7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 1.0 | |
Reviewer | 1.5 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
While flying on holiday with their estranged father, Karl (Tyron Leitso) and David (Wentworth Miller) find themselves in unexpected bad weather, which sends their plane crashing to the shores of Dinotopia. In this fantastic lost world, built upon long-established principles of mutual respect, humans and dinosaurs peacefully coexist. The two brothers are as astounded by the benevolent creatures as they are enraptured by Marion (Katie Carr), the mayor's beautiful precocious daughter who welcomes them both to the wonders of Dinotopia. However, harmony does not prevail everywhere. Just beyond Dinotopia's capital, Waterfall City, are deadly carnivores that pose a constant threat to the delicate balance of nature. Equally dangerous are human outlaws such as Cyrus Crabb (David Thewlis), a pirate descendant who shuns the Dinotopian codes. But there is no greater concern than the mysterious failing of the sunstones, which power all of Dinotopian life. With the help of a brilliant (and multilingual) Stenonychosaurus named Zippo, Karl and David embark on a daring mission as the last hope for the prehistoric Eden they now call home.
Starring: Wentworth Miller, Tyron Leitso, Katie Carr, Jim Carter, Alice KrigeFamily | 100% |
Fantasy | 52% |
Adventure | 51% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (384 kbps)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 1.5 | |
Audio | 1.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
There's an exception to every rule, and the exception to "fear the unknown" is man's fascination with dinosaurs (in the flesh), the prehistoric and now-extentinc (or heavily evolved) creatures that once roamed and ruled Earth millions of years ago. Some of them are menacing, yes, and they scared poor little Tim and Lex real good, but beyond coming face-to-face with snout, teeth, and claws that aren't simply well preserved bone or digital creation, there's a certain elegance to them, a mysticism and appreciation for and healthy fear of the once-mighty rulers of the world. Dinosaurs have come to life in any number of ways on page and screen, sometimes involving time travel and sometimes involving manipulating mother nature and playing god in the process. Hallmark's 2002 miniseries Dinotopia takes a different approach, assuming that dinosaurs aren't extinct but rather tucked away on a remote, uncharted little slice of island out in the middle of nowhere where they live in harmony with human beings. It's a nifty idea, fairly well done and only a little bloated at about 4.5 hours in length. It's no Jurassic Park, but for a relatively novel spin on dinosaurs-to-life, it's not a bad little way to spend an afternoon.
On adventure.
Dinotopia: The Complete Mini-Series is presented on Blu-ray with a 1080p encode, but it sure looks like it's a mere up-convert of a standard definition source. The image is ragged and rough to say the least. Smeary details are commonplace around the island's rocky and vegetative formations upon the boys' arrival; there's hardly any sense of definition at all, with smooth rock faces and smudgy grasses the norm. Clothing never presents with anything more than cursory definition, and even more regal, ornate, and complex garb, like the attire the Mayor wears in his introductory scene, fails to push the needle in a meaningfully positive direction. Structural environments are likewise lacking textural character, and digital effects are a rung lower still, favoring only the crudest definition. Color saturation isn't overly impressive, either, with the punchiest natural greens or more would-be colorful clothes revealing only basic shading with precious little nuance or punch. Black crush is more prominent than one would like. Flesh tones are flat and pasty. Ragged edges and jaggies, occasional edge halos, and other intrusions further drag the image down. Those hoping for a boost in Dinotopia's color, clarity, or detailing for its Blu-ray release are sure to be disappointed.
Dinotopia: The Complete Mini-Series limps onto Blu-ray with a flat and unenthusiastic Dolby Digital 2.0 lossless soundtrack. Everything's crammed towards the middle; the track doesn't take any meaningful advantage of two-channel separation, pushing music and effects towards the center. Music is absent more than baseline clarity and struggles to find more than crude reproduction. Sound effects -- whether booming thunder and driving rain, crashing rocks, or other action-oriented effects -- lack distinction, definition, weight, or aggression, coming across as more muddled than muscular. Atmospheric effects linger in the background without any sense of place or space. Dialogue is at least adequately prioritized, clear, and detailed with a "phantom center" placement. Note that English SDH subtitles are included, but can only be toggled on via the "subtitle" button on the remote or in-film via the "pop-up" menu.
This Blu-ray release of Dinotopia: The Complete Mini-Series contains no supplemental content. Menu screens offer only the option to play the part in question.
Dinotopia dabbles in some interesting ideas, and the execution is fine. It's no Jurassic Park in terms of visual effects or presentation, but for extended, dino-centric entertainment, it's not a bad watch. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the Blu-ray. Dinotopia: The Complete Mini-Series' Blu-ray release is about as nuts-and-bolts as they come. No supplements and a presentation that doesn't make any use of the format's capabilities leave this as one of the most disappointing, and least rewarding, releases of the year.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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