Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

About time I reviewed something that was actually new...

The third installment of the popular series, "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" is the latest 3D movie to hit theater screens around the country. Manny, Ellie, Diego, and Sid all return, as does Scrat, continuing his never-ending quest for that single acorn. Joining the cast are Scratte, Buck, Momma T-Rex, and her trio of T-Rex Triplets.

Ice Age starts with Scrat, still having not given up, going for that famous acorn. This humurous introduction to the movie and the snow-covered world our stars live in is sure to bring a smile to every face in the theater, along with several laughs and giggles. During these few minutes, we're also introduced to the first new character of the film- Scratte. This female saber-toothed squirrel has her eyes on the same acorn as Scrat, only enhancing the humor as the two fight, their brawl taking them across the cold landscape.

After Scrat fails to get the acorn (what else is new?), we join several other stars of the film. Ellie is pregnant with Manny's child, causing him to continually worry and fret over both Ellie's and the baby's safety. At the same time, Diego comes to his realization that he's losing his touch, having failed to capture his prey. Diego tells Manny he is of no use to their pack and that he'll be leaving them. Not part of either conflict, Sid finds himself lonely and yearning for a family of his own. With this desire, he's not at all reluctant to steal a trio of dinosaur eggs he finds hidden beneath the ice. The true parent of these baby dinosaurs, a large female T-Rex, is not happy with the disappearance of her children. She comes to the surface after her babies have hatched and only returns beneath the ice after she has retrieved the three miniature dinosaurs- and taken Sid with her. This lays down a base for the rest of the movie- Manny, Ellie, and Crash and Eddie follow the large dinosaur beneath the ice and to a previously unknown world underneath the surface, one where dinosaurs have escaped extinction. Diego also joins the rescue-party, as does a one-eyed weasel named Buck. The crew spends the remainder of the movie moving towards Lava Falls, the place they suspect Sid to have been taken.

During the movie, the center of attention occasionally turns from Sid's rescue to the fight between Scrat and Scratte for the acorn. Each of these scenes provides the humor fans would expect from an Ice Age movie- quick and witty, often leaving viewers with a smile and sometimes even a laugh. And although the movie may be sorted as a "children's movie", laugh-out-loud adult humor is still present in the 94 minute film.

Ice Age depends on more than just humor, however. Each character's animation is high-quality, down to each individual hair that covers Manny's body. The backgrounds to the scenes, such as the trees and distant waterfalls, are less spectacular. This may not necessarily be a negative, however- the less-detailed backgrounds keep the attention focused on the stars of the film. The music also keeps attention focused on the storyline and characters- Ice Age features a fantastic soundtrack, one that's synchronized perfectly to the action on screen. While some soundtracks don't match with the movie, becoming a second "attraction", Ice Age's score is blended perfectly with the rest of the movie, enhancing everything else happening in the film.

Amidst all the positives found within Ice Age, negatives are still present. Nearing the film's conclusion, one may find themselves tired of everything on the screen and hoping the ending comes soon. The storyline also lacks depth or originality- not that anyone should expect much, the film being an animated story for children. Putting these few negatives aside, however, the film is extremely enjoyable for any age. Good humor, a great soundtrack, and some fantastic animations, plus the familiar characters we've come to love from the past two Ice Age films, all come together to create the best Ice Age movie yet.

Overall Rating-
8.8/10