Age of Dinosaurs
Common Sense says
- NR
- 2013
- 88 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Age of Dinosaurs is an incredibly stupid 2013 movie about dinosaurs brought back into the world through the miracle of genetics that run amok in Los Angeles. Though it's obviously going for the "so bad it's good" type of movie, a la Sharknado, unfortunately this movie is so bad, it's just not enjoyable. Basically, this is 90 minutes of people running from cheesy, poorly made CGI dinosaurs. There is some gore: Characters get their heads chewed off by dinosaurs, followed by blood splatter. There's some profanity: "a--hole," "s--t," "son of a bitch." There really is nothing worthwhile about this movie for any member of the family, even for those who enjoy cheesy B-movies.
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A Truly Pitiful Jurassic Park Ripoff
What's the story?
In Japan, a genetic research firm has created a komodo dragon. They hope to market this dragon, along with other dinosaurs, as pets. Unfortunately, the komodo dragon, when brought to life, chews the head off one of the researchers. The head of research chooses not to report this. In Los Angeles, this biotech firm hosts a gala event in which the CEO unveils these dinosaurs. This event is attended by a former LA firefighter named Gabe Jacobs (Treat Williams), who brings his sullen teen daughter, Jade (Jillian Rose Reed). As these dinosaurs are presented in their transparent holding cells, Gabe is fascinated, but Jade sneaks off to text her boyfriend and listen to music on her smartphone. Moments later, the dinosaurs break out of their holding cells and run amok throughout Los Angeles. As this is happening, Gabe must find a way to rescue his daughter, who also is trapped in the building, and with the help of the LAPD, they must find a way to stop these dinosaurs from causing more bloodshed and loss of human life.
Is it any good?
Wow -- unlike other "so bad, they're good" movies such as Sharknado, AGE OF DINOSAURS is just a terrible movie in every way. Any potential menace from the dinosaurs is tempered by how the awful CGI ruins any remote potential of "suspension of disbelief." The premise is flimsy at best, the writing is lousy (and not even funny-lousy), and the ending is unsatisfying. There really is nothing worthwhile about this movie, not even as mindless entertainment.
Perhaps the only good thing that can be said is that most of the actors do the best they can with what little they're given and manage lines such as "Follow that pteranodon! Step on it!" without rolling their eyes and smirking. Still -- and this cannot be stressed enough -- this is a really bad movie and should be avoided at all costs.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about bad movies. What is the difference between an enjoyably bad movie and a truly bad movie?
There is a recent trend -- especially with movies made for cable channels such as the Syfy Channel -- to make cheap movies that are "so bad, they're good." Why do you think movies like these are made, and how are they similar to and different from B-movies made in, say, the 1950s or in other decades?
What do you think makes bad movies so entertaining for some people?
Movie details
- On DVD or streaming: May 7, 2013
- Cast: Treat Williams, Ronny Cox, Jillian Rose Reed
- Director: Joseph Lawson
- Studio: Asylum Home Entertainment
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Dinosaurs
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
For kids who love spooky stories
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.