At twelve Kex runs away from the Pacific Boys Home to seek adventure. After stowing aboard a ship a storm rips him from his vessel and lands him on the island of Dinotopia, a land where humans and intelligent dinosaurs peacefully coexist. Kex finds himself quickly befriended by 26, a young female Stegosaurus who introduces him to new friends. But things are not well in Dinotopia the sunstones are losing their power and the elders fear that the ruby sunstone has been found again, if so its existence threatens the whole of the island...

Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone (2005 - 1 hr, 12 min, 06 sec) is an animated film based around the Dinotopia series, though it’s been given a cute makeover to make it suitable for younger children. Directed by Davis Doi, from a script by Sean Roche, the animation is above that of a Saturday morning show but not quite good enough for a feature.

That said they have been able to rope in some impressive vocal actors, including Alyssa Milano as 26; Jamie Kennedy as Spazz; George Segal as Albagon and Malcolm McDowell as the evil Ogthar.

Overall there is little here for anyone over the age of nine. Fans of the original series will chew their arms off at the elbow for the portrayal and parents in general will doze off in the armchair. Kids however should enjoy the film; it's brash and bright with a simple linear story of good against evil - here Malcolm MacDowell outdoes himself as the evil Ogthar who plans to use the Ruby Sunstone to conquer the world. Can a couple of kids and a young dinosaur thwart his evil plans? Well of course they can, this is a kids film, even though Ogthar's form of demise is stolen from the Lord of the Rings - well if you’re going to steal, steal from the best.

It’s cheap and cheerful and should keep the kids off your back for an hour. The disc has no extras but you can choose to view it in either English or French.

5

Charles Packer