User reviews

As a show, it's decent at best, but the dvd production makes me wonder what's going on and most importantly in which order I should be watching it. On the american version, "Cars Wars" happens after "The Matriach", but in the European version (the one I have anyway) "Cars Wars" is merged with "The Matriach" with a bit of extra content in the middle to link the two. Pretty much all the episodes are like that, with the last 3 episodes "The Cure 1/2" and "Crossroads" being condensed into 2 episodes in the european version... Also the US version is cropped (4:3) which makes it really awful to watch.

I'm sure people would have appreciated this show more but as it is right now I simply don't understand how everything is supposed to fit within a timeline.

Dinotopia the series was a short lived TV show that followed the 6 hour mini series. New actors portrayed the characters from the MS, and what a good call. It was a refreshing show for me to watch. Decent story lines, and Dino FX and good acting from actors that had solid experience in the industry, made this show slightly addictive. Shame it was cancelled after only 13 episodes. We have so many police dramas and reality TV that it was good to get lost for an hour or so. It reminded me slightly of Land of the Lost, and as I have a fascination with dinosaurs, I was hooked. Lisa Zane as LeSage was sexy and so much fun. Why cant shows like this last for a few seasons? Have we lost our innocence and imagination that much?

The Dinotopia TV movie is not identical to the books, so I suppose it's not surprising that the TV series is also different. However I think that the world envisioned in Dinotopia is so unique to TV that it deserved to be developed, rather than undermined. Perhaps it's inevitable that ideas get dumbed-down for TV. However it's sad to see the concept of a pacifistic, diverse society communing with nature and emphasizing cooperation turned into a show about a backwards society that is wowed by such innovations as boxing, motorcars, and rock-and-roll. It has to be said that the movie's plot, the idea that pacifists must be rescued by rogues who are willing to break the rules, is equally disappointing, and the show simply follows the line of emphasizing conflict and roguery over cooperation and development. All in all the video treatments are a waste of a great possibility to do something really different with an adventure series.

The TV series begins by introducing "the Outsiders," rebels against the Dinotopian codes who eat meat and use weapons. In the two-part series opener (MAROONED, MAKING GOOD) they discover a magic amulet that enables them to control tyrannosaurs, and brothers Karl and David Scott (Erik von Detten and Shiloh Strong) must stop them from conquering all of Dinotopia. The Outsiders piratical nature apparently made them more interesting to the writers than the 'boring' pacifists of Dinotopia, so they tend to dominate the series plots: particularly sexy pirate queen LeSage (Lisa Zane.) In the third episode, HANDFUL OF DUST, a dinosaur-killing alchemist makes the young LeSage even younger; roguish Karl once again saves the day. However in the 4th episode, CONTACT, Karl must choose whether to use a radio to escape Dinotopia or to rescue the dying survivors of a shipwreck. Episode 5, THE MATRIARCH, contemplates the challenging issue of a pacifist mother whose children disappear in a tyrannosaur attack, but fudges the ending dishonestly. The last episode of the series to air in the U.S., BIG FIGHT, has semi-pacifistic David agreeing to box an Outsider bully, a situation quickly exploited both by his father Frank (Michael Brandon) and LeSage. NIGHT OF THE WARTOSA is actually fun and at last something consistent with the Dinotopian ideal (although it does indeed involve some sexual innuendo); it's ironic the show was cancelled before it aired. In Episode 8 LESAGE hijacks a dinosaur-load of medicine; Karl's roguery in getting it back is almost too much for Marion (Georgina Rylance). In CAR WARS Frank invents a motorcar and ousts Waldo (Jonathan Hyde) from office on a pro-progress platform(!?!) In LOST AND FOUND Karl's attempt to sneak a ride on a skybax leads a vengeful Frank and a courageous Waldo to the discovery of a lost city of cowboys. In the two-part THE CURE, Karl's illness leads Rosemary (Sophie Ward) to use magic to send David and LeSage to Budapest. Finally in CROSSROADS the brothers have yet another opportunity to leave Dinotopia forever; however it is not a conclusion to the series.

The acting is mostly good, although Rylance cannot compare to the movie's Katie Carr as Marion and Hyde makes for a VERY different Waldo than Jim Carter. I also vastly preferred the movie's Lee Evans to the series' Omid Djalili as "Zipeau." The SFX are OK. There are some clever ideas in the series but they tend to get lost in largely formulaic plots, and the tension between the brothers that really MADE the movie has completely disappeared, as Marion now seems to be "Karl's girl." The dialogue is pedestrian and characterization tends to be pretty broad.

While this series was not as visually pleasing as the miniseries, it created characters who were deeper, and a plot line that fully captures viewers attention for all 13 episodes. The darker side of Dinotopia comes out in a way that helps the viewer to connect even more to the story. All the actors and actresses were great, and while the dialogue lacked in some parts, the realism of the characters did not. By the end of the series you find that you have laughed and cried with the characters, and found the occasion to yell at them on various occasions. In all the series was great, both for a lover of the dinotopian story lines, and for the first time viewer. A diffenent 8 out of 10.

Unfortunately, the production of this movie was indented for pre-teens. It's sad, because it could have been a blockbuster story. The dialog was horrendous and the direction lacking. Instead of presenting a new and different society and it's challenges, the plot line gets bogged down in adolescent-sounding sibling rivalry over the heroine. Surely, that could have been an element of the story, but it was certainly overemphasized here. The CG work wasn't up to current 2008 standards, but it WAS a 2002 film, and as such was good for it's era. I felt about 30 mins could have been cut from this long film for continuity and cohesiveness.

