"At The Movies

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (G) * * * * *

Time Travels!

By ROBERT WALDMAN

Medals aren’t given out for movies. Awards however are the thing some filmmakers aspire too. Odds are good that the creative team behind Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs will be heard from loud and clear come Oscar time next year. 20th Century Fox continues the animated fun in the third and possibly best in this wondrous classic, now enthralling audiences at the Park Theatre, Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Famous Players Silver City cites around B.C.

Joint directors Carlos Saldana (Robots) and Mike Thurmeier sure must have hired the right people both in front of and behind the camera to come up with this brilliant movie. Consider the film divided into two. First we have those pesky squirts led by Scrat battling over a larger than life acorn. Where the film really kicks in, however, is when the fabled characters hurtle back in time to a prehistoric wonderland.

Why this film is so relevant is the script and animation. For starters there are wondrous moments dealing with family matters, parenting and the value of friendship. And there are chases in this movie, and rescues and cliffhangers as good as anything seen in any of the Indiana Jones movies. Settle in with that luscious Lou Rawls score, other superb musical accompaniments and a love story straight out of fairy tales and you come up with a movie perfect for families, children of all ages and adults.

Back for more mayhem are the ace voices that graced the first two Ice Age films. Ray Romano and Queen Latifah (Hairspray) play the dolting couple with John Leguizamo (Collateral Damage) a tour de farce as that pesky Sid. Newcomer Buck proves to be a great cause for Britain as a swashbuckling pirate thanks to Simon Pegg (Star Trek) with Denis Leary no longer looking old and tired as loveable lion Diego.

94 minutes breezes by in this imaginary delight that’s as good as any Pixar movie. Full of creative zeal and hilarious dialogue Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is non-stop fun and full of so much wit and style you’ll be begging for the next installment in this treat.

Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com "

"You have the same formula which made the previous films fun but it took awhile for the film to really pick up. I must say that in the beginning, it was quite boring until the new character, Buck, comes and steals the show. Afterwards, it really starts to pick up and the usual fun begins. Honestly, I do not know what this movie would be without this character Buck. It's not the strongest of the Ice Age films but it has enough laughs for kids and adults to enjoy. "