Dinotopia

Dinotopia sucked as a sweeping miniseries; it works much better as an hourly adventure. [23 Nov 2002]

If "Dinotopia" doesn't come up with something else for our heroes to do other than rescue gentle folk from mean dinosaurs, the show is going to get repetitious fast. [28 Nov 2002]

Like the miniseries, the weekly series has cool computer-generated dinosaurs, nifty animatronic dinosaurs and some terrific sets. But Robert Halmi Sr.'s dream of reinventing -- or at least reinvigorating -- the family-show genre stumbles over the printed word.

The wondrousness of the art direction and the oomph in the computer-generated illusions can hold one's attention just so long. Then the pitiful plodding plotlessness of the thing becomes all too painfully apparent. What we're left with is essentially "Dinotopia, the Bore." [28 Nov 2002]

The hourly version doesn’t pack much of a punch. ... For all of its visual goodies — the Halmis have revved up the special f/x motor — there’s a definite soul mislaid.

The acting and special effects are equally unconvincing. The human beings in the story don't look remotely real, and the dinosaurs can't act. [27 Nov 2002]

This is the modern-day granddaddy of turkeys.