Movie Review: ‘The Good Dinosaur’ Helps Toddlers Stamp Out Fear of Life!

What will “The Good Dinosaur teach children? To not be selfish, for one, but ultimately to show that hardship and a tribulation trip through the scary wilderness results in a tempering of character, and the ability to conquer fear. Which is quite a gift, given the level of scariness existing in the world today.
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
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With Pixar, you always get good quality. But quality doesn’t necessarily always mean good taste.

In “The Good Dinosaur,” Pixar puts plastic-y apatosauruses in a panoramic, hyper-realistic Rocky Mountain setting. I say no to this!

Because what do we end up seeing? Talking, plastic green kiddie-toy dinos (like, from McDonald’s) that work on a realistic farm out West, like they’re in a cinematically gorgeous Sam Peckinpah Western or something.

(L–R) Momma, Poppa, Arlo, Buck, Libby at the farm's silo, in Disney/Pixar's "The Good Dinosaur." (2015 Disney/Pixar)
(L–R) Momma, Poppa, Arlo, Buck, Libby at the farm's silo, in Disney/Pixar's "The Good Dinosaur." 2015 Disney/Pixar
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
Mark Jackson is the chief film critic for The Epoch Times, and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by a classical theater conservatory training, and has 20 years' experience as a New York professional actor. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook "How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World," available on iTunes, Audible, and YouTube. Mark is cited in the book "How to be a Film Critic in Five Easy Lessons" by Christopher K. Brooks. In addition to film, he enjoys Harley-Davidsons, martial arts, rock-climbing, qigong, and human rights activism.
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