Movie review: Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Jun 24 2009 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

THIS summer has already seen some big hitting movies come our way but don’t get rid of the popcorn and pack your bags for your holidays just yet as more are swooping in soon.

‘Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs’ (out July 3) is the third in the popular animation series. I have to be honest and say I have not seen any of the previous two but the trailer for this entry looks very funny and this is definitely one for the kids.

The film I’m looking most forward to is ‘Public Enemies’ (also July 3). It stars Johnny Depp as famous gangster John Dillinger and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis, the cop on his tail. The film is directed by Michael Mann, who brought us the excellent ‘Heat’ and ‘Collateral’, and the thought of Depp and Bale butting heads and crossing words is one to savour.

Controversy will no doubt arrive in the form of ‘Bruno’ (July 10). Star Sacha Baron Cohen, playing a gay Austrian model, has wound up everyone from Israeli spies to Eminem in the build-up but if this film is as funny as ‘Borat’ then I won’t be complaining.

‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (July 17), the third-last movie in the franchise, sees Brit director David Yates take the reins. Once again we’re promised a ‘darker’ tone and given that, generally, the films have improved as they’ve gone along, expect many thrills, spills and awkward kissing.

‘The Taking of Pelham 123’ (July 24), a remake of a 1974 movie, sees Denzel Washington trying to negotiate with train hostage-taker John Travolta. Director Tony Scott has a decent track record with Washington (‘Man on Fire’, ‘Deja Vu’) so this should be quite lively.

The unlikely team of comedy-god Will Ferrell and Anna Friel head up ‘Land of the Lost’ (July 31). This looks like another fun, family film, with Ferrell going back in time and battling dinosaurs. As long as its better than ‘Night at the Museum.’

More toys come to life in ‘GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra’ (August 7) as a diverse cast, including Sienna Miller, Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid, bring us the US version of ‘Action Man.’ Warning, the trailer doesn’t look great and it has Channing Tatum in it.

Quentin Tarantino is back with ‘Inglorious Basterds’ (Sorry for the language and, yes, that is how he’s spelling it). If you’re a fan of his previous work, or want to see Brad Pitt taking out Nazis, then check it out on August 21.

Summer winds down with ‘The Final Destination’ on August 28. Yes, they’ve made another ‘Final Destination’ film. As if the awful third entry wasn’t enough. But this one is in 3D (fantastic!) and will bring some gore and have you screaming at some stupid characters played by no-name actors. Ah, the joy.