How many movies about dinosaurs can you name? Your list probably includes at least Jurassic Park and Barney’s Great Adventure. But did you know the first animated dinosaur depicted on film was way back in 1905 in a movie entitled Prehistoric Man? Or that the first dinosaur cartoon, Gertie the Dinosaur, appeared nine years later? Moviemakers have been fascinated with these extinct creatures almost from the beginning of the motion picture industry, as indicated by the number of films about them --- including One Million B.C. (1940 and 1966), The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), Journey to the Center of the Earth ((1959), The Land that Time Forgot (1975), and Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985).

None of these movies match the spectacular visual impact of Walt Disney’s Dinosaur. By using the latest technology, filmmakers have given the audience a close-up of the prehistoric world from the dinosaur’s perspective. Because of its realistic depiction of this treacherous world, some youngsters may be severely frightened by many of the film’s violent scenes. That’s too bad, for most young children love dinosaurs with a passion that’s hard to explain. (Just ask the parents who must suffer through all those Barney videos over and over again!)

Combining photo-realistic computer-generated characters with live-action backgrounds and incredible special effects, this movie follows Aladar, a dinosaur raised by a clan of Lemurs on an island apart from other dinosaurs. When reunited with his own species, Aladar faces challenges because of his compassion and independent thinking. These qualities put him at odds with Kron, a hard-hearted leader of the dinosaur herd. Kron’s sister Neera helps Aladar challenge the “traditional ways” in order to prove that survival depends on cooperation.

In any animated movie, actors who lend their vioces to the characters play an important role in bringing them to life. What would The Little Mermaid have been without Samuel E. Wright’s spirited vocalization of Sebastian, the Crab? Wright, who appears as Mustafa in the Broadway version of Lion King, shows his versatility again as the voice of the imperious Kron in Dinosaur. Unfortunately, D.B. Sweeney (The Cutting Edge) as Aladar and Julianna Margulies (ER) as Neera don’t fare as well, probably because there’s nothing special about their voices. However, British actress Joan Plowright (Tea with Mussolini) adds poignancy and humor to her character, the last creature of its kind on earth. Ossie Davis, Alfre Woodard, and Della Reese have trouble making their characters very appealing because of consistently boring dialogue.

The script for Dinosaur is its major problem. Exciting visual artistry can’t hide the tediousness of this film’s predictable story. How many times do viewers need to see a herd of dinosaurs plodding along to their nesting place? How many times must they be shown a baby dinosaur’s lack of potty training? In addition, what happened to that trademark Disney humor? When Neera calls Aladar a “jerkosaurus,” it’s the only remotely funny line in the movie.

Still, as a result of its breathtaking visual effects, Dinosaur is a landmark film. It should be a monster hit.

(Released by Walt Disney Pictures and rated “PG-13” for intense images.)