Dinotopia (II) (2002) User Reviews (70)

Weird society...

[Anna Konda · 6/10 · 4 September 2004]

This comment contains spoilers on the dinotopian society and the storyline.

I borrowed the 'Dinotopia'-DVD from a friend and watched all of the three parts last night. Somehow the show didn't turn out to be that gripping I could sit along for 4,5 hours without taking my eyes off the screen. I moved around rather a lot, returning to the TV when dramatic music or some line caught my attention. Signs that I got occasionally bored.

What has been so boring has already been named in other comments, such as the lousy acting, the incredibly silly lines and the tiring, predictable 'immature teens learn to take their responsibilities'-story line.

The CGIs were quite good for a TV Show, although in some scenes you could clearly see that the dinos were added to the film later, especially in most of the Zippo-scenes. Zippo's colour was far too light to fit the rest of the scene.

Zippo himself indeed reminded me of Jar-Jar Binks, but I noted that he wasn't half that annoying as this babbling dope. Poor Zippo didn't have a clear part, in fact he wasn't much more than the usual funny sidekick, as it is common use in Disney movies.

The portrayal of the dinotopian way of life made me a bit uncomfortable. Although it would be most welcome if mankind would get closer to Nature again, the social structure appeared to be quite dictatorial to me. One single person, the 'Matriarch', decides where people will work and how they will live. The Senate decides which saurian partner one will have to live with. Every decision concerning your very life is taken by the authorities. And not a single Dinotopian appears to question this? Where is the right of the free will? What if someone doesn't want to work at the place he has been chosen to? Will he be placed under house arrest for the rest of his life? It may be forbidden for Dinotopians to make use of violence and weapons but there can be psychological violence as well.

Even the dinotopian teenagers seem to know exactly their one and only destiny (and everyone knows that teenagers rarely do), such as Marion and Romana. But what if Romana, who dreamed being a skybax rider since her childhood, would have been chosen to work in the hatchery? Eh? Would she still answer 'Fly high' when someone addresses her with 'Breath deep', or wouldn't it rather be 'Go to hell'?

As I don't know the books of James Gurney I cannot tell if the description of this society is the same in the original or if it has just been simplified for the TV show.

It intrigues me that no one seems to argue at any time (except the villain of course). Even the children appear to be the most wellbehaving. I expected them to poke fun at their nearly adult classmates David and Karl, but – no. Nowhere on earth, in any society, you have such every time sunny, patient, friendly and peaceful people. Everyone (except the villain of course) seems to be brainwashed since his childhood. What do those people do for fun? Watching sectlike ceremonies and listening to incantations of the Ten Rules? Didn't one of the Rules read 'Sing Every Day'? I never heard anyone sing during those 4,5 hours.

But this may come because they are all vegetarians (no offense to the vegetarian community ;-) – I hardly eat meat myself). As I understood, they only eat fruit, vegetables, and cereals and they didn't propose cheese or eggs for meal, which makes them more vegans than vegetarians. But if they are, where do they take the leather from to make their saddles (it clearly was leather, no cloth)? I can hardly believe they skin the dinos after they die! When you live together with a saurian partner, aren't you supposed to bury it decently after it dies? You don't make a pair of shoes out of your dead grandma's skin, do you?

Besides, isn't it strange that there is no other kind of animal to be seen on the island apart from the dinosaurs? No dogs, cats, pigs or chicken. It is quite unlikely that the shipwrecked ancestors of the Dinotopians never had any animals aboard. But strangely, Marion knows exactly that a chicken is a bird when Karl asks for a chicken burger. Being Dinotopian in the 20th generation, her knowledge seems rather implausible on a chickenless island.

Sometimes I felt sorry for poor Sirus Crabb, a villain for sure, but he appeared to be the only one to question the 'paradise' he lives in. And if you question Paradise, as is proved by Adam and Eve, you must be get rid off – in one way or another…

As a conclusion, let me state that besides my comments on this weird society, 'Dinotopia' is far away from being the worst movie I ever saw. It can offer a nice TV evening with friends and even a very catching discussion afterwards about how mankind should or shouldn't live and if you liked to live in Dinotopia yourself or not.

I gave it a rating 6/10.

The books are better (possible spoilers for the books)

[QueenPendragon · 5/10 · 26 October 2005]

As an avid Dinotopia fan, I was eagerly looking forward to the miniseries, but it didn't quite live up to expectations.

The books are absolutely wonderful but Gurney didn't want to ruin peoples' preconceived notions about them, so a modern day storyline was created and the miniseries changed too much and made the society seem too rigid. In the books, there is no assigning of things, you choose your own path, maybe becoming an apprentice, maybe following in your parents' footsteps, maybe competing in the Dinosaur Olympics for a chance to choose, or something else. The sunstone towers are just message beacons; the carnivores stay in the basin of their own will. The hatcheries were way different too.

