When Dinosaurs Roamed America (2001)

Even among admirers of "When Dinosaurs Roamed America" (hereafter WDRA), there is a reluctant admission that this BBC-production prehistoric animal follow-up is not quite up to the lofty standard of its predecessor, the destined-to-be-a-classic "Walking with Dinosaurs". Some disapprove of the somewhat less-than-convincing CGI of animal movements and interactions. Others disapprove of narrator John Goodman's somewhat irreverent and less-authoritative tone. Still others may get antsy with the interspersed interruptions of paleontologists talking about the fossils and bones that inspired the CGI recreations. I concede that these fault findings are not without some validity.However, I was still impressed with the somewhat second-tier WDRA. WDRA at least matches the "Walking..." series with the broad scope of its analysis of prehistoric creatures and its resistance to "getting on with it" and showing us the dinosaurs already. WDRA is chronologically episodic like "Walking..." but the episodes segue and blend into each other better, even when they use the paleontologists as transition. Each episode displays a part of Modern America (New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota), then dissolves into a prehistoric past that shows the environment and creatures at the time. WDRA begins with the Permian period and ends with the Cretaceous period. We work our way from non-dinosaurs like the crocodile-like Rutiodon and Desmatosuchus, through early dinosaurs like Coelophysis, Anchisaurus, Syntarsus, and Dilophosaurus, through feathered raptors like Velociraptor and ceratopsian ancestors like Zuniceratops, to the freakish therizinosaur Nothronykus, to finally the dinosaurs we know and love (Stegosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus, Camarasaurus, Apatosaurus, Triceratops, and the ubiquitous Tyrannosaurus). I'm sure I missed a few, but you get the point that you get your money's worth creature-wise. Furthermore, each creature gets a satisfactory profile of its physiology and probable lifestyle.Now, I tend to agree that the CGI depictions are somewhat inferior. The "Walking..." series has spoiled us. We have become amateur CGI experts, looking to see if the CGI animal raises dust, or splashes, or leaves footprints, or disturbs foliage. Sometimes the animals fail to do those things in WDRA, but not all that often. As for the animal movements, you could say they were too fluid, too swift, too light and airy. I'm reminded of the multi-ton T-Rex's swift pursuit of the hadrosaur. However, again, those unnatural, gravity-free movements were rare and didn't bother me all that much. All the CGI creatures had enough verisimilitude (i.e., appearance of life) to make me happy.As for John Goodman, he is a fine actor with a deep, sonorous voice. I liked his booming but measured narration that fills us in on prehistoric animal lore. Perhaps Goodman's voice lacks, say, Kenneth Branagh's sobriety and solemnity, but it is not in any way faint or mocking. He may make a wry observation now and again (e.g. when he states that Quetzalcoatulus is "hamburger" for the young T-Rex) but it is not insulting or non-professional. On the contrary, Goodman's narration quite amply and adeptly delivers the goods.Moving on to the paleontological intermissions, yeah, they do take you out of the prehistoric dimension. Nevertheless, they give the viewer solid, fossilized evidence as to how a prehistoric animal looked, moved, and lived (enlived by 3-D computer graphics). In other words, the CGI animal depictions are not pure speculation, but based on the latest, up-to-date information. The intermissions, though educational, are not too lengthy and tedious, and prepare the reader for the next episode.The final bottom line, I guess, is if you liked the "Walking.." series, or enjoy learning about animals, past or present, AND you're not too nitpicky or fussy, you'll enjoy WDRA's journey across an America that now only exists in our imagination.

While it's not as magnificently done, well-told, or visually realistic as the famous and epic prehistoric documentary "Walking With Dinosaurs", this documentary which tells the story of prehistoric life in North America over the course of a hundred and fifty-some million years is above-average when compared to others that try to live up to "Walking With Dinosaurs".The graphics used to create the prehistoric animals are acceptable. They weren't perfect and at some points during the course of the documentary, were cheap and revealing. The sound design was perhaps better than the visuals, but I felt that the FX were good enough to keep the audience interested and motivated towards watching the story till the end. But some of the dinosaurs were just simply flawless, mostly concerning the Coelophysis towards the beginning of the and the Ceratosaurus, whom I felt the most sympathy toward. The other dinosaurs were pretty good. As I mentioned earlier, the sound effects were excellent. However, I did feel that the Allosaurus really needed a better roar. It's described as the dominant predator of its age and it looks like it is, yet it's roar, which is supposed to have struck terror into the hearts of the other dinosaurs of its day, sounds like a reverberated bird's chirping.Storyline was also very well-done. It wasn't particularly original, using many aspects that had been used in other documentaries about prehistoric life, yet with John Goodman's excellent narration, you don't even bother to think about it. The music score in the background also served its purpose, especially at the end, which was the most dramatic, almost as powerful as the ending of "Walking With Dinosaurs". And it really makes the viewers think about the great creatures that once roamed and dominated over our land and if it hadn't been for the sudden cataclysmic events which brought them to extinction, we ourselves would have probably never existed.Bottom line, it's a very well-done documentary. I recommend it.

When Dale Russell, who loved and worked for a time in Ottawa, wrote "Dinosaurs of North America" I doubt that it was with jingoistic purpose. Indeed one of the best ways to begin to understand the inter-relationships of various species is to concentrate on a certain area rather than globally. "When Dinsoaurs roamed America" is, like Russell's classic book, just such an attempt. In specifying locations known to most viewers world wide the producers grounded the extinct animals in real life. The restorations of the dinosaurs seemed to owe a great debt to the brilliant work of Gregory Paul. There were parts of the movie to warm the heart of paeleontologists such as Jack Horner and Robert Bakker, as well as parts to infuriate both men. Perhaps it is a testimony to the even-handedness of the writers that offence could be given to almost anyone interested in paeleontology. Goodman's authoritative voice seems well suited to the material while the CGI work is simply superb. It is amazing what can be done today. The great Ray Harryhausen would have needed several lifetimes to equal the animation in this programme. I enjoyed it immensely and hope that the producers will see fit to make "When Dinosaurs Roamed Europe", "When Dinosaurs Roamed Africa" (and give us a truly terrifying vision of Carcarodontosaurus and Spