
Such a demise has been rumored for some time, but the Halmis have always rallied to make spectacles that became hits.
#Dinotopia movie review for kids movie#
Unless the networks find a movie and miniseries formula that works - a compelling story with good acting might help - "Dinotopia" could signal the end of the genre. Especially when the commercial count reaches 37 minutes the first night, 34 the second and 39 the final night. Even parents who might sit down and watch this with their kids will grow weary of the giggle-and-snort fun that comes from a stunning train wreck, an artistic implosion so bad it merits watching. Instead, they apparently blew the budget on special effects and, if you like that "Walking With Dinosaurs" kind of thing, you'll like this, to a degree.īecause even the 8-to-12-year-old crowd, the only demographic that would enjoy this epic disaster, might also quickly tire of the feeble script and spectacularly bad act. have pretty much saved the network miniseries with elaborate works from the past ("Merlin," "Alice in Wonderland," "Animal Farm," "The 10th Kingdom," etc.), this time out they have shelved the idea of bringing in hordes of famous actors for cameos. Three days and six hours is a lot to give up, even for the occasionally impressive special effects, which you do get in "Dinotopia." The problem is, you get precious little else.įor starters, the plot, based on the "Dinotopia" books by James Gurney, is ridiculously simplistic in that "Scooby-Doo" way, sans the cheap laughs. It's attached to a train that went disastrously off the tracks and into the bottom of a Hollywood ravine.īilled as a "mega miniseries," the kind networks don't do much anymore because they're too expensive and don't draw an audience, "Dinotopia" hammers home why that's true in the most bombastic way possible. You'll never need to know, because the light has indeed been found. There is a recurring theme in the expensive, elaborate, six-hour, three- night special-effects blockbuster "Dinotopia," and it's this: "Find the light. (HANDOUT PHOTO) HANDOUT Show More Show Less (ABC/Hallmark Entertainment) Pictured: Tyron Leitso as Dinotopia's Karl with dinosaur Zippo created by FrameStore "Dinotopia" is based on the best-selling books by author/illustrator James Gurney. The conclusion of the six-hour miniseries airs Wednesday, May 14 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), as "A Special Presentation of The Wonderful World of Disney," on the ABC Television Network.

(ABC/Hallmark Entertainment) Pictured: Brachiosaurus dinosaurs created by FrameStore ridden by Dinotopian riders (HANDOUT PHOTO) HANDOUT Show More Show Less 2 of3 "Dinotopia," the epic story of a lost continent where dinosaurs and humans live together in an almost-utopian world, is brought to life as one of the most lavish and technically complex productions in the history of American television.

1 of3 "Dinotopia," the epic story of a lost continent where dinosaurs and humans live together in an almost-utopian world, is brought to life as one of the most lavish and technically complex productions in the history of American television as a six-hour miniseries airing spring 2002 on the ABC Television Network.
