"Prehistoric Park" (2006) TV series

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

22 July 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

Extinction Doesn't Have To Be Forever...

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Nigel Marven	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006)
Rod Arthur	...	Park Keeper Bob (6 episodes, 2006)
Suzanne McNabb	...	Park Vet Suzanne (6 episodes, 2006)
David Jason	...	Narrator (6 episodes, 2006)

Runtime:

UK:60 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:G

Company:

Impossible Pictures

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Narrator: Welcome to the ultimate wild life sanctuary. Welcome to Prehistoric Park.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Walking with Monsters" (2005)

More show than science, but still watchable

Following in the prehistoric footsteps of 'Chased by Dinosaurs', creator/producer Time Haines has brought Nigel Marvin back for a new program, of prehistoric safari. Six episodes, and dozens of new creatures, Prehistoric Park, takes things one step further (or at least it promises to). In the end it takes one step backwards, and here is why.

This series is more focused on show than science, and it goes a little over the top, occasionally reaching a level of gimmicky. Nigel Marvin and his team are setting up a Jurrasic Park kind of Facility. Using a time portal, Marvin intends to go back in time to various points in prehistory and return with creatures that are endangered at those time periods.

If you are not bothered by the absurdity, you will certainly find the program cute, but it can be equally annoying at times. When Steven Spielberg made Jurassic PArk, he claimed that he wanted to show animals, not monsters. Prehistoric Park takes that a step further. The creatures we see are not merely treated like animals, they are treated like pets! From T-Rex's scraping like dogs, Wrestling games with Triceratops, Mammoth haircut, I doubt if anyone will find this program as awe inspiring as it's 'Walking with' predecessors. What is most annoying however is the decision to throw in a narrator. Totally unnecessary, I ruins the Cinema Verité factor, making the program feel even more artificial.

Despite error, Prehistoric Park is entertaining simply because it never takes itself seriously. Even if it doesn't do justice to prehistoric life, it is a feel good, quirky kind of program, that kids as well as adults can enjoy.