The Good Dinosaur (2015)

Another beautiful and heart-warming story from the team at Pixar, this film poses the question, “What would have happened if the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs had never hit the Earth?”

And that’s exactly how the film begins: An asteroid headed for Earth flies right past, and the dinosaurs continue to live.

Fast forward a few million years (to when humans come along). But they’re not the humans you expect. In this film, the animals are the intelligent beings, and the humans are the “dumb animals”.

Young dinosaur Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) wants nothing more than to impress his parents (Jeffrey Wright and Frances McDormand) as much as his siblings do. The only problem is, he’s not very strong, not very brave, not very anything, really.

But when the river sweeps him far downstream, and away from home, he must find the strength that lies inside him to get back to his family.

With him is small human Spot (Jack Bright), who is more like a little dog to Arlo, communicating in growls, howls and snarls and walking on all fours.

Along the way, they get help from a family of Tyrannosaurus Rex, Nash (AJ Buckley), Ramsey (Anna Paquin) and their father Butch (Sam Elliott).

Of course, they face plenty of obstacles too, but I’ll let you discover those for yourself.

It feels like I say this every time I review an animated movie, but the realism of computer animation just keeps on getting better. The rocks, trees, grass, water, fire and every other part of nature in this film is so incredibly realistic, you only remember the film is animated when you see the talking dinosaurs.

The screenplay – by Meg LeFauve – is clever, in the same way most animated films are these days, certainly most Pixar films. There is plenty below the surface for older viewers to enjoy, as well as young viewers. I appreciate the cleverness of the writing and the humour immensely.

The score by Mychael and Jeff Danna is superb, strong in all the right places and subtle in others, never distracting you from the action on the screen, but at all times supporting it.

Director Peter Sohn has brought us a beautiful film, that will remind you that healthy fear is not a bad thing, and there are more important things in life than what others think of you.

7 out of 10.

Inside Out (2015)

Have you ever wondered what is going on inside someone else's head? Well, this film attempts to answer that question.

Riley Andersen (Kaitlyn Dias) is 11 years old, and with her parents (Kyle MacLachlan and Diane Lane) has just moved from Minnesota - where she has lived her whole life - to San Francisco, where she knows no-one, has to adjust to a new school and new surroundings.

And thanks to the magic of animation, we are able to see inside her head, where her emotions are all personified. Joy (Amy Poehler) is the self-appointed leader of the emotions, as Joy is the main emotion that Riley has felt so far as a child. But now, as she approaches her teenage years - and as her life is becoming less and less enjoyable for her - some of the other emotions are beginning to take over.

The other main emotion who starts coming to the fore a lot more is Sadness (Phyllis Smith). In fact, even some of Riley's Core Memories (that were hitherto Joyful memories) are beginning to be tainted with touches of Sadness.

One day, Joy and Sadness together are whisked out of 'Headquarters' and end up lost in Riley's 'Long Term Memory', and have to find their way back to Headquarters, along with all of Riley's Core Memories, that are at risk of falling into 'the dump' and being lost forever.

While Joy and Sadness are away from Headquarters, Riley's other emotions are left to take charge. Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Anger (Lewis Black) start to become more and more prevalent in Riley's various outbursts, as her parents try to understand what has come over their little girl all of a sudden.

In Riley's Long Term Memory, Joy and Sadness find Riley's imaginary friend, Bing Bong (Richard Kind), who helps them in their journey out of his long-held love for Riley.

I'll let you discover the rest for yourself if you haven't seen this film yet. Writers Meg Lefauve, Josh Cooley and Pete Docter (who was also the director of this film) have created in my opinion an absolute masterpiece. The writing is so clever, and the animation so good (though who could expect less from a Pixar film these days?) that it is very easy to get swept up in the story, and to really feel for Riley and her parents in the whole situation.

Music by Michael Giacchino is subtle and heartfelt. There is a very simple piano theme that repeats throughout, which serves to ground the viewer each time it appears.

I have said this over and over again to many people with whom I have discussed this film over the years: This is quite simply the best Pixar film since Finding Nemo back in 2003. And I think it would be very difficult to knock it from this position, at least as far as I am concerned.

There is plenty here for young children to enjoy and to learn, particularly the lesson that it is okay to feel sad sometimes (Joy has a very hard time accepting that Sadness is a valid part of Riley's emotions, and it is only through a long and arduous journey that she realises for herself that Sadness is important, too). But there is also so much in here for older audiences, parents and other adults alike. This to me is the appeal of animated films like this, there is something for everyone.

9 out of 10.