"Dinotopia" (2002) (mini)TV mini-series

Director:

Marco Brambilla

Writers (WGA):

James Gurney (books)
Simon Moore (teleplay)

Release Date:

12 May 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Carl and David, two boys flying a small aircraft over the ocean with their father, crash land near an uncharted island...

Plot Keywords:

Librarian | Existence | Part Computer Animation | Villain | Teen

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 5 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Tyron Leitso	...	Karl Scott
David Thewlis	...	Cyrus Crabb
Wentworth Miller	...	David Scott
Katie Carr	...	Marion Waldo
Jim Carter	...	Mayor Waldo
Alice Krige	...	Rosemary Waldo
Colin Salmon	...	Oonu
Hannah Yelland	...	Romana Denison
Lee Evans	...	Zippo (voice)
Terry Jones	...	Messenger Bird (voice)
Stuart Wilson	...	Frank Scott
Anna Maguire	...	Samantha Waldo
Andy Beckwith	...	Copra Carter
Keith Newby	...	Messenger
Marcus White	...	Oliver

Also Known As:

Dinotopia (Germany)

Runtime:

250 min | USA:360 min (including commercials)

Country:

UK | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Trivia:

The Eleventh Code of Dinotopia (previously unknown since the tablet was broken) is "Find the Light". This is the phrase written on the front of a previous matriarch's (Marion's grandmother's?) letter.

Quotes:

Marion: But Karl, yours might have been the finest answer we've ever had. I'll read it now. "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide; no escape from reality. Open your eyes, look up to the skies, and see."
Zippo: Yes, yes, truly inspiring.
David Scott: That's cheating! That's the lyrics to 'Bohemian Rhapsody!'

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Dinotopia" (2002)

Fantastical adventure that is most watchable!!!

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.