 | |
List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 9003
Released: July 30, 2002 |
| Our Price: $4.99 |
| Used Price: $3.37 |
|
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
A fantastic marriage of state-of-the-art computer technology, thrilling live action, and breathtaking ingenuity, " Dinotopia" emerges as one of the most ambitious and technically advanced projects in the history of television. While flying on holiday with their estranged father, Karl (Tyron Leitso) and David (Wentworth Miller) find themselves in unexpected bad weather, which sends their plane crashing to the shores of Dinotopia. In this fantastic lost world, built upon long-established principles of mutual respect, humans and dinosaurs peacefully coexist. The two brothers are as astounded by the benevolent creatures as they are enraptured by Marion (Katie Carr), the mayor's beautiful precocious daughter who welcomes them both to the wonders of Dinotopia. However, harmony does not prevail everywhere. Just beyond Dinotopia's capital, Waterfall City, are deadly carnivores that pose a constant threat to the delicate balance of nature. Equally dangerous are human outlaws such as Cyrus Crabb (David Thewlis), a pirate descendant who shuns the Dinotopian codes. But there is no greater concern than the mysterious failing of the sunstones, which power all of Dinotopian life. With the help of a brilliant (and multilingual) Stenonychosaurus named Zippo, Karl and David embark on a daring mission as the last hope for the prehistoric Eden they now call home. Constructed as one of the largest sets in the history of London's Pinewood Studios, with ground breaking special effects by the award-winning team at FrameStore, there has never been anything quite like "Dinotopia." Based on James Gurney's hugely popular books, adapted by Simon Moore and directed by action specialist Marco Brambilla, this is truly a mega-series that could only come from Hallmark Entertainment.
Description of Dinotopia (TV Miniseries):
Kids will love this sweeping story of two brothers whose plane crashes on a mysterious island called Dinotopia, where human beings live in harmony with dinosaurs--the herbivores, anyway. The carnivores present a problem, as the humans' defenses against them--a mystical power source called sunstones--are losing strength. As they try to save the island, Carl and David (Tyron Leitso and Wentworth Miller) struggle not only with tyrannosaurs and prehistoric crocodiles, but also with repressive Dinotopian traditions and a scheming malcontent (David Thewlis) who stirs up all kinds of trouble. Meanwhile, they also wrestle with each other over the lovely daughter of the mayor of Waterfall City (Katie Carr). The pacifist ideals of Dinotopia are refreshing, but it's the special effects that will hook viewers: riding on the backs of brachiosaurs, flying atop pteranadons, arguing in court with triceratops and ankylosaurs--anyone fascinated with dinosaurs (and who isn't?) will enjoy this whimsical fantasy. A host of British character actors also helps keep the human side of this four-hour miniseries lively; Alice Krige (also known as the Borg Queen in Star Trek: The Next Generation) gets a much more benevolent role here. --Bret Fetzer
Dinotopia (TV Miniseries) Reviews:
Watch over and over 
2009-10-17 - Dinotopia is exciting, fantastic, impressive, and very cool. Even though it is approx. 4 hours long I watch it over and over and would watch even more if my mom didn't hate it but then again she can't appreciate the awesomeness of fantasy movies. It is definitely worth spending the time watching it if not repeatedly than once. *Would'nt it be great to live in a society where your life is guided and you are encouraged such as in this movie?!*
Dinotopia
2009-09-12 - I ordered this as a gift for someone else. They loved it and so did I.
A great family movie
2009-04-14 - This a great family movie we love it and we injoyed and you will to if you get this.
Dinotopia DVD 
2009-03-30 - A fun family movie. Probably more suitable for 6yrs and over due to some violence. My young grandson loved it and re-watches it every now and then. I enjoyed it as well. Recommend it to all ages who like fantasy and dinosaurs.
Wonderful!
2009-01-11 - I just finished watching the Dinotopia miniseries with my boyfriend (both in our 30's). I had originally purchased the DVD of the TV series for him for Christmas after seeing parts of it while it was being played for our friends' children but we both felt that we were missing details of the story. I did not realize that the TV series was a continuation of the story started by the miniseries until I started reading the reviews on Amazon.
We split the 4 hour movie up over 2 or 3 days. The scenery and special effects were amazing and better than what I expected them to be. Having never read the books, I cannot comment on how true to the original story the movie was but I thoroughly entertained from start to finish.
We both felt that the movie might be too scary at times for very young viewers. However, there are valuable moral lessons taught within the movie so parents might want to watch it with their children and discuss it afterwards.
This DVD is a must have in the home library of families with children and adults who like to occasionally escape to a fantasy land with beautiful scenes and an entertaining story.
