For a ‘child’ movie, the quality and entertainment value of this endearing movie matches any rom-com Netflix seems to be obsessed with. Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie was released in 2013 from several production companies, including BBC Earth. It has everything you would expect: drama, tension, romance, bullies and is an educational show to teach kids – and dinosaur fanatics – about the prehistoric world.
The movie follows a Pachyrhinosaurus named Patchy and is narrated by a bystander bird. Stretching over years of Patchy’s life, the movie focuses on all the troubles a young dinosaur faces, paralleling one a growing human would face too.
We first meet Patchy as a baby dinosaur who sets out on his first adventure within minutes, exploring the jungle alone. His adventures only continue and escalate as time goes on, learning many life lessons as he does. The young dinosaur falls in love, makes friends, and has his first migration, but he, unfortunately, has to deal with loss, falling outs, and bullies. The troubles our Pachyrhinosaurus has to go through only help him as he learns from his mistakes and grows to become a better person is something all people should aspire to be.
The most striking aspect of this movie is how it manages to intertwine childish humour with educational facts to create an enjoyable movie. With each dinosaur and animal that is featured in the movie, there is a brief description, which is optimal as it provides facts without disrupting the storyline. Additionally, the CGI is incredibly realistic that it might as well be real. The details and colours are better than what anyone could expect, on par with the famous Jurassic Park movies! The basic premise of the movie would be enough to grip any viewer, no matter your age. From the beginning, an emotional bond is created with Patchy making you root for him during all his troubles. However, one thing to keep in mind before picking this for your family movie night is if you are interested in learning about the animals that have come before us. The movie is merged with facts that are hard to separate from the storyline – and although educational – it might not be what you’re looking for.
Overall, the plot, characters, and effects of this movie combine to create a simply outstanding film. I have watched this as a kid, I am still watching it now, will continue to watch it in the future and I can only hope you will find it as enjoyable as I do.
