Unfortunately, it suffers because of its runtime and lack of production value, making it a dull watch for adults. It mixes lessons about science and family together in a way that is well suited for its intended audience. The diversity of the cast along with its representations of a variety of types of families is appreciated and meaningful.Īs an educational film, I think that Dino Dana the Movie is a great option for young children. This message about blended families is handled really well, and I think it is an important learning moment for children of any family situation. Along the adventure, all of the children learn what being a family means, whether you’re related by blood or not, and what it takes to be a good brother or sister. Mateo refers to Jadiel as his brother, and Jadiel always corrects him saying that he is his stepbrother. As a parallel, the new neighbors, Jadiel and Mateo, are stepbrothers. There is a subplot where Dana’s older stepsister, Saara, is having to choose between living with her mom or her dad, as her mom must move far away for work. Where this film shines is in its themes outside of the science. The animation is lacking, but that is to be expected from a production of this size. Although there are lots of dinosaur facts sprinkled throughout, the science portion felt unfocused overall. It feels like an overly long episode of television, not like a movie. The central hypothesis is pushed to the side for the entire second act. There are some parts in the middle that drag as plot points get repeated to fill up time. The premise is stretched too thin to maintain the energy it needs for an hour and a quarter. Unfortunately, being given a longer run time did not do Dino Dana any favors. I think this is a great way to teach young children about the scientific method while also having fun adventures, and I have never met a child who wasn’t at least a little bit interested in dinosaurs! Dinotopia: The Timestone Pirates Review If you've read and enjoyed the novels that the game is based on, or you're looking for a game for a younger gamer, Dinotopia can be a worthy choice. She stresses that science is always changing, and that as we learn new information, we have to reevaluate past theories. Basically, Dana asks questions about dinosaurs and then imagines the dinosaurs in the real world so that she can test her hypotheses. The premise of Dino Dana is creative and educational.
#DINOTOPIA MOVIE REVIEW FOR KIDS SERIES#
I was not familiar with the series prior to today, but if the show is just a shorter version of the movie, I think I might add it to the list of programs my 3-year-old is allowed to watch. Today she is conducting experiment 901: where are all the kid dinosaurs? With the help of her new neighbors, Jadiel (Richie Lawrence) and Mateo (Evan Whitten), and her big sister, Saara (Saara Chaudry), Dana sets out on an adventure to find the answer.ĭino Dana started out as a television show aimed at young children, and now it’s been turned into a feature film. She uses this unique situation to conduct experiments about dinosaur behavior and figure out answers to questions that paleontologists ask. Dana (Michela Luci) is a 10-year-old paleontologist in training with a field journal that gives her the ability to see dinosaurs in real life.