The best dinosaur movies

1. Jurassic Park (1993)
2. Jurassic World (2015)
3. The Lost World (1992)
4. "And the thunder struck" (2005)
5. "Project Dinosaur" (2012)
6. "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (2008)
7. “My House Dinosaur” (2007)
8. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
9. Dinosaur (2000)
10. "The Legend of the Dinosaurs" (2011)
11. Things to know (Q&A)

Why are dinosaurs extinct? What led to the death of these mysterious animals about 66 million years ago - an asteroid fall, changes in the Earth's biosphere, or a massive epidemic? Scientists argue, put forward hypotheses and cannot come to a consensus in any way. But for fans of “great, terrible, terrible, dangerous lizards” (from ancient Greek), this does not matter in principle. Many generations of children continue to play with toy dinosaurs, study encyclopedias, memorize their difficult-to-pronounce "names" and dream of becoming paleontologists. Science fiction writers write exciting stories, and filmmakers shoot fascinating films in which prehistoric lizards are sometimes peaceful, sometimes bloodthirsty, sometimes insidious, but always unpredictable. We suggest recalling the best films about dinosaurs that once reigned supreme on Earth.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Let's start with the most famous dinosaur movie that spawned the media franchise, which currently consists of five full-length films, not to mention comics, toys, games and other related products. So, the original film by Steven Spielberg is based on the book of the same name by Michael Crichton and tells about an amusement park inhabited by genetically engineered dinosaurs. A study tour, in which, in addition to the invited specialists, the grandchildren of the park's creator, Professor John Hammond, take part, turns into a struggle for survival. Tyrannosaurs, Dilophosaurs and Velociraptors who have escaped to freedom begin to hunt for people, and with the music of John Williams, the audience is watching with tension as the nightmare is happening on the screen.

The film won three Oscars for sound, sound editing and special effects - they still sound and look amazing after almost 30 years. Good news for fans of the original film, stars Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern will return in Chapter 6 of Jurassic World 3: Domination, which has already been filmed. Director Colin Trevorrow's new film is slated for release in the summer of 2022.

Jurassic World (2015)

The fourth film in the franchise is interesting, first of all, by the presence in it of the “ideal killer” - Indominus Rex, created by the park's geneticists, which is reopened to the public. In the film, Colin Trevorrow starred in the lead role of the super-popular after "Guardians of the Galaxy" Chris Pratt, and he was paired with Bryce Dallas Howard. Stan Winston's studio was still engaged in animatronics, so velociraptors, mosasaurus, ankylosaurus, apatosaurs, pteranodons, dimorphodons and other creatures turned out to be alive.

Released, the film set a number of box-office records, which is not surprising - entertaining, large-scale, dynamic, intense and to some extent educational action gives you the opportunity to get in touch with the prehistoric inhabitants of our planet.

The Lost World (1992)

Several films have been made based on Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World, the first of which dates back to 1925. Each version has its own distinctive features, boasts interesting technical solutions, as well as the introduction of new twists in the plot. We opted for a 1992 version directed by Timothy Bond, featuring renowned actors such as John Rhys-Davis, David Warner and Eric McCormack. With the exception of a few minor changes, Bond's version is fairly close to the literary source. A team of adventurers led by Professor Challenger (Rhys-Davis), journalist Edward Malone (McCormack) and Professor Summerlee (Warner) travel to Africa in search of the dinosaurs that Professor Challenger believes. They still exist in the heart of the continent.

It is not worth comparing The Lost World with the Jurassic Park released next year. This film is unlikely to scare you with excessive bloodiness or accidental victims. Rather, for family viewing with children, it will entertain and interest in how humans and dinosaurs could coexist if they had to live in the same reality.

"And the thunder struck" (2005)

Someone dreams of going to the future, while someone dreams of a prehistoric safari. The thriller by Peter Hyams is based on the sci-fi story of Ray Bradbury about the now already near future - on the calendar in 2055. Time travel has become a reality, and thrill-seekers can have a lot of fun hunting real dinosaurs. The Federal Time Management Agency organizes such tours and makes sure that tourists do not violate three basic rules: do not change anything in the past, do not leave anything behind, and do not take anything from the past with them. As we understand, one day there comes a moment when one of the rules is violated, and the so-called “butterfly effect” is triggered.

The picture, let's say, was not lucky - due to the flooding in the Czech Republic, where the shooting took place, the scenery was damaged, and the work process itself was stretched; the manufacturing company went bankrupt and the budget suffered significantly. All this affected the technical side of the film, however, if you do not pay attention to the simple special effects, and immerse yourself in the plot, you can have a good time. Temporary waves, unusual plants and monsters - giant bats, man-eating beetles, a snake, lizard baboons and a bloodthirsty Allosaurus - this is a real nightmare that gives the viewer a feeling of the inevitable end of human civilization.