I'd say it's worth watching but don't let it turn you off from the books as they're so much better.

Great visuals, so-so writing, and the acting, umm...

[podkayne99 · 6/10 · 16 May 2002]

The dinosaurs look pretty good, and the sets and costumes accurately reflect the Mucha-meets-Robin Hood/fairy tale renfaire look of the original James Gurney books. The writing is pedestrian and often predictable to the point that adults will be rolling their eyes and groaning. Don't let the kids know you're bored, though; they'll be completely enthralled.

Disney is threatening to make this into a series for fall 2002. If so, I hope they keep Katie Carr as Marion and Jim Carter as her father, Mayor Waldo. They were both lively, interesting and convincing.

Wentworth Miller (David), OTOH, should seriously consider another career. His total range of expression seems to consist of only a puzzled frown and "What's that smell?" This series would have been so much better if he hadn't been so wooden and unconvincing. I felt impatient and annoyed every time he was on screen.

Some aspects of this show just scream "Disney"- the good guys are either saccharine paragons of virtue or "troubled but kind" while the bad guys are scheming caricatures. And then there's the obligatory oochie-koochie, cloyingly cutesy baby dinosaur. Still, I give it a 6 out of 10. The kid in me was captivated by the excellent blend of live actors and computer-generated creatures. With better writers and a couple different actors it could be a good TV series.

A magical delight

[michael-stead · 11 January 2006]

I found this to be absolutely enchanting. There is a richness to the cinematography reminiscent of the film Babe, making it super-real, and the special effects add a layer of beauty to the film, rather than being a distraction.

There is a strong narrative thread, based around two half-brothers, washed up on the shores of the island. You have to make the leap into believing that somehow this island exists - almost undiscovered - as a haven where dinosaurs and humans co-exist.

The drama is driven along by the fact that the brothers barely know each other, having been brought up by different mothers. As they search for their father, who was with them in a plane that crashed, their differences become exacerbated.

With the exception of a lone tyrannosaurus attack, the story steers clear of the usual dinosaurs; instead it showcases some that appear less often in modern films, such as the enormous ankylosaurs, who act as acolytes and guards on the island.

I found myself caught up in the magic as the brothers take a ride on a dinosaur bus to Waterfall City. One of the lovely conceits of the films is that dinosaurs and humans work with each other in a variety of different ways. It is through the interaction with dinosaurs that the brothers each go on a journey of self-discovery and development.

There are some plot twists along the way, some love stories, and a complex villain, played very well by David Thewlis. The drama is divided up into rather lengthy sections. I find them enthralling and have watched them several times, but you really need to set a large chunk of an afternoon or an evening aside to enjoy each part.

This is a very male-centred drama, the women tend to be brought on in supporting roles and sometimes the leading characters behave quite infuriatingly. However, even though you are, like the brothers, dropped in the deep end of the story, it all makes sense, all the important plot strands get resolved and you can come out of it wishing that the island was real.

OK adventure with dinosaurs

[Jiiimbooh · 6/10 · 12 June 2022]

Yes, I know. It's a miniseries for kids, but some grownups seem to enjoy it. I have loved dinosaur movies ever since I saw Jurassic Park (1993) as a kid, so I decided to give it a try.

The overarching story is an exciting tale of adventure. Two half-brothers survive a plane crash. After this brush with death they discover an island where humans and dinosaurs live together. The brothers have different personalities and deal with this discovery in different ways. There are dangers ahead for the brothers and the inhabitants of the island, but I won't reveal any more about that now.

The story itself is great, but of course, it also matters how a story is told. About the script, certain things are just not explained. Maybe it has to do with limitations on the running time. An example early on is when the brothers take a bus. To get on they need a ticket. Presumably, if you need a ticket you need to buy it. They just get them from a man in a booth with no explanation. Would it had been so hard to just have someone lend them some coins in the local currency? No spoilers, but the ending was even worse to the point of being sloppy. I could see the screenwriter in front of me going: "Ops, I only have three more pages to finish this!" He would have needed half an episode.

Another important aspect in a series about dinosaurs is of course the practical and digital effects. For scenes in broad daylight, the CGI is not that impressive. It didn't look much better than a video game at the time. However, there were a few suspenseful scenes, in the dark, that mixed CGI with animatronics, and these worked much better. It's clear that great care had been taken to make the most of what they had in order to make these scenes as thrilling as possible. Of course, if you're mainly interested in realistic-looking creatures, you might as well re-watch Jurassic Park. Even if the industry had nine years to improve the technologies, you have to consider that Dinotopia is made for TV and Jurassic Park was a blockbuster, and had groundbreaking effects.

