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 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.