Overview: Based on the best-selling books of Author and Illustrator James Gurney, 'Dinotopia' tells the epic story of a lost continent where dinosaurs and humans live together in an almost utopian world.

DVD Verdict: 'Dinotopia', the epic story of a lost continent where dinosaurs and humans live together in an almost-utopian world, is now brought to complete life in this wonderful 4-DVD collection as one of the most lavish and technically complex productions in the history of American television.

For those not in the know, 'Dinotopia' was a fantasy series shot around the year 2000 as a three-part mini-series (found here on the first two discs) and a 13 episode TV Show (found on the latter two discs). The complex, it has to be said, three-part mini-series tells the epic story of this aforementioned lost continent where the viewer is privy to thrilling live action and breathtaking ingenuity. Starring Wentworth Miller as David, and Tyron Leitso as Karl, over the mini-series we watch them embark on a daring mission to save the ancient Eden they now call home.

Then came the TV Show ... which flopped after just 6 episodes leaving 7 unbroadcast. It is, in reflection, rather interesting that the two projects were shot by different producers with different casts and differing story line scenarios. Also, the mini-series was shot using a budget of around $80 million, so there was definitely backing, and hope put behind it.

Indeed, and having rewatched the mini-series (and the TV show) again now, the beautiful Waterfall City reminds me, in concept, of the capital of Nabu in 'Star Wars' or Rivendell in Jackson’s 'Lord of the Rings'. The “boys” who accompany their father are played by men of 25 and 30, the older Wentworth Miller of Prison Break fame. The show is intended to be child-friendly, but the lad’s lack of grief at the supposed death of their father seems absurdly callous. David, ever the diplomat accounts for the brother’s similarity in age to their father’s active social life, they’re half brothers.

The show is emphatically high concept asking the viewer to accept the idea of talking dinosaurs that read, write and go to school. A utopia where weapons and killing are forbidden and everyone is vegetarian. If you can accept these conventions it isn’t a bad mini-series.

The TV Series starts off where the mini-series ended with the same sets and creature puppets, but with an entirely new cast. It was still-born out of the gate, failing to capture the charm of the original. Inserting a new cast broke the audience’s suspension of disbelief and left the audience bored. Well, that's how I believe it all unfolded, at least.

If the creative forces behind the series had mapped their strategy carefully, this could have become a classic; unfortunately, it had little chance to last beyond its maiden season. An effects-laden show like 'Dinotopia' is much more expensive than a typical series, and thus it was always highly unlikely to attract blockbuster ratings - which would be necessary to justify the expense.

In closing, and delving a little deeper into the 13 episode series, the darker side of 'Dinotopia' most certainly comes out in a way that helps the viewer to connect even more to the story. All the actors and actresses were great, and while the dialogue lacked in some parts, the realism of the characters did not. By the end of the series you find that you have laughed and cried with the characters, and found the occasion to yell at them on various occasions! The Mini-Series is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1), the TV Series a Full Screen Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.