The Good Dinosaur

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After Inside Out this film has a lot to live up to. Overall the the reviews have been positive so far but I get the impression that isn't going to be a film that represents Pixar's best work.

johnny_ultimate

Brief summary: I really wish the dinosaurs couldn't talk.

The Good Dinosaur marks Pixar's finest technical achievements to date, taking place in a genuinely close to photorealistic world. That's impressive enough on its own terms, but the cinematography - while not particularly imaginative with one or two exceptions (like one shot near the end that makes wonderful use of the frame's entire depth) - takes plenty of advantage of it. The lighting, the landscape shots etc are all gorgeous.

Alas, the story they've chosen to tell in this world is less awe inspiring. This is modern family filmmaking by the book - and while it's true Pixar more or less wrote the book, this coming of age story is simply unremarkable. Kicked off by some bad parenting (where they effectively pit their children against each other), young dinosaur Aldo's journey with a small human kid always goes exactly where you expect it to (well apart from one very brief and really weird drug trip in the middle). It's grand and charming enough, but this is Pixar - grand is not enough.

Whereas applying human traits to emotions, toys and robots has worked wonders in the past, the decision to have talking, farming dinosaurs here is reminiscent of Cars - just forcing anthropomorphism on dinosaurs feels forced, not helped by loose internal logic (only the dinosaurs - and the humans to a notably lesser degree - have human characteristics, which feels jarring). It's the talking that really got to me. Given the central relationship is non verbal in nature, and so much of the film's most effective moments are told without dialogue, I couldn't help but feel going full non-speaking would have made this an altogether more unique, interesting and brave film befitting the Pixar title card. The story would still have been simple, but simple's fine when the execution is confident. This feels worryingly focus grouped, and while there's flashes of the Pixar magic, they're thin in the ground.

Oafley Jones

I've only seen the trailers and I just can't reconcile the photo realism of the environments with the cartoon nature of those who inhabit it. I was actually beginning to wonder was there a narrative reason for it.

You have to wonder what goes on at Pixar and how they manage to make anything at all. Every movie seems to have some development hell story to go with it.

johnny_ultimate

Oafley Jones wrote: »

I've only seen the trailers and I just can't reconcile the photo realism of the environments with the cartoon nature of those who inhabit it. I was actually beginning to wonder was there a narrative reason for it.

I do understand the reasoning behind it - people and animals are so much more difficult to render in a convincing manner. Cartoonish character design is an easier way to connect with the audience, and less opportunity for a less than convincing animation or uncanny valley moment to disrupt the flow. Environments are altogether easier (although their work with water here is astounding).

Still, I do think they misjudged the balance here - it is undoubtedly jarring. I think they could have gotten away with it if the dinos stayed quiet, but as is there's definitely conflicting styles here.

Nervous Wreck

This was fucking weird, tbh.