The plethora of pioneering special effects that bring 'A Journey To The Beginning Of Time (1955)' to life - including on-set and in-studio animation (stop-motion, cut-out, puppetry and otherwise), in-camera matte-paintings, in-camera double-exposures, in-camera perspective trickery and extensive set-design - are, essentially, as impressive as they can possibly be. They cement each long-extinct creature in the same world-space as our characters, making even the most obviously maquette-like 'monster' still seem wholly believable and, evidently, endlessly charming. Where the picture falls apart, though, is in its almost complete lack of any real narrative, aside from the most basic of 'say what you see' plots. It's this that makes the movie crawl by at a snail's pace, lacking the depth or development required to evoke an emotional connection. It was conceived as an educational feature with the intent of informing children of our Earth's history. While the scientific validity of its contents were thoroughly researched enough that it can be considered 'education', it doesn't really work as a narrative film and it should since that's what it's presented as. The lack of any entertainment probably means that kids won't want to watch it, either - its age notwithstanding. So, in essence, its educational value is as moot as its worth from an enjoyment perspective. Still, there is a sense of cinematic history in the special effects; they truly are impressive. It's these effects, and these effects alone, that keep you watching until the credits. 5/10