"Project Dinosaur" (2012)

The British sci-fi thriller Project Dinosaur is filmed in a pseudo-documentary genre that fits the story of the expedition of scientists into the Congo jungle to confirm the theory of the existence of the Mokele-mbembe dinosaur. The helicopter is attacked by pterosaurs, a crash occurs, and the group, led by the traveler and biologist Jonathan Merchant, is face to face with the wild. At night, the jungle comes to life, and to the surprise of the frightened people, it is downright teeming with prehistoric animals. The real struggle for survival begins.

With a modest budget, Sid Bennett managed to shoot a tense and dynamic thriller, although not devoid of clichés inherent in the genre. But if you don't find fault with the slightly clumsy special effects, you can feel the atmosphere of the film and enjoy the horror and panic that the main characters experience, and place bets on how many of them will survive by the finale.

"Journey to the Center of the Earth" (2008)

The famous science fiction novel by Jules Verne has served as the basis for the creation of adventure films on several occasions. For our review, an example will be a relatively “fresh” version, in which the action has been transferred to our days. Professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) travels to Iceland in search of his missing brother, along with his nephew, the brother's son. By the will of circumstances, once in the underground caves, the professor, nephew and their guide discover an amazing world inhabited by unseen creatures.

Filmed in 3D format, the film will not disappoint even sophisticated viewers with special effects, such a three-dimensional image is made with high quality and to the place. Travelers will meet with Mauisaurs, predatory fish and an enraged Giganotosaurus, while viewers of all ages will have an unforgettable excursion into a colorful world beyond reality.

“My House Dinosaur” (2007)

There are pets in almost every home - cats, dogs, parrots, fish. And what if you, like young Agnus, found a huge egg on the shore of the lake. Who did the little dragon hatch from? Will he be considered a pet? The family fantasy tells the touching story of a friendship between a boy and a plesiosaur named Crusoe against the backdrop of World War II. Both "actors" played amazingly - Alex Ethel gave his Agnus sincerity, childlike spontaneity and dedication, and Crusoe, through the efforts of the special effects masters, looked like a real one. Sweet, funny, awkward and spontaneous, Crusoe falls in love with himself at first sight. It's a shame that people like him can't be bought at the pet store.

The film also found a place for dramatic moments and humor, the mores of the British are shown, their reactions to various events, the spirit of the times is conveyed. We have all heard the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, and Jay Russell's wonderful film is one of its versions.

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

Another story of friendship between a man and a dinosaur was invented and shown by the wizards of the Pixar studio in the animated film "The Good Dinosaur" by Peter Son. 66 million years ago, an asteroid flew past the Earth, and the dinosaurs remained safe and sound. They coexist alongside cavemen and lead an almost intelligent life. Sometimes their paths intersect, and what comes of it, you can find out by watching this cartoon.

If you missed its screening in the cinema, you can sympathize with the visual component of the story of friendship and growing up of the dinosaur Arlo and the cave boy Druzhka. Fascinating landscapes, detailing of prehistoric flora and fauna, a riot of colors that 3D amplifies several times, makes you forget about reality. This exciting road movie will have a full range of emotions that will leave a pleasant aftertaste after watching.

Dinosaur (2000)

Disney's cartoon about the adventures of the brave and magnanimous dinosaur Aladar is the first to be made using computer technology. Over the past 20 years, it has not become outdated at all - after all, stories about loving families, friends, mutual help and overcoming difficulties cannot get bored. Moreover, to the delight of all lovers of prehistoric animals, the film presents a wide variety of dinosaur species. In the herd, which, after a meteorite fell, moves to the nesting site and is pursued by carnotaurs and velociraptors, there was a place for Styracosaurus and Brachiosaurus, Ankylosaurus and Altirin, Iguanodon and many others. Dinosaurs face many dangers and difficulties on the way: predators, lack of food and water, fatigue, disunity, but a strong and wise leader will be able to make the right decisions and lead. Perhaps, in comparison with The Good Dinosaur, the “picture” loses a little, the story itself withits philosophical message is timeless.

"The Legend of the Dinosaurs" (2011)

We will conclude our selection with a scientific documentary based on real research. Seventy million years ago, North America began to cover with ice, and herbivorous dinosaurs had to travel hundreds of kilometers in search of food. Among them was the young Edmontosaurus Scar, an orphaned toddler that no one cared about. The second hero of the story - Patch - is a young predatory trudon. It is also not easy for him - his “food” leaves its usual habitat in search of pastures, so it will not be easy for predators. The cartoon shows in great detail and realistically the sunset of the era of dinosaurs, these mysterious creatures, the memory of which is still alive.

Things to know (Q&A)