Dinotopia: Season 1 (2002)

TV. Dinotopia is a Lost World series with virtually unknown actors who do quite well in their roles. The father (Michael Brandon) has had bit parts dating back to Love American Style and his sometimes bombastic style is a good foil to the other characters. His two teenage sons (Shiloh Strong and Erik von Detten) play opposites in temperament, loyalty to Dinotopia, and approval from their father. The incumbent mayor (Jonathan Hyde) is truculent but compassionate. I esp. like the three lead women: his wife the incumbent matriarch (Sophie Ward), his daughter and frequent emissary (Georgina Rylance), and a devious outlaw jezebel (Lisa Zane). Dinotopia is no Jurassic Park but I've grown fond of its characters and story arc. It's probably not for children 10 and under, since my youngest son was scared off by the first episode, which features a lot of chasing and chomping by T-Rexes -- not representative of other episodes but quite a disappointing start to the series. You may be bemused by the father pulling a Henry Ford on Waterfall City and by the citizens pulling A Christmas Carol on him in return. Either way, the dinosaur and architectural artwork is attractive and imaginative, and the society is well-conceived, with humans in couture dating from the Renaissance to the 1800s. Episodes deal with more adult societal dynamics than the books, which appeal to young children because the boys are younger and lack a parental foil. 3.5 stars.