We got this DVD set cheaply via Amazon, and our fuzzy VHS copies are now in the bin. Well actually it cost 86 million dollars - with the single dino-hatchling animatronic character costing $100,000 alone. This miniseries looks like it cost a million dollars. Picture & sound quality is superb, and the special effects are quite dazzling (particularly Waterfall City). So overall, highly recommended, particularly as no more promised Dinotopia seems to have materialised.
The darker nature of this original movie Dinotopia DVD set is well suited to older pre-teens and teenagers (probably boys mainly), as many of the rampaging carnivore dinosaur scenes are a bit scary (but definitely not as much as Jurassic Park - although in heavily populated Dinotopia the body count does pile up rather more).
, but of course any Dinotopia is better than nothing so check out that series as well.
None of these actors carried over to the spin-off serial
I also really, really loved Lee Evans as dinosaur Zippo's voice, Terry Jone's as the messenger's birds voice and David Thewlis as hustler Cyrus Crabb. The spin-off series has a more jocular mood with the character's presented in a more likeable way than the moody, angry and pious (bordering on pompous in the Mayor's case) tone of this original.Īll the family preferred this Dinotopia film's darker style, with classy Brit's Katie Carr and Jim Carter as the Dinotopians and Wentworth Miller and Tyron Leitso as the believable in-fighting American step-brother's, David and Karl Scott, coping with their sudden change of lifestyle and recent loss of their father. Set despite watching this original Dinotopia film many times. Initially my son absolutely couldn't tolerate the spin off Dinotopia serial that came later when they changed all the actors, and it took a long while before he watched the multi-DVD
Our 2nd DVD includes an interesting 'making of' featurette (the single DVD version probably just has the four hour Dinotopia movie). Personally I prefer serials like these kept to their original episodes and credits to maintain pace and the episode cliff hanger, particularly for the kids at bedtime, but this film works quite well. We have the two DVD set edited into a superb long film (running over to the second DVD). My son (now 10) and our family fell in love with this original Emmy award winning Dinotopia mini-series with it's 'all star' cast. But, at the end of the day, it isn't a perfect film, and as such loses a star for the negatives mentioned above. So, overall, I rate this mini-series four stars, as in my opinion, it is an excellent film for children, and even for thosr in touch with their inner child. While I see little wrong with the graphics, others who are too used to the realistic graphics of today might find them too unrealistic to bare. The mini-series is one filled with scientific flaws, and those who despise excessive false 'movie science' in films or programmes might find this one unwatchable, what with the sunstones which ward off all 'bad' dinosaurs, or the fact that good dinosaurs can talk, and then there's the part where dinosaurs coexist with humans in the first place, and haven't seemed to evolve much, beyond creating a 'Saurian' language.įinally, there's the graphics. I don't find this too much of a drawback, especially seeing as that doesn't stop a certain bad guy from acting bad, or certain figures or authority from acting like arrogant fools, but for some, it might still be a little childish for their tastes.
Unfortunately, it does kind of lessen the experience a bit, but for children, this is something that can be easily ignored.Īlso, the Dinotopia world does seem a little too innocent. I must admit, the acting isn't brilliant. It is also creative, with quite a lot of imagination thrown into it.Īnd finally, I, personally, don't think the graphics are too bad (I've seen-and enjoyed- worse). It is also a brilliant film for the family, but more for the children than the adults.
The culture is so rich and fantastical, that even now I feel drawn into it. So much seems to happen in these episodes- from the two brothers trying to find a way to survive in (and escape) this new world, to them finally accepting their place in it. I'll try to put aside my personal love for the mini-series due to nostalgia whilst reviewing this product, and give my honest opinion after watching it once more as an adult rather than a child.