The Good Dinosaur Blu-ray Combo Pack Review

 

From the innovative minds of Disney•Pixar comes – The Good Dinosaur Blu-ray Combo Pack – a hilariously heartwarming adventure about the power of confronting and overcoming your fears and discovering who you are meant to be.

The Good Dinosaur asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely, and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? In this epic journey into the world of dinosaurs, an apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.

 

 

The Good Dinosaur has been receiving a lot of poor ratings and reviews from adults and while the storyline is simple and there are very few nods towards the adult viewers, it does deserve more credit then it has been given. 

The film is visually breathtaking with photorealistic scenery that had me wondering at points if they had shot real backgrounds and superimposed CGI dinosaurs into it. The rushing river is incredible looking, and the swarm of green fireflies igniting into the sky from the grass is breathtaking.  The characters end up looking a bit out of place, in particular Arlo as he is so overly stylized.

There is one scene in particular where Arlo and Spot eat fermented fruit and end up with what seems more like an LSD induced high than anything else which results in them looking hung over that felt super odd and out of place.  I realise it was an attempt at bringing some fun into the somewhat gloomy story but the mom in me went “WHAT!”  My girls, 2 and 4, had no idea what was going on and just thought it was silly but at some point they are going to watch that and they are going to question everything.

Aside from that one scene, I thought the movie itself was great and my girls have watched it 5 times this week alone so it definitely appeals to the younger set.  There were moments that had my girls scared and moments where they were sad but there was a of laughter too.  The girls WOW every single time those fireflies swarm, (and can you blame them, it’s a pretty WOW moment.)

What I noticed though is that they are completely enraptured in the film from start to finish at each viewing.  While adult me can pick the movie apart, the child in me sees the magic in The Good Dinosaur that makes it appealing to young children and a great pick overall for family movie night.

 

 

Bonuses Include:

THEATRICAL SHORT – Sanjay’s Super Team – Sanjay loves the world of cartoons and comics, while his father tries to draw him into his Hindu traditions. Reluctance quickly turns into awe-inspiring adventure as the boy embarks on an amazing journey, returning with a new perspective they can both embrace.

TRUE LIES ABOUT DINOSAURS – We know – it’s preposterous to think Apatosaurs spoke English. Learn more about what separates the fictional dinosaurs of “The Good Dinosaur“ from what scientists know about real dinosaurs.

RECYCLOSAURUS – Pixar takes creative competition seriously. Maybe a little too seriously. Watch as “The Good Dinosaur” crew competes to see which department can create the best dinosaur ever…using only discarded items from the studio’s “free table.”  

THE FILMMAKERS’ JOURNEY – Finding your way from an idea to a film takes a lot of exploration. Director Peter Sohn and his fellow filmmakers talk about the challenging, inspiring, and unexpectedly emotional experience of making “The Good Dinosaur.”

EVERY PART OF THE DINOSAUR – The filmmakers talk about the special animation challenges of “The Good Dinosaur” – including figuring out how to animate a dinosaur who’s really a boy, and a boy who’s got the spirit of a dog.

FOLLOWING THE T-REX TRAIL – Follow the filmmakers as they travel to a working cattle ranch and meet the McKays, a close-knit family whose work ethic, generosity, and stories inspired the T-Rex ranchers of the film.

COMMENTARY – Commentary from director Peter Sohn, story supervisor Kelsey Mann, supervising animator Mike Venturini, director of photography/lighting Sharon Calahan, and supervising technical director Sanjay Bakshi.

DINO BITES – Montage of original animated pieces produced to promote “The Good Dinosaur.”

HIDE AND SEEK – A short animated clip produced to promote “The Good Dinosaur.”

 

DELETED SCENES

• The Attack – An idyllic introduction to the family farm is cut short when a savage predator attacks the newborn Arlo. With an introduction by Director Peter Sohn.
• Building the Silo – An admiring Arlo is thrilled to follow along as his father builds a silo for the family farm. With an introduction by Director Peter Sohn.
• Waiting for Poppa – Arlo awaits the return of his beloved father on a stormy night, only to be greeted with tragic news. With an introduction by Director Peter Sohn.

 

Digital Exclusive:

Just Listen – Trace the development of the unique soundscape of “The Good Dinosaur,” from the wilds of British Columbia as Sound Designer Craig Berkey collects sounds, to the recording studio where Jeff and Mychael Danna use instruments from around the world to create the music.

 

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