What's that coming over the hill?
The Valley Of Gwangi (1969)
Kitsch-n-cool, this flick's highlight is the odd-couple pairing of yee-hawing cowboys and dinosaurs, with the former lassoing an understandably cranky T-Rex. A cult classic originally mooted as King Kong’s sequel, it took two years to film, sports 300 animated shots and way-ahead-of-its-time special effects. Still, helmed by stop-motion maestro Ray Harryhausen (who directed bosomy dino-honey Raquel Welsh in One Million Years B.C) 38-years ago, angry Gwangi remains an eye-catching specimen. Grrrrrr.
Loch Ness (1996)
Cheers’ star Ted Danson keeps his head above the schmaltz in this romantic adventure, portraying prickly scientist Dr Dempsey - sent to Scotland to probe the legend of Nessie. There’s a blink and miss it sighting of the Monster, but this is a low-tech, slow-burn film, not a special efects extravaganza, and Nessie’ enthusiasts can holdfast to their belief that some day, radar will surely locate the publicity-shy, waterlogged dino.
When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth (1970)
Lizards who lunch on co-existing cavemen pad out the storyline in this cheesy offering, which nevertheless was Oscar nominated for best visual effects. And in an (embarrassing) attempt at method acting, the Neanderthal cast speaks quasi grunt lingo, i.e. “Yo kita m'kan” – which means “Go kill”. Faux-realism aside, there’s jiggley-fronted totty to ogle in scantily clad lead Victoria Vetri, the 1967 Playboy centrefold, no less.
Dinosaur (2000)
This live action/animated pic had bucketloads of 'ah' factor, stacks of raptors and barrel-loads of budget, having cost an estimated $200m. It centres round poor little orphaned dinosaur Aladar, (voiced by D. B. Sweeney), who’s adopted by a family of caring lemurs. Aladar survives rejection by other dinos, plus a free-flying meteor, and although some found the life-lessons and dialogue cloyingly cutesy, the visuals delivered wham-bam.
14th March 2007.
