events happening one after another without a strong throughline connecting them.

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### The Carnotaurus: The Film’s Saving Grace?

One of the most striking elements of *Dinosaur* is its choice of antagonist. Rather than relying on the traditional T-Rex as the primary predator, the film introduces the Carnotaurus—a lesser-known yet equally menacing dinosaur.

The Carnotaurus in *Dinosaur* is genuinely intimidating, towering over the other dinosaurs with its devilish red plates and signature horns. While it doesn’t have much screentime, its presence is felt throughout the film. When it does appear, it delivers some of the film’s most intense and thrilling moments. The final confrontation between Aladar and the Carnotaurus is particularly well-executed, giving the film a much-needed sense of tension and excitement.

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### The Controversial Comic Relief: Zini the Lemur

A common complaint about *Dinosaur* is its inclusion of comedic side characters—specifically, Zini, the self-proclaimed “love monkey.” Many have criticized him for being annoying and unnecessary, with his awkward attempts at finding a mate feeling forced and out of place in an otherwise serious film.

That being said, while Zini’s humor may not land for everyone, he isn’t as insufferable as some make him out to be. His character is meant to be a bit of a fool, and the film at least acknowledges his failures rather than glorifying them. Compared to other Disney sidekicks, Zini is relatively harmless, though his presence does contribute to the film’s occasional tonal inconsistencies.

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### Kron: A One-Dimensional Villain

Kron, the leader of the migrating herd, serves as the film’s secondary antagonist. While his strict, no-nonsense approach to survival makes sense given the harsh world the dinosaurs inhabit, his character lacks depth. He is presented as stubborn, authoritarian, and unwilling to consider alternative viewpoints. However, the film never explores why he became this way or gives him any redeeming qualities.

His eventual demise at the hands of the Carnotaurus feels predictable and lacks emotional impact. A more nuanced approach—perhaps showing how his rigid philosophy developed due to past trauma—could have made him a more compelling antagonist. Instead, he comes across as just another generic, unyielding leader who serves as an obstacle for the protagonist.

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### A Missed Opportunity for Musical Innovation

One of the most unusual aspects of *Dinosaur* is that it lacks musical numbers—a rarity for Disney at the time. While this was likely an intentional choice to make the film feel more serious, the absence of a strong musical identity ultimately leaves *Dinosaur* feeling somewhat lifeless. A well-placed musical score could have added emotional depth and helped make certain moments more memorable.

It’s clear that Disney was experimenting with *Dinosaur*, possibly hoping to compete with the CGI success of *Toy Story* and *A Bug’s Life*. However, the film’s enormous production costs and underwhelming reception led Disney to shift focus back to traditional 2D animation for a time—until they returned to CGI with *Chicken Little* in 2005.

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### Final Verdict: A Forgettable Misfire, But Not Disney’s Worst

So, does *Dinosaur* deserve its reputation as one of Disney’s worst films? Not necessarily. While it is undeniably flawed, it’s far from an irredeemable disaster. The film’s biggest issues stem from its weak plot, underdeveloped characters, and dated animation. However, its ambition and unique visual approach make it a fascinating relic of Disney’s experimental era.

If nothing else, *Dinosaur* serves as a reminder of how far animation has come in the past two decades. It may not be a timeless classic, but it remains an interesting footnote in Disney history.

Final Rating: **3/5 stars.**