This "mega" series has some of the most beautiful images I've ever seen on TV. I've been waiting for this one ever since seeing a CGI test at a con in what? 1996?

(Posted after night 2)
I liked the second episode much better than the first, if only for the scenes in Canyon City. Overall, I'm a little disappointed that they didn't stick with the original story (one of my all-time favorite oversize books). I'm a little puzzled as to why they chose the characters they did. It doesn't seem as if that age group (18-20) would be much interested in watching this. I think the original father-son dynamic would have had a greater appeal. But I'm glad they make several allusions to the characters and happenings in the original. I have not read The World Beneath yet, and I know there's a lot that refers to that one also.

The ancillary characters are mostly striking in their own regard, charismatic and interesting to look at.

A couple nits I can think of --

David and Karl are there for several weeks, doesn't David's hair ever grow? Or does he cut it once a week or more?

David never did the jump across the chasm to write his name in the stone. The others did, but they wrote in English. Shouldn't they be writing in Dinotopian?

I'd also like to see a little more fun in this show. Any of three scenes from the book would have fit here, the Dinosaur Parade, the kids flying kites and running on the beach with the dinos, and the "horse race" (several times around a track, with dinos and riders). Or even just to fly more along with David on his first flight, a POV trip.

The final night, episode 3. Somewhat more grim than the first two installments. Some undeniably cool shots of thousands of pteranodons massing for attack.

I was a bit surprised to find out that Dinotopia will be a regular fall series.

If the sunstones are failing above, shouldn't they be failing below also? I'd think that David or Karl would express concern that they might be radioactive.

A couple of homages, perhaps? In the temple gateway well, David says "I've got a bad feeling about this." When I first saw it, I was reminded of the space Luke had to enter on Dagobah in TESB ("In you must go"). Marian says to Zippo, "I have been, and shall truly always be, your friend."

Another missed opportunity. After the boys rescue their dad and are outside the temple, the albino skybax Freefall appears, and David prepares to mount him to go for help. Then cut to commercial! It would have been great to see him mount and take off, and see the surprise, wonder and pride in his dad's eyes as he did so. Even just the reaction shot would have said a lot.

What was the point of the city having a cargo chute that ejects outside the city?

Dd Karl carry ping-pong balls with him all the time?

The effects in this are no less than amazing. some very difficult shots were done that you might not even notice. (The camera pans and swoops as Zippo is talking in the Senate chamber, keeping proper perspective. The escaping group approaches the camera, rounds a corner and retreats from view -- Zippo was behind the group, necessitating a complicated matte or rotoscope.)

(If I could just append to my previous posts, I would.)

How did Karl and David pay for the "bus" their first day in Dinotopia? It didn't appear to be free, and it looked like the attendant took something in exchange for handing them their tickets.

I'm liking it so far. I think it was originally filmed widescreen and is being shown pan-n-scan, as there were definite artifacts in the latest show (12/05/02).

In the miniseries, David was a newcomer and not really that good of a skybax rider. He was even rejected by the regular skybaxes. Now it appears he's an experienced trainer. Yet it was said several times that they've only been there a few months. And why go through all the rigamarole to find out Porsha can't see well -- just ask her, then prove it!

Although a singular beast is a skybax, when they talk about more than one they say it like "skybacks", rather than "skybaxes". A nit, or is it like "one fish, two fish"?

I like the Lisage (sp?) character. At first I thought she was much too contemporary seeming, but she has a certain charisma. I could to without the Xena hairstyle though.

I am a little disappointed that it seems to be a run/chase/capture series. The original book was about how humans and dinosaurs live in peace and harmony. Admittedly that wouldn't make for a very exciting series. The effects and location shooting are a plus.