Hallmark Entertainment presents this fantasy adventure and misadventures of an idyllic lost land where a society has been created where dinosaurs and humans co-exist. Millionaire Frank Scott(Michael Brandon)and his two sons David(Shiloh Strong)and Karl(Erik Von Deeten)crash land their plane on Dinotopia. Realizing they will never get the chance to go back home, acclimating themselves is a tall order. The harmony of co-existence and a successful society is in danger when the source of power, sunstones, begin to fail. David and Karl are not shy in giving their all to protect and preserve their new home. Frank has opposition when trying to get the symbiotic population involved in a new industrial revolution; which failed them some two hundred years earlier. The live action and CGI prehistoric creatures look smoothly mixed making this fantasy escapism more enjoyable. Other cast members include: Lisa Zane, Georgina Rylance, Jonathan Hyde, Sophia Ward and John Owens.

The Dinotopia TV movie is not identical to the books, so I suppose it's not surprising that the TV series is also different. However I think that the world envisioned in Dinotopia is so unique to TV that it deserved to be developed, rather than undermined. Perhaps it's inevitable that ideas get dumbed-down for TV. However it's sad to see the concept of a pacifistic, diverse society communing with nature and emphasizing cooperation turned into a show about a backwards society that is wowed by such innovations as boxing, motorcars, and rock-and-roll. It has to be said that the movie's plot, the idea that pacifists must be rescued by rogues who are willing to break the rules, is equally disappointing, and the show simply follows the line of emphasizing conflict and roguery over cooperation and development. All in all the video treatments are a waste of a great possibility to do something really different with an adventure series.The TV series begins by introducing "the Outsiders," rebels against the Dinotopian codes who eat meat and use weapons. In the two-part series opener (MAROONED, MAKING GOOD) they discover a magic amulet that enables them to control tyrannosaurs, and brothers Karl and David Scott (Erik von Detten and Shiloh Strong) must stop them from conquering all of Dinotopia. The Outsiders piratical nature apparently made them more interesting to the writers than the 'boring' pacifists of Dinotopia, so they tend to dominate the series plots: particularly sexy pirate queen LeSage (Lisa Zane.) In the third episode, HANDFUL OF DUST, a dinosaur-killing alchemist makes the young LeSage even younger; roguish Karl once again saves the day. However in the 4th episode, CONTACT, Karl must choose whether to use a radio to escape Dinotopia or to rescue the dying survivors of a shipwreck. Episode 5, THE MATRIARCH, contemplates the challenging issue of a pacifist mother whose children disappear in a tyrannosaur attack, but fudges the ending dishonestly. The last episode of the series to air in the U.S., BIG FIGHT, has semi-pacifistic David agreeing to box an Outsider bully, a situation quickly exploited both by his father Frank (Michael Brandon) and LeSage. NIGHT OF THE WARTOSA is actually fun and at last something consistent with the Dinotopian ideal (although it does indeed involve some sexual innuendo); it's ironic the show was cancelled before it aired. In Episode 8 LESAGE hijacks a dinosaur-load of medicine; Karl's roguery in getting it back is almost too much for Marion (Georgina Rylance). In CAR WARS Frank invents a motorcar and ousts Waldo (Jonathan Hyde) from office on a pro-progress platform(!?!) In LOST AND FOUND Karl's attempt to sneak a ride on a skybax leads a vengeful Frank and a courageous Waldo to the discovery of a lost city of cowboys. In the two-part THE CURE, Karl's illness leads Rosemary (Sophie Ward) to use magic to send David and LeSage to Budapest. Finally in CROSSROADS the brothers have yet another opportunity to leave Dinotopia forever; however it is not a conclusion to the series.The acting is mostly good, although Rylance cannot compare to the movie's Katie Carr as Marion and Hyde makes for a VERY different Waldo than Jim Carter. I also vastly preferred the movie's Lee Evans to the series' Omid Djalili as "Zipeau." The SFX are OK. There are some clever ideas in the series but they tend to get lost in largely formulaic plots, and the tension between the brothers that really MADE the movie has completely disappeared, as Marion now seems to be "Karl's girl." The dialogue is pedestrian and characterization tends to be pretty broad.

Seems like I'm one of the few that liked the miniseries better than the actual TV series...Gripe One: Complete change of cast for the main (human) characters. BAD idea! The original actors showed enough potential in the miniseries that I would have liked to see them grow into their roles.Gripe Two: Only minimal tie-in with, or continuation of, the story put forth in the miniseries.Gripe Three: The replacement "actors" couldn't act to save their own lives.Gripe Four: The writing stank.I think it would have been a much more interesting story if the island's location had been revealed somehow (perhaps by the ELT -- Emergency Locator Transmitter -- in the plane going off), and the lead characters had to -- somehow -- convince whoever came tracking the thing not to expose the place to the world. Granted, you could only do that in one or two episodes, but I still would have liked to have seen it.Sorry, gang. I have to give this one two thumbs down, and breathe a sigh of relief that it was put out of its misery after, what, about six episodes?

I think that Erik von Detten is the person who makes show real. He hasn't in the past, been given the parts that show what a great actor he is. I hope one day he will receive the recognition that he deserves. Although, Erik hasn't been given the parts he deserves, he always makes each movie or show great to watch. Good luck to you Erik, I pulling for you.