The acting wasn't always great, but wasn't what bothered me the most. Maybe it was because I half-expected it from a TV production.

I'm sorry I didn't watch Dinotopia at age ten, as I probably wouldn't have noticed the flaws as much. It's not terrible, but I suspect that the grownups who give it the most praise might be watching through a nostalgic filter.

I would recommend this if the following is true: You want something to watch with your kids. Your kids like adventure and/or dinosaurs. They can handle some scary sequences, but aren't yet ready for Jurassic Park. If you are looking for something to watch on your own, there are better options, even if you like dinosaurs.

Dinotopia is a Visual Spectacular!

[tavishe · 9/10 · 21 May 2002]

Dinotopia is a Visual Spectacular!

Though the mini-series is corny in areas, it the good type of corny...not that crappy 'we're the best' Hollywood corny. It's a movie that's not afraid to admit that it's corny or that some of it's acting isn't the greatest at times. On the upside the visual effects are amazing. If you watch the mini-series and think that you are looking at a painting/drawing style it's really quite breathtaking. Another thing thing I must say for this movie is that it is entertaining, fun ride, action packed. I was neve bored watching this film. Overall it was just a good 4.5 hours to spend. Light hearted...good family fun...but not one of those typical family movies.

Recommendation: Read the books by James Guerny as well "Dinotopia" and the "World Beneath" =)

Impressive but far from perfect.

[vsix1 · 7/10 · 13 May 2002]

I've always been a fan of the mini-series genre. I have not been a fan of the Hallmark mini-series. With the exception of Merlin and the 10th Kingdom, they are normally an exercise in overblown dramatics (see Noah's Ark and for example). However, after watching the first two nights of Dinotopia, I can see a marked change in the mini-series.

Mini-series are usually characterized by large casts with big name stars. One can see the trend going as far back as Roots, North and South, and The Winds of War. While not exactly the "mega-series" that it is advertised to be (running only six hours), Dinotopia is different. With a cast of telented but little known stars (with the possible exception of David Thewlis), Dinotopia shined as an example of entertainment that appeals to both the family unit and the individual watcher. Children will love the images and soft colors that paint the screen. Adults will love the intelligent script and complex world that is created. Indeed, the world is so complex, that one watches just to see what ingenious concept will come next.

Dinotopia, while based on a series of books going by the same name, does borrow concepts from other sources. It's spiritual ideas are eastern. It' s architectural design is largly ancient. There are examples of Egyptian gods in the references of the underworld. And, of course, (in the relationship between the dinosaurs and humans), there are references to the Flintstones. Unlike the Flintstones, the citizens of Dinotopia live in harmony with the dinosaurs, rather that have the dinosaurs work for them. It would bode well for the humans of our age to see that lesson as one that should span time.

Dino-No-Hope-ia

[Rob_Taylor · 4/10 · 16 January 2003]

I have to say that, ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated with dinosaurs. So anything that has dinosaurs in it, automatically ensures that I'll watch it. Unfortunately, I found this particular production to be overlong and tedious for the most part, with an entirely too predictable plot and far too many "Why would they do that's" thrown in for bad measure.

I have to say that I ended somewhat confused by the government/philosophical system as practised by the Dinotopians. Was it meant to be Communism? Or some form of dictatorship by committee? I was never sure. And all I could tell was that I liked it even less than one of the brothers did (I can't remember which one was the anti-establishment brother since they were both equally bland and uninteresting actors).

Also, any shred of authority the mayor had was completely destroyed by his ludicrous hat. I'm sorry, but it looked like something that would be more at home on Ronald McDonald's head, not the head of a nation. In fact, coupled with his foolish costume he reminded more than a little of Andy Pandy, just not as bright.

Then there was Zippo, the dino equivalent of C3PO. Camp and useless for the most part. I kept looking at him and wondering just what kind of brain could be in a head the size of a fist.

There was also some nonsense about a lost temple being a gateway to the "World Beneath" and which had been lost for ages. Yet in each long shot we see of it the temple is clearly visible above the trees and therefore to the skyriders as well. It also happened to lie alongside the main river which flows out of Waterfall City. So it's rather puzzling how it remained unnoticed for so long.

The villain of the piece, Cyrus Crabbe (David Thewlis) was the most interesting character in the whole story. But he was unashamedly bad. At one point he throws Zippo (in a sack) into a sewer, intending to kill him. Later the group overlook this attempted murder and join up with him. Guess what? He turns on them. Well, duh!

And apparently, when you tame wild pteradons to fly you around, build saddles for them and everything, it never crosses your mind to build in a safety harness so you can't fall off.....bah! You just have to cling white-knuckled to them and hope for the best.

