Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough (2011)

WHILE DINOSAURS WALKED THE EARTH, MONSTERS RULED THE SKIES... For thousands of years, humans have believed that there were once flying monsters. But did they really exist beyond our ... See full synopsis »

Director:

Matthew Dyas

Writer:

David Attenborough

Stars:

David Attenborough, Douglas A. Lawson

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
David Attenborough	...	Himself
Douglas A. Lawson	...	Himself

Storyline

WHILE DINOSAURS WALKED THE EARTH, MONSTERS RULED THE SKIES...

For thousands of years, humans have believed that there were once flying monsters. But did they really exist beyond our nightmares?

220 million years ago dinosaurs were beginning their domination of Earth. But another group of reptiles was about to make an extraordinary leap: pterosaurs were taking control of the skies. The story of how and why these mysterious creatures took to the air is more fantastical than any fiction.

In Flying Monsters 3D, David Attenborough the worlds leading naturalist, sets out to uncover the truth about the enigmatic pterosaurs, whose wingspans of up to 40 feet were equal to that of a modern day jet plane. Attenborough works with scientists to understand the incredible story of the evolution of the pterosaurs, a story that unfolds in such stunning locations as New Mexico, the Jurassic Coast of Lyme Regis in Britain, an ancient pterosaur landing site in Southern France and a fossil pit in Germany ...

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Plot Keywords:

pterodactyl | dinosaur | monster | prehistoric monster | prehistoric times | 

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Taglines:

Did flying monsters really exist beyond our wildest imaginations?

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Repülő szörnyek

Filming Locations:

Bass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,527, 20 September 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$5,685,794, 27 October 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlantic Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Quetzalcoatlus had an enormous 2.5m (8.2 ft) long beak which it used to eat small animals whole.

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Goofs

Aktinofibrils, as the program explains, are what allowed pterosaurs to fold their wings in a neat, precise way, seemingly confusing them with the elongated muscles that ran through their wings. Aktinofibrils were actually stiffening rods.

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Connections

Referenced in Vedro: Family Tree (2017)

User Reviews

A visually splendid and educational journey of the evolution of flying monsters

I saw this at a preview screening in London.

The format of this documentary is a typical investigative journey that we have become used to from the great Sir David Attenborough's nature programs. This is not comparable to Walking with Dinosaur series, we don't follow the life of any particular family. Instead, the documentary spans the evolution of how early dinosaurs first took to the sky through to their peak and extinction.

Much of the program has Attenborough on screen with scientists investigating fossil bones and explaining how they can interpret the flying dinosaurs evolution. I would guess about 30% of this 40 minute documentary contains CGI recreation of the flying dinosaur era. It is a bit disappointing for an IMAX/big screen feature but thankfully the investigative journey is interesting and educational and no one narrates better then the authoritative and re- assuring voice of Attenborough. When we do see the flying dinosaurs, it is a visual splendour. Though I would have liked to see a little more of them in action and also some interaction with large land dinosaurs for entertainment value. But It seems to me they didn't have a budget big enough to do that which is a shame.

A couple of feeding scenes might be too frightening for very small children (maybe under 4 years old). Because of the lack of land dinosaurs, older kids may also be slightly disappointed but otherwise this should be entertaining enough, educational IMAX feature for the whole family.

I am not a fan of 3D, I don't like how it filters the light and makes the films darker. Unfortunately this is no exception. However, it is used well for depth and if you enjoy 3d for this reason, then you will enjoy it here.