This show is not very good. I say this as someone for whom Dinotopia was the first book to introduce the concept of utopia. I remember finding a copy of the book in a library as a child and being enthralled by the artwork, then watching the miniseries (at least once, possibly repeatedly on VHS or as a rerun TV movie on ABC Family or something). The idea of humans and dinosaurs living together in harmony was interesting then and the series hints at a direction that could have kept it from being trite to an adult.

Unfortunately, the abundant unfunny in this series ruins any goodwill built up by the nostalgia glasses. Zipeau (or Zippeau, or as the Freevee subtitles insisted for at least a little while, Zippo) is worse than Jar Jar Binks as far as CGI comic relief aimed at children goes. The acting is...acting. I mean, the must have gotten paid, and they're definitely emoting. No fault to the cast, really--the trite writing, boring shot composition and dated CGI are what bring this down. Just watch Samurai Cop instead.

I was glad to see the human story is as prominent as the Scifi/Fantasy element in this continuation of last season's miniseries. The cast has been replaced for the weekly series, apparently to good effect. I especially like Shiloh Strong as David, the more responsible of the two brothers. There's an unreal quality to the effects--though I don't know the degree to which it can be explained by my own knowledge of the processes involved or whether my senses are reacting to direct evidence. Special effects are both better and worse since they have come to depend so heavily on computer-generated images.

If the creative forces behind the series have mapped their strategy carefully, this could become a classic; unfortunately, it has little chance to last beyond its maiden season. An effects-laden show like "Dinotopia" is much more expensive than a typical series, and it's highly unlikely to attract blockbuster ratings which would be necessary to justify the expense.

Dinotopia is a fun and new series. It is not another knock-off like so many of the other programs broadcasted today. Dinotopia's premise supports the idea that a multi-cultural society can live and thrive in harmony. The eclectic scenery and costumes really support the multi-cultural aspect of Dinotopia. I was originally worried about the change of the cast from a miniseries to a regular series but I feel the actors have secured their own places in their Dinotopia roles. I have not read the books yet but after seeing the series, I'm interested in reading them. I would like to address the other users comments about the possible doom of this series. Dinotopia's doom will not be from the shows lack of success. It will be because the local stations have pigeonholed the program. Dinotopia in our area was repeatedly exempted for sporting events and Christmas specials.

Beautiful production and striking set pieces do little to raise this clumsy drama to any level of worthiness. With a laughable script and cheesy acting, so much visual inventiveness has been squandered. How unfortunate that the hackneyed and stilted story centres on the two bratty brothers rather than the rich and well conceived culture in which they find themselves.

All a bit of a wasted opportunity I'm afraid. Effects do not validate an otherwise tedious experience.

I really like this series. If you like a nice plot, with good acting and not to overdue fantasy, get this one. It's nice to watch for the children to, and the Dino's are looking not very real but real enough. Also the story line is on some points known but still a nice serie.

For those who read and loved James Gurney's Dinotopia books, the miniseries was quite a letdown. With one dimensional characters, hammy acting (with the exception of David Thewlis), and a clunky script, it failed, even over a six hour period, to capture the magic that Gurney had created. The good news is that the series seems to be a marked improvement. While still plagued with cheesy dialogue, the cast comes across as much more talented, and they have a good deal more charisma. The abundant dinosaurs, while not ILM quality, are very impressive, and become a part of the story rather than a cheap visual gimmick. The producers also have wisely decided to keep much of Trevor Jones' orchestral score from the miniseries, a blessing in today's slew of corny pop TV themes. While it still has a long way to go before it can be called as good as the books, this series shows great promise. Let's hope the pieces continue to fall into place before it is cancelled and the opportunity is lost forever.

This is one of the worst excuses for a TV series I've ever seen. The stories are plodding, the characters dull, and the "special effects" prehistoric.

What could have been an entertaining romp is actually nothing more than schmaltzy pap, I'm afraid. Watch it at your peril.

I think that Erik von Detten is the person who makes show real. He hasn't in the past, been given the parts that show what a great actor he is. I hope one day he will receive the recognition that he deserves. Although, Erik hasn't been given the parts he deserves, he always makes each movie or show great to watch. Good luck to you Erik, I pulling for you.

I really like this show. I have been watching it since it came out. Dinotopia is about these guys Karl Scott(Erik von Detten)and David Scott (Shiloh Strong). Well, they where riding with their dad and they got in a plane accident. The dad didn't survive but, Karl and David did. They are stranded on shore this place called Dinotopia. They live side by side with Dinosaurs. It really like this show and I would recomend it to just about anyone.

Seems like I'm one of the few that liked the miniseries better than the actual TV series...

Gripe One: Complete change of cast for the main (human) characters. BAD idea! The original actors showed enough potential in the miniseries that I would have liked to see them grow into their roles.

Gripe Two: Only minimal tie-in with, or continuation of, the story put forth in the miniseries.

Gripe Three: The replacement "actors" couldn't act to save their own lives.

Gripe Four: The writing stank.

I think it would have been a much more interesting story if the island's location had been revealed somehow (perhaps by the ELT -- Emergency Locator Transmitter -- in the plane going off), and the lead characters had to -- somehow -- convince whoever came tracking the thing not to expose the place to the world. Granted, you could only do that in one or two episodes, but I still would have liked to have seen it.

Sorry, gang. I have to give this one two thumbs down, and breathe a sigh of relief that it was put out of its misery after, what, about six episodes?