“Dinosaur 13” is a fascinating documentary that tells the ten-year saga of “Sue,” one of the most famous fossil finds in the world. Peter Larson and his team, from the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, discovered Sue in 1990.
Sue is the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered, and her tale is not just a battle to determine the dinosaur’s ownership, but also a fight to ensure the freedom of those who found her in the first place. The battle to keep Sue involves several parties, from the power of the U.S government, to Native American tribes and competing paleontologists who want the stellar find for themselves.
The documentary features Larson and other members of his team as they recount various aspects of the story throughout every stage of Sue’s discovery. There are several images of Sue herself used, from the initial dig map to her stunning display at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.
In watching this film, one doesn’t just learn about an amazing dinosaur, but also the story of the people who fought to protect her at all costs. It is a great movie not just for dinosaur fans, but for those who also want a film that has heart as well.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars