Walking With Dinosaurs 3D 
Starring: Charlie Rowe, Karl Urban, Angourie Rice, John Leguizamo, Justin Long, Skyler Stone, Tiya Sircar
Directed by: Barry Cook, Neil Nightingale
Rated: PG
Run Time: 87 mins
Genre: Adventure/ Animation/ 3D
Opens December 20th
By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com
Hey Phoenix Film Fans! Opening this week is another animated film to throw its hat in the ring before the end of the year. “Walking with Dinosaurs 3D” starring the voices of John Leguizamo, Justin Long, Skyler Stone and Tiya Sircar. Since this film has animation including live action how does it fare? Read on to find out.
Having to spend time with far away relative can sometimes be a damper on one’s social life (As a teenager) so when Ricky (Charlie Rowe) and Jade (Angourie Rice) are shipped off to Alaska to visit their Uncle Zack (Karl Urban), \Ricky is less than thrilled. Ricky’s uncle is a paleontologist and decides to stay behind when a bird names Alex (John Leguizamo - voice) comes down to him and starts speaking to him about the history of the area.
Millions of years ago, what we now know to be as Alaska what inhabited by many species of dinosaurs. Following the journey of the Pachyrhinosaurus named Patchi (Justin Long - voice) and his heard’s migration south for the winter, his development and growth and meeting his first love Juniper (Tiya Sircar - voice).
Life as a herbivorous dinosaur runt is not that easy as Patchi faces challenges from his brother Scowler (Skyler Stone - voice) and omnivore predators such as Gorgosaurus, Troodon and Quetzalcoatlus. When the leadership position of the pack comes open, it comes down to Scowler and Patchi. Who would make the better leader? Patchi whose small size is made up for in logical, strategic thinking or Scowler who is made up of sheer brawn? This is a winner takes all situation, including the right to be Juniper’s mate. Loser of the match will become exiled from the pack. Will Patchi win or lose? Or will he meet a worse fate by the bigger, meat-eating dinosaurs get to him first?
Technology is an amazing tool, especially with the advances in filmmaking. In “Walking With Dinosaurs 3D” the viewers is transported back in time 70 million years where the dinosaurs look so realistic that the veil between fantasy and reality is thinly veiled. Using an educational approach to storytelling the viewers will experience almost a season in the life of Patchi the lovable protagonist and his adventures through the wilderness. Visually this film is amazing; the graphics, attention to detail, lighting and effects are top notch, but because so much attention was spent making this film look good, the story lacks in quality. While keeping the kids engaged by the effects, keeping the adults entertained is a little more challenging as the story is just so-so. The viewer will definitely get an education on the different dinosaur species mentioned in the film. You be the judge when “Walking With Dinosaurs 3D” opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday December 20, 2013.
