Review: The Good Dinosaur Film Has a Dark Side #GoodDino
For weeks now my family looked forward to seeing Disney/Pixar's THE GOOD DINOSAUR. The film looked like a great story of a young dino coming of age and having a mini adventure with a savage human child.

Note: I was invited as media to the screening. No other compensation was received. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.
But the story I watched during the screening was quite different and darker then the clips I've shared (and watched) these past few weeks.
THE GOOD DINOSAUR has a darker story-line and you should be prepared. Because I sure wasn't!
So what happened? Where did the film cross line of storytelling into a semi horror flick?
For me, it started with the Dad's death. Don't be surprised by this, we all knew that was gonna happen. While that idea is sad enough, the way the dad dies is a bit traumatic. I'm an adult and I felt uncomfortable. I can't only imagine the way the young kids in the audience felt. One young child in the theater cried out Papa! Seriously not a good feeling there.
From then the death theme is very strong with scenes of dying (inappropriately literally!), or facing the possibility of pending death (seriously!). Those scenes are not good and it makes it hard to enjoy the other scene which are about celebrating life, discovering the wonders of the world and sharing in an adventure.

Yes those scenes are in there also. And those scenes are wonderful and I wish more of the main focus of the movie. The mental and physical journey that Arlo (voice of Raymond Ochoa) takes is enough to entertain and delight families.

And the back story of how Arlo and his dino family learned to live on a earth that wasn't hit by an asteroid, is an interesting one. I mean who taught the dinos to farm?! And why do they have western accents? There's some interesting things happening there.


Then there's the other dino characters. You'll discover a hippy Triceratops, some red neck Raptors, and a trio of herding Tyrannosaurus Rexs.

Let me just go on record now and say I LOVE those T-rexs and hope to see more of them. Even if they do tell scary stories by bonfire.
So what's my verdict about Disney/Pixar's THE GOOD DINOSAUR?
I'm sad to say I don't recommend this film for younger children then 8 years old. And even that I'm nervous about. But if your child is old enough to handle the dark death themes and has a thing for dinos then take a chance. Now that you know what to expect.
THE GOOD DINOSAUR, opens in theaters on November 25, 2015.

MOVIE SYNOPSIS
"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?
Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo (voice of Raymond Ochoa) 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.
Directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Denise Ream (“Cars 2”).
For more information, visit www.movies.disney.com/the-good-dinosaur
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Thank you for posting an Honest review. I felt the same way about the movie. We saw it on Monday night. I wish that my children wouldn't have been there with me to see it at all.
ReplyDeleteIm glad I wasnt the only one who felt that way. I'm so surprised they included those scenes. The movie would have been so great with "less" death themes.
DeleteThis looks amazing! I can't wait to watch it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being honest. My kiddo gets scare really easily and I was thinking of taking him to this. I think I might wait until it comes out on video where he can skip scary parts.
ReplyDeleteI am excited that this is finally in theaters! I can't wait to watch it with my kids.
ReplyDeleteThis is really helpful. I remember my kids being really sad after a similar scene in The Lion King. They're grown up now though and I'll definitely be seeing this movie.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the heads up about the dark theme in the movie. I am still excited to go with my friends little ones but now i will be able to prepare them a little first.
ReplyDeleteI love an honest review. Thanks for posting yours.
ReplyDeleteLove your review! I was hesitant to include the spoilers but I think it could be really helpful for some parents who would otherwise not take their little ones.
ReplyDeleteI think this looks like such a great movie. I love your honest review, and I will take it into consideration when I go to see it!
ReplyDeleteI actually took my 5 year old and 11 year old to see it today and they were both fine. Neither of my kids are use to "scary" movies what so ever (I shelter my kids big time) and neither of them were scared and I didn't even feel like it was scary.
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to see this movie with my daughter! It looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to seeing this. I'm glad to know this though because now so I can be cautious. I think my kids should be ok, but you never know. My kids aren't used to many scary movies but I think this one will be just great, and I've heard from other kiddos its a great movie - Jeanine
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to take my son to see this movie. We're going to be doing a mother/son date night next week and we're going to see this movie.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are really looking forward to watching this movie! It looks so cute!
ReplyDeleteSounds like such a sweet movie. I can't wait to see that in the theater this weekend.
ReplyDeleteWow! I would never have guessed the movie would be so dark. Thank you for the warning before I took my youngest to see it.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are planning to take my niece to see this tomorrow. I'm glad I read this so I can prepare her first. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe will be seeing this movie soon so I know my son is excited. Thanks for the heads up on the messaging!
ReplyDeleteI love the movie. I agree with you about the death scene. The visual effect is beautiful though.
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