Everything was too predictable and the stupidly obstinate attitude of the mayor and the Dinotopian ruling class to avoid change was extremely irritating. I found myself hoping that the Sun Stones would fail completely and that no new ones would be found, just to show them what happens if you sit on your hands. But sadly that wouldn't have meant the story having a happy ending.

Also counter-intuitive.....when the Pteranodons attack Waterfall City, apparently nobody thinks to take shelter inside a building. Instead, they run about in blind panic in large, open spaces like a herd of frightened gazelle. Pathetic!

From the other reviews I see that this is based upon a series of novels. I truly hope the books are better than this. I can't think that they'd be worse. But I am somewhat saddened to think that people who watched this might be put off from reading what may well be a very enjoyable set of books.

All in all a bunch of foolishness that is moderately entertaining, if you leave your brain at the door. But I suspect that fans of the books will be even more disappointed than I was.

I have never been more jubilant about mini-series (or a four-hour movie, whatever you prefer)

[Dark_Fox · 10/10 · 28 December 2002]

I saw the first part of Dinotopia on television. In advance, I knew nothing about it, and I thought it would be just another cheap movie with horrible effects and only a few dinosaur scenes. I have never been that wrong! Dinotopia is a gripping story with splendid animation, I have immediately bought it on video! The movie contains marvellous landscapes, introduces some new ideas about dinosaurs (the ability to speak, intelligence, the way they survived extinction), is filled with magnificent music and contains fascinating ways of human-dinosaur interaction. A must-see for almost everyone, since there are no gruesome blood-scenes. My points of comment:1) a total of four seconds bad acting, and 2) a couple of gaps in the script (however, very small). In contrast to Jurassic Park, this movie has very little scenes with flesh-eating dinosaurs. Dinotopia can count itself to the best dinosaur-movies ever (which is, even now, a disappointing small group), and is a movie I want to watch over and over again! Only he who is blind or deaf, doesn't like dinosaurs or adventure and/or wants to have killing action every second of a movie has to ignore this masterpiece.

Entertaining

[Sparrow_in_flight · 6/10 · 15 February 2004]

I never read the books, so I cannot say whether or not the miniseries follows them accurately. However, I can say that I thought it was pretty fun, and enjoyed the way the dinosaurs were done - surprisingly not cheesy. Also, I admire David Thewlis' ability to simply disappear into a role, so that you fully believe he is his character. It was fun, and I was disappointed that the tv show didn't seem as creative.

Crap o Topia

[DaytonaBob · 1/10 · 22 April 2007]

Well I just re-watched the series. What can I say, I was really hoping that possibly, just possibly the second watching might make me see or think of things differently.

Nope.

What is presented here is a fascist society. A sort of benevolent (if that is possible) dictatorship. I kept praying that someone would wipe that smile off the face of that bitch who ran things. Talk about annoying.

This is the sort of society that makes you actually happy for discontent in ours. There is NO choice in what you do. Ever watch FUTURAMA and the 'job chip in the hand' thing? Same thing here. One has no choice in their lives.Sorry but sounds more like HELL! The acting is so so. The flight instructor was over the top. He was horrible. And this bit of risking your life to get your flying monster? Oh puhleeze. It's amazing how some things just don't translate very well to visualizing it vs how you read it.

No theater? No fiction? No amusement parks? No nothing? Just follow the Dear Leader's way of doing things? No writings, or ability to think for oneself? NO looking for those who are creative, think for themselves, the dreamers, those who want to make things better? Just sheep? The writing made me gag. Who came up with some of this dialog? Did they go to a UCLA film school and choose the worst hack writers? The entire show just made me ill. A backwards society that frowns upon progress? And this is supposed to be a good thing? Didn't we get past all of that in the last few centuries? The show COULD have had such great possibilities but instead fell back on typical hack writing. No originality, no hope, no Nada.

The society presented is to diametrically opposed to itself to actually work. There HAS to be progress or a society ceases to function properly and the morons who wrote this just didn't understand that. When introducing modern thought and ideas to an old society the writers COULD have shown a better society being made, but instead chose the typical Hollywood way of doing things, which is bettering yourself is bad.

Think about it. In just about every single show or movie, it turns out to be a BAD THING when the actors do better in life. Make a lot of money, get a promotion, win the lottery, etc. We are shown that being a sheeple is better than doing good. How many movies have you seen where the promotion turns into a bad thing for the lead? ALL OF THEM.

And another thing, what is up with the professional writers always coming here and promoting junk? Do you know ANYONE who writes like these guys? They are easy to spot. Very easy.

This show is just further proof that hack writers own Hollywood.

