When Dinosaurs Roamed America (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Pierre de Lespinois

Writer:

Georgann Kane (writer)

Release Date:

1 January 2001 (UK)

Genre:

Animation | Documentary

Tagline:

After 65 million years... they're back.

Plot Keywords:

Dinosaur

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

John Goodman

...

Narrator (voice)

Runtime:

Germany:90 min | USA:120 min (TV)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Neuquen, Argentina

Company:

Discovery Channel

Trivia:

The dinosaur Stegosaurus actually attempts to mate in this documentary, an act which for them probably was difficult to achieve, due to the giant plates on their backs. As they near each other, the camera promptly faces away skywards.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Dilophosaurus kills the Anchisaurus, and starts to feed, take a look at the head of the dead animal: it actually rises up into the open jaw of the predator. This particular part of the shot is in fact reversed, because not only does the Anchisaurus's head rise up, the Dilophosaurus also repeats its motions, this time backwards.

Movie Connections:

References The Flintstones (1994)

Excellent with hopes for others like it

When Dale Russell, who loved and worked for a time in Ottawa, wrote "Dinosaurs of North America" I doubt that it was with jingoistic purpose. Indeed one of the best ways to begin to understand the inter-relationships of various species is to concentrate on a certain area rather than globally. "When Dinsoaurs roamed America" is, like Russell's classic book, just such an attempt. In specifying locations known to most viewers world wide the producers grounded the extinct animals in real life. The restorations of the dinosaurs seemed to owe a great debt to the brilliant work of Gregory Paul. There were parts of the movie to warm the heart of paeleontologists such as Jack Horner and Robert Bakker, as well as parts to infuriate both men. Perhaps it is a testimony to the even-handedness of the writers that offence could be given to almost anyone interested in paeleontology. Goodman's authoritative voice seems well suited to the material while the CGI work is simply superb. It is amazing what can be done today. The great Ray Harryhausen would have needed several lifetimes to equal the animation in this programme. I enjoyed it immensely and hope that the producers will see fit to make "When Dinosaurs Roamed Europe", "When Dinosaurs Roamed Africa" (and give us a truly terrifying vision of Carcarodontosaurus and Spinosaurus) and "When Dinosaurs Roamed Australasia" and "When Dinosaurs Roamed China". I would recommend this programme very highly.