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Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

Director: Carlos Saldanha, Mike Thurmeier

Time Out rating

Average user rating

23 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

It makes a change to see a 3D animated kids’ film that doesn’t poke your eyes out with fancy effects just for the sake of it. In fact, some of the 3D elements in Blue Sky’s latest prehistoric critter circus are so subtle you may not notice them. What you won’t miss are the film’s exhilarating action sequences and electrifyingly vibrant palette.

Some dramatic changes are occurring in the lives of Manny the mammoth, Sid the sloth and Diego the sabre-toothed tiger. Manny is preoccupied with a pregnant partner, Diego’s lost his mojo and is having a midlife crisis, and lisping loser Sid… well, is it any wonder he doesn’t have a family of his own? Following a minor tiff, Sid wanders off, falls through the ice and discovers three dinosaur eggs which he adopts – until big mama Rex comes trundling into the frame. In a nod to ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’, the rest unfolds in a Cretaceous underworld where Manny and Co – aided by a cocky new weasel character – attempt an audacious rescue.

Some have expressed displeasure at the design and voices of the leads. I disagree – but I do think Simon Pegg’s Artful Dodger-like weasel is a vocal cliché too far. Similarly, some of the anarchic, comical segues featuring Scrat the squirrel and a newfound love are beginning to feel overfamiliar. As with the two earlier films, it’s all a mite disorderly in tempo but often highly amusing and great fun in the main.

Author: Derek Adams

Time Out London Issue 2028, July 2 - 8, 2009

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User reviews of this film

iva said...

Posted on Jan 31 2010 13:59 just went to see this film with my 3.5year old - his first ever cinema experience. (i loved it and) he loved it but was scared throughout most of the film - it is a little bit dark and scary for the very little ones. it did say that it's for 4 years+ tho, but just wanted to mention this to other mums. he did love it overall and is now reacting the story with his little dinosaurs toys.

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Dec 20 2009 04:10 Agreed people, usually I'm a horror junkie but this made me laugh as I love Sid! He's like Donkey but funnier, missed the last ten mins but from what I did see this is way better than part 2! And up there with part 1! Ice Age 4 has been announced, cant wait to see it!

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donna young said...

Posted on Nov 11 2009 09:59 i thought that the film was hilarious but i feel like crying if im over happy

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Kam said...

Posted on Sep 19 2009 15:52 Brilliant film. My four year old son loved this film and kept on asking questions about it. My husband and I absolutely loved the film and would recommend it. I much prefer this film and ice age 1 & 2.

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Daniell said...

Posted on Aug 20 2009 19:25 Fantastic, they just get better. Humour for the children,and for the adults, a brilliant balance for all, laughed from beginning to end. Go see it!

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Maxine said...

Posted on Aug 13 2009 15:26 The film was good, it made me laugh a few times but since when was a normal film classed as 3D, the carecters just looked more bubbley. I would recommend it but i wouldnt buy it on DVD. I expected better as the others where fab!!!!!

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MS WORD said...

Posted on Aug 07 2009 08:06 SPELLCHECK PLEASE

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Otanjuiohous said...

Posted on Aug 06 2009 16:58 Funny, it was. i like bits in film becus it make me laf my heds of. it was grate and vewwy well ritun and ewverybodie ingoed it. congrajulaterins.

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Russell said...

Posted on Aug 01 2009 21:00 I was kinda wondering whether they would have gone to well one time too many with the thrid installment of ice age, but I needn't have worried. The storyline and the animation is still good, the vocal performances, with the possilbe exception of Simon Pegg, are still just the right side of schaltzy and the characters are now so well established that its all very engaging. It might not be quite as good as the two earlier films, but its a great film for the kids with enough knowing references and multi level jokes to keep the adults amused, well worth seeing.

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dave widdall said...

Posted on Jul 20 2009 20:45 Brilliant,couldn't fault the film at all.Sid the sloth is my hero.A great film for everybody

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jim said...

Posted on Jul 20 2009 10:35 UTTER rubbish i havnt seen such a boring film in alll of the world of the history it was evan worse in 3D and there is no reason in the world why you should see this over rated piece of junk
Jim 9

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loulou said...

Posted on Jul 19 2009 14:48 great......it was utter genius

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bronwen said...

Posted on Jul 19 2009 14:47 good.....it was not a dissapointment at all..very well made and the voices were genius

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mike said...

Posted on Jul 19 2009 14:45 very good.it was so funny i nearly fell off my chair laughing.

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joe yantree said...

Posted on Jul 19 2009 14:43 fantastic...i loved it.if and watch it you wont be let down

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