Crap o Topia indeed.

"A Great Delight to Watch"

[misskiwi4 · 9/10 · 14 October 2005]

Recently becoming a Wentworth Miller fan, I found myself drawn to his earlier works and came upon this charming miniseries. It's definitely worth a look. If your into seeing cutesy fantasy films, than this a movie for you. Not only was the acting, and choices for actors/actresses great, but the special effects were phenomenal. After a while I had to remind myself that the dinosaurs were actually fake, because it's easily forgotten. The story is entertaining and moves along nicely. Also, the music and storyline overall really gave it a truly classic and magical feel. It really was a treat to see. I'd recommend it, without question.

Unique but Flawed

[iguana1500 · 7/10 · 2 July 2004]

*may contain potential spoilers*

Dinotopia was slated to be a big budget and big hit movie. After its release on ABC in 2002, it became something of a failure in the sense that it was not a smash hit. Rather, it falls into history as a unique movie based off of a memorable childhood book. It has its strengths that make it overall worth watching. Running at over four hours, it has some good plot, acceptable acting, very rich settings, comical characters, and a different ending than one would expect.

The main theme that is explored in the movie offers something to think about. The idea of utopia is not a new one; adding dinos into the mix definitely makes it unique. Although we all expect every movie about utopia to have the same conclusion that all utopias fail, this one does not have the same outcome. Perhaps it is the effect of the "scalies" that minimizes the human tendency of self destruction. Still, the gravity of the theme rapidly tappers off way before the movie actually ends. Really, very few people actually care by the end of the movie whether or not the dinotopians fail in their "perfectly" created society. Still, it is something of a childish "happy" ending that will probably please younger audiences who do not wish to see all the dinos and humans perish.

Children will probably find the dinosaurs amusing and fun. Yet the animation of the dinosaurs leaves something to be desired for anyone over the age of 10. Still, the character "Zippo" is one of the best computer animated characters in any movie. Although sometimes borderline dumb, he is much more comical and interesting than "Ja ja" from you know what. Oh, and little kids will inevitably find "26" cute.

Dinotopia offers a solid soundtrack. Its music is memorable but not very varied in flavor. The music does fit the movie well and adds an added element that makes it more watchable.

What really makes Dinotopia unique is the grand nature of the movie itself: four hours of dino and human utopia exploration. Dino lovers and enthusiasts will probably have this DVD in their collection. It has enough pluses to outweigh the sometimes egregious minuses.

One of the worst parts of the movie: The mayor's hat. What was anyone thinking when they decided on a pointy hat with several red fuzzy balls hanging off the top?

One of the best parts of the movie: The messenger (mail) birds. Very good animation and very comical.

Overall, a fun family movie.

6.5 out of 10.

A horrible rendition

[edavid21 · 3/10 · 22 April 2007]

If there is a rainy day and you just happen to find nothing else on TV this might be worth watching. Or if you were a fan of the original books then you'll probably want to see how the miniseries does it justice. Otherwise, skip it. The script is horrible, some of the worst dialogue you'll ever bear witness to. The acting by the two main characters is atrocious, putting about as much emotion and empathy in the lines as a junior high play. The graphics aren't...horrible, for the budget this movie was shot on they're OK. However, there are so many points in the series that you wonder "Why are they doing that? Just keep going, or why would they have this if there are dinosaurs?" For people who can think and reason, this will frustrate you to no end.

As a kid my mom used to read me and my brother the Dinotopia books. Wonderfully written, amazingly illustrated, and somewhat of a weight-room for the young imagination. This is none of that. None of the characters are the same, very, VERY basic plot events are kept in the movie. This is an incredible story, would someone, please anyone in Hollywood do a remake of this film in the proper fashion.

As for what the movie's messages are; nothing you couldn't find by watching an hour and a half on ABC Family channel. Has about the same credibility as an Uwe Bowle movie.

I think some people forget what movies are all about.

[Utahraptor2002 · 29 May 2004]

I have read the comments of others who have seen this movie or say they have. It sounds to me that people are looking for the acting, graphics, etc., rather than what the purpose of the movie is really for and the lessons it can teach if you pay close attention. Sometimes the comments of others sound as if they didn't even watch it or try to understand it. It's too bad we can't all see eye-to-eye on this, but then again i'm sure this movie wasn't made for everyone. It was probably made for those with a strong imagination and who believe in the impossible.

