Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs

Are you ready for adventure; for danger; for death? Are you ready for the third episode in the Ice Age series? Boldly going where no other mammals dare to tread, the lovable bunch of sub-zero heroes, Manny, Ellie and Diego, are led from the comfort of their icy surroundings, as they know it, into a dangerous, but tropical and submerged dinosaur world below the ice layers, all because Sid the wreckless sloth reckons he has he has the superior parenting skills of Jolie or Madge. Yes, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs does offer more adventure, animated theatrics and thrilling chases - and all in 3D, even though the plot isn't exactly rocket science. But try as hard as any film critic might to knock the latest tale, the saga's infectious, slapstick fun brings out the kid in all of us, and melts any cynical old heart.

In addition, a new Ice Age star is born: Introducing Buck, top weasel for both adults and the kids, alike. Talent flavour of the day/month/year, new L.A. resident Simon Pegg is - as ever - hilarious voicing the part, sounding like an animated 'Jack Sparrow' weasel (complete with pirate eyepatch) who leads the loveable herd to safety from the dinosaurs. Buck provides the adult gags, whilst sparking a nostalgic, adventurous 'Peter Pan spirit' in all us older viewers - cue the childish 'yukky broccoli' moment. It's also exciting to see the endearing characters turn adventurers in this third episode - in both the 'other worlds' and parenthood sense - rather than pace the snowy terrain like in films past. The ancient hidden world under the ice is reminiscent of all the exciting underwater worlds that have yet to be discovered in our oceans, too.

Synopsis ------

Scrat is still trying to nab the ever-elusive nut (while, maybe, finding true love); Manny and Ellie await the birth of their mini-mammoth; Diego the Sabre-toothed tiger wonders if he's growing too "soft" hanging with his pals, and Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some dinosaur eggs. ---------

On a mission to rescue the hapless Sid, the gang ventures into a mysterious underground world, where they have some close encounters with dinosaurs, battle flora and fauna, run amuck - and meet a relentless, one-eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck. ------

Film Facts --------

Official site: http://www.iceage3.co.uk/

Directors: Carlos Saldanha, Michael Thurmeier

Cast: Ray Romano ('Manfred 'Manny' the Mammoth' (voice)), John Leguizamo ('Sid' (voice)), Denis Leary ('Diego' (voice)), Simon Pegg ('Buck' (voice)), Queen Latifah ('Ellie' (voice)), Seann William Scott ('Crash' (voice)), Josh Peck ('Eddie' (voice)), Chris Wedge ('Scrat' (voice)), Atticus Shaffer ('Animal Boy' (voice)), Joey King ('Beaver' (voice))