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| Dinotopia
Year: 2002
Classification: Feature Film Family
Directed:
- Marco Brambilla
The Dinotopian Fan Will Adore It!
I'd read Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time By James Gurney years ago. Its format-a journal like book, full of spectacular painted pictures of Dinosaurs living amoungst humans (or perhaps the other way around) was exciting to me, and I loved the book straight off, with it's lovely illustrations and even better story, with superb characters and a wonderful plotline. BR>When I heard about this series debut as a "mega series" on TV, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd heard some rumours, and I believed that the storyline had been changed. (I was getting ready to be disappointed.) BR>I was wrong. This charming and wonderful movie is what takes place after the book...and I was thrilled to hear the books characters names-Lee Crabb, Will and Arthur Denison and Sylvia of the Hatchery, intertwined with the story of David and Karl.
David and Karl are half brothers, who were never close and couldn't be more different. Karl is defiant and modernized, while Dave prefers to stay at home, reading books and being alone. But their father ask them to go on a plane trip in his personal plane, and reluctantly they agree. Their father puts Karl that the controls, and they're off.BR>But quickly, they run into a severe storm, and the plane crashes into the ocean below them. Quickly fighting to get out, Karl and David go to the surface, only to find that their father is not with them. BR>Presuming he is dead, they are practically washed upon a strange island, which at first seems to be empty of life. BR>As they explore, trying to find someone to help them, they find a carved head of some creature. Suddenly, a loud explosion comes from within it, and it blows somewhat apart.There they meet the peg-legged Cyrus Crabb, who informs them that he was on some sort of archaeological job, and that they've been washed upon "Dinotopia". BR>He takes them to the village nearby, and to their intense amazement, they come across an angry dinosaur, flinging it's spiked tail at huts and stand along the roads of the small town. A girl mysteriously appears, and soothes it into submission. BR>The next day, Karl and David travel with the girl-Marion, daughter of the mayor of Waterfall city,who they will eventually BOTH fall in love with (and does this create conflict) to find out more about where they are and try to find a way to make it back home...but little do they know, they will be needed to help and save the entire island of Dinotopia from destruction, aided by a scholarly dinosaur anemd Zippo, a new baby Twenty-Six (aptly named by Karl, who has not much imagination) and the maybe trustworthy Cyrus Crabb. BR>It is an enchanting movie, great for true lovers of the Dinotopia books or just fans of Dinos or great movies, it was much better than I ever hoped it would be. I'm truly excited for it to come out on DVD-my whole family really enjoyed it, and we will hope to watch it many more times in days to come.
One raindrop raises the sea...
A Great Family Epic!
I first heard of Dinotopia a few years ago when I caught my younger brother reading one of the books in the series. Not long after, I started hearing rumors of a Miniseries to air on ABC. I decided I would watch it to see what all of the hype was about. After twenty minuits I was hooked! This 6 hour long epic is able to hold the interest of young and old for a long period of time.
David and Karl are half brothers who go on a rutine flight with their father. But they hit a thunderstorm and crash into the ocean. David and Karl are forced to leave their father behind and swim ashore. They are both shocked to find that not only do dinosaurs still exsist, but that they co-exist with humans in a utopian society. But when the sunstones, wich give the poeple power and keep carnivours away from the villages, fail, David and Karl set out to restore power before all of Dinotopia is lost forever.
The special effects were very well done compared to other made for television movies. This movie was so popular, there is a t.v series comeing to ABC this fall starring Eric Von Detten (The Princess Diaries." You and your family will love Dinotopia.
Mixed Feelings
Children would love this movie. It's full of action, magic, and enough dinosaurs to satisfy a young enthusiast for life. Karl, David, and Marion are fun to watch, and the brothers' struggles to adapt to Dinotopian life are amusing and delightful. The colorful sets, graphics, and local traditions draw you into the world and leave you wanting more.BR> Adults would feel differently. Even if they were able to suspend their disbelief after the plane crash (they couldn't see the storm before they were in it?), they would find it difficult to stay engaged with the story after the confusing behavior of several of the characters (Karl and David blindly trust Crabb's suggestions although they state he is untrustworthy?). The complete disregard for logic becomes even more apparent as the story continues. The dialogue is stale and forced, but Leitso and Miller do the best that can be expected with lines such as, "What is this place?" and, "Dinosaurs died out millions of years ago!". If the viewer manages to make it to the T-Rex scene (why did they abandon the "busses"?), they are given the treat of seeing the beautiful female trip and fall while running away, and then looking terrified as two T-Rexes approach for a snack. Several sub-plots are abandoned before resolution (Crabb is not punished for his crimes to Zippo, the relationship between David and his female co-cadet is never developed, and the reason that the T-Rexes traveled in a pack is never revealed), and some major plotlines are never settled, the most noteworthy example being the love triangle. The characters are capricious, changing their attitudes and personalities with each new scene. The animosity between the brothers is all talk (and one wussy fight). You never get the feeling that they really don't get along, besides when they say they don't. All of this comes together for an abrupt ending that leaves you wanting more-explanation, that is.BR> There is one thing that saves it for the adults-Crabb. Rather than being the stereotypical black-hearted villian, he is an odd mixture of good and bad that keeps you guessing whose side he's on. Or maybe he's just capricious, too.BR> I gave the movie two stars for the sense of child-like wonder I felt as David learned to fly. I shouldn't have given it that much, with all the plot discrepancies, but I truly felt as if I were there, and that's a difficult sense to invoke.
Buy Dinotopia at Amazon.com
Buy posters at Allposters.com
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