Now of course the acting, script, graphics, and all could be better, but I didn't judge the movie on those things, but rather the story it told, and I found it to be a fantastic story. It reminded me of when I was young and tried to imagine what it would be like if dinosaurs did not become extinct and lived in the present day. Dinotopia shows one possibility, a possibility that I always imagined and more. I of course love dinosaurs. Zippo was awesome in my opinion. I think he is what got me interested in the movie in the first place because of the fact that he is an intelligent, friendly, and a talking dinosaur. I think it interested me because it is something that I do not get to see very often (visually anyways), but only in my imagination. This movie nearly brought it to life to me. I think Lee Evans did a great job as the voice of Zippo. He really put the emotion and personality in the character of Zippo. Have you ever imagined a city built on top of a large waterfall? I know I haven't and when I saw it, I thought it was breathtaking. Is it possible? Who cares? In this movie it is possible. I believe that it is possible if you can imagine it. I am a big fan of James Gurney (who is the creator of Dinotopia) and Dinotopia. This movie is what made me a fan of Dinotopia. Before I saw this I had never heard of Dinotopia. This movie in fact, is probably my all time favorite. This movie has even changed my life in every way that I can think of for the better. I am glad I saw it. I recommend that you read the books. They will tell all there is to know about Dinotopia better than the movies. Dinotopia is said to be fictional in reality. That may be true, but it has felt more real to me than anything else i've ever seen in reality. "It is possible if you can imagine it." That's probably why it seems so real to me. I have been able to imagine it. Dinotopia has it all and everything about Dinotopia is explained so well that the question I ask is: How can it not be real? Whether it is real or not depends on you. Does everything have to be determined on whether it is real or not by seeing it with your eyes or touching it with your hands? How about the feeling that it gives deep down inside of you. Isn't that proof enough? I give the movie an 8, but for the whole idea of Dinotopia I give it a 10.

"Dinotopia" means "Terrible Place" in Latin

[Katzen1924 · 7/10 · 26 June 2010]

I first watched Dinotopia when it aired in 2002. I thought it was great. Now, 8 years later, when I look back at it and watch it again, I can see the flaws and plot holes clearly.

First I would like to address the characterization and acting. Wentworth Miller as David Scott was absolutely dreadful. The character was poorly written and predictable, and the acting was horrible. Everything David said was the same; boring, dry, and bland. Karl's actor was also pretty horrible, but at least he was slightly interesting. Rosemary, the Matriarch, was annoying and a bit scary, but at least her actress was decent and her character slightly sensible.

Mayor Waldo was possibly one of my favorite characters. He was a bustling, obese, pompous, and smug man, however, considering the society of Dinotopia (which I'll get to later), he was a perfect Mayor. Marion was dreadful. Completely dreadful. The actress was decent looking, but she was just a terrible actress, completely devoid of any emotion other than disapproval. Zipeau was an entertaining character, and his voice suited him perfectly. He had good lines and decent characterization. Oonu, the Skybax Captain's actor was perfect for the role, and Oonu's character is decent. Romona Denison is good looking, brave, but rather devoid of emotion, much like most of the characters in the series. Frank Scott, the main protagonist's father, wasn't on screen enough to merit much negative or positive feedback, but I will give him a clap on the back for having to endure acting with those two horrid lead actors.

I am saving the best for last. The best character in this depressing mini-series had to be Cyrus Crabb, the "villain", played by an excellent actor, David Thewlis. Cyrus Crabb was unpredictable, exciting, and dynamic. Our perception of him was always changing. At the beginning, he was just (quoting Karl; one of the best quotes in the movie) "a weird old man with a limp and a few sticks of dynamite", helpful, eccentric, and slightly odd. Characters frequently say they don't trust Cyrus, including David at the Chandara Bus Station early in the first part, and at first, I have to agree with Crabb's query of "What's not to trust?" which generally shuts Marion up later in the series when she blatantly states that she doesn't trust him as if he's not present. Later in the series, when Cyrus finds Karl in Waterfall City, Cyrus seems to empathize with him. Cyrus's shop is very interesting, which brings the subject of his costume and surroundings. Cyrus is an ugly, greasy man, I must say. However, his beautiful (you won't catch me saying that word often) rose-patterned coat is envious, if not a little whacky. I won't go into the details of Crabb's backstory, as this paragraph is already far too long, but I have to say that Crabb is an amazing character who is very easy to get to know and identify with. Dinotopian society is awful, even though it looks great at first glance. Cyrus sees through these delusions, and wants a way out. He uses the boys to get down to the Sunstone Cave in the World Beneath by gaining their trust in a peculiar way. In the World Beneath (the geography of which is very confusing), Cyrus acts almost the hero, piloting the sub and finding the sunstones himself, seemingly securing the hope of Dinotopia. Cyrus's smart remarks and intelligent personality, along with his conflicting interests and murky past, make him an amazing character, as I've said numerous times before. Finally, when Cyrus turns on the boys and threatens to leave them behind in the World Beneath I say, "Why not?" After all, his point was valid; Time's running out for the people in Waterfall City, he can't take the boys and the sunstones, and the submarine can't make a second trip. Plus, Crabb is the only one who knows how to pilot the submarine. I'll admit that Crabb's actions in the World Beneath (beating up both Karl and David, which, I must say, was odd since Crabb is an old man with one wooden leg, and David and Karl are both healthy, strong young men, and yet he defeats them single-handedly with his walking stick) were unwarranted and hasty. However, they were necessary to save Dinotopia. One thing that does bother me was a few of Crabb's earlier lines. "Oh, I'm going. As soon as I find enough treasure to make me King of the World, I'm going." and "I know the way to the sunstone cave, AND THE WAY OUT OF DINOTOPIA." which makes me think he might have thought of using the sunstones to secure his fortunes in the outside world and free himself from Dinotopia at last. Cyrus Crabb is an interesting character as I've said before, and since you're all probably getting sick of this endless adoration, I'll wrap this up quickly. Karl's little stunt in the cave after Cyrus leaves in the submarine was just cruel (everyone knows how difficult it is to escape a sinking submarine, especially with a wooden leg) and Cyrus's fate was just awful, and any that say it was his comeuppance, no one, not even a scoundrel like Cyrus, deserves that.

The geography of Dinotopia was a bit screwy, especially since the Scott family jumped into a pool of water and somehow swam up to the temple swamp. How Frank and Karl got the sunstones to Waterfall City in the finale, I have no idea. Trevor Jones's score is absolutely beautiful, I especially love the music when Cyrus, David, and Karl find the sunstone cave. Dinotopian society was horrible, not exactly utopian.

Despite it's plot holes, bad acting, and weird CGI Dinosaurs, Dinotopia was a masterpiece, mainly because of the lessons it teaches. Cyrus Crabb was the best villain I have ever seen, and David Thewlis played the part extremely well. Overall, Dinotopia was a good attempt at something with great potential.

Fantastic

[kasatka · 8/10 · 13 May 2002]

The story takes place about three generations after the original books. It is the tale of two brothers that don't know each other all that well and end up getting stranded together on the island of Dinotopia. In short, it has something for everyone - action, adventure, mystery and romance.

The special effects are the best I've seen for any TV mini-series, and it was incredible seeing these books come to life. The dinosaurs were very well done, with an exception to the "talking" dinosaurs - they were a bit cartoony, but cute. There were a couple oddities concerning story canon and continuity here and there, but they're easily overlooked. This movie is still a great one to watch.

This was a great mini series!!!

[froggygirl58 · 7/10 · 15 May 2002]

I thought that the mini series was great! It was action packed and fun filled. I'm looking forward toward to series coming this fall. I felt that the visual effects were great. This would be a family series and fun time for all ages. I watched this with my son and had some well spent quality time together.

What a load of crap

[guyhome · 4/10 · 21 September 2005]

maybe it's the original book, but this is so stupid. They live in freaking Waterfall City, and they spend all their time looking for sun stones as a source of power. use the damn waterfalls! create electricity!!! The leading actors are also horrible, especially Wentworth Miller as David, he's acting like he's the director's con who got his first chance in front of a camera. Katie Carr is also laconic and amateur, and only Tyron Leitso does a fair job.

The special effects are nice and the CGI character of Zipeau (or Zippo?) is quite lovable. The story is a predictable Disney-esquire adventure for kids, very kitsch, very American and very simplistic.

But Dinotopia still keeps some level of interest. It's watchable, if you have 4 extra hours and you can sleep. It will get you to slumber-land, that's for sure.

I loved it!

[PaleoLover · 10/10 · 10 July 2002]

I thought that "Dinotopia" was absolutely excellent. At the beginning, the acting seemed a bit, well, fake; but as it went on the actors became a lot more believable. Zippo has been compared to Jar Jar Binks...but how could you do that when Zippo isn't a thing like Jar Jar? Jar Jar was hard to understand and just plain silly, not smart at all. Zippo spoke great English and was intellectual. The dinosaurs were a delight to see, as well...I've been a huge fan of dinos since I was little. I'm definitely going to buy the DVD so I can see it again and again. Congratulations to the creators of such a great miniseries!

A Disgrace to a Good Story

[thewillt08 · 1/10 · 13 August 2012]

After Jurassic Park you would think dinosaurs would look better in TV and movies, unfortunately Dinotopia couldn't raise the bar. Dinotopia is about two brothers who crash on an island that is has humans and dinosaurs living peacefully. The brothers, David and Karl, want to find their missing farther and escape the island. They find an explorer and he brings them into a complicated world of complexity. This is a miniseries and I remember watching it as a young kid and I was amazed. Watching it a second time almost ten years later, I was highly disappointed. This story had so much potential to be great, but the terrible acting and awful special effects made this series pure garbage. Each episode is about an hour and a half, but they all feel like three hours of pain and torture. The main story made sense at first. One brother would do anything to go home while the other would rather stay, causing conflict. Then they both meet a woman that they are attracted to which causes more conflict. Of course the girl is of royalty and importance, and obviously she doesn't want to be important, she just wants to be normal. There is a greedy researcher who appears to be good but is clearly evil and has bad intentions. I would have been OK with that if the acting wasn't so hard to watch. I finished watching this series because I remember loving it as a kid and I always wanted to see it again. I hoped it would get better but it never did. All this series brought was disappointment and made me want to rant about it. Not only is the acting bad but the story eventually made no sense at all. The brothers arrive in Waterfall City and find out they can't leave, predictable but I went with it. Then we discover dinosaurs have their own language and some even speak English. This was just silly. There is a dinosaur language that humans learned and can write down in the form of footprints. Really, that's the best the director could come up with? There are also these things called sunstones and they are of some importance, I still don't even know. There is an archaeologist who searches for them and the truth as well. There is also a dinosaur who wants to explore "the world beneath." I'm not even sure how to describe it any further. The story gets way out of line and to crazy to even follow. This was originally a novel and i can only hope that the novel is better. I don't know what audience the director was going for either. Kids could like dinosaurs but we hardly see any action sequences. The bulk of the story is confusing dialog and some of the worst acting I have ever seen. Adults would be bored and lose interest with this series half way through the first episode. Overall this series is just a fail and should never be seen by anyone. Don't watch it alone, with friends, or even in school. If for some odd reason a school decides to show this series, skip that class, it's worth the F. This series should never see the light of day and gets the WillyT seal of disapproval for cheesy acting, awful special effects, and a miserable storyline.

A really cute concept

[LRPharm54 · 8/10 · 22 April 2007]

Considering the number of ideas incorporated in making of prehistoric movies with cavemen, dinosaurs, and travel back in time, Dinotopia brings on a refreshing new twist.

My thoughts on this movie can only see it as a vehicle to good family fun. It has reasonably good acting, graphics are great, and special effects are above average. I would recommend this movie to anyone having a desire to enjoy a simply fun movie with enjoyable twists.

Nothing about the film is boring and borders on hysterical. It is a good movie for all ages and the lack of sexual undertones and violence gives the movie a refreshing alternative to otherwise destructive mediums.

I believe it is worth the time to see and let the good times roll. It may not be the best movie in the world, but is most certainly is not the worst, and I would recommend it any and all to watch.

How does stuff like this get made???!!!

[Nympho3278 · 2/10 · 22 October 2006]

I only rented Dinotopia because I saw it at my local video store and noticed that Wentworth Miller was on the cover. Of course it looked stupid just from the box cover, but I'm a huge fan of Wentworth so I rented it.

There are no words for how lame this movie is. The acting is horrible (yes, surprisingly even Wentworth Miller seemed awkward and spit his lines out WAY too fast). There is a storyline but the poor effects, bad acting, and ridiculous dialog take away any chance this film had of being watchable. Maybe the actors felt so stupid interacting with cheap looking animatronic dinosaurs that they just didn't even try to give any heart to their performance.

Seriously, your plane crashes at sea nearly drowning you and killing your father and you don't seem in the least bothered by this? And then, you find yourself on an island where dinosaurs still exist and you only seem mildly surprised? Maybe a kid would enjoy this, but anyone over seven will just laugh.

Fantastical adventure that is most watchable!!!

[celticbrit13 · 14 May 2002]

Dinotopia is a fantastical adventure story that the whole family can sit down and watch together. Although it isn't mind-blowing fantastic, it is very watchable and mostly enjoyable. The main cast is made up of newcomers or not-so-easily recognizable actors and some very interesting CGI and Animatronic dinosaurs ("Zippo" and "26" really stick as as super-great). The pace is a little slow and the plot is a little predictable, but that doesn't make this mini-series any harder to get into. It is an interesting story, with some stunning visual sequences, that has most definitely gotten me addicted to it. All the same, you can still feel the story's morals being forcefully instilled on you as you watch the story unfold. All in all I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

My favorite childhood movie

[gabethedinosaur · 10/10 · 29 August 2021]

I remember watching this on vhs when I was little and I absolutely loved. Seeing humans living with dinosaurs made me feel like wow could that happen one day or is it just in my imagination. But now that I've watched it on YouTube it feels like I'm coming home again with the dinosaurs bringing me back home . Dinosaurs and humans live in peace but Jurassic park and King Kong humans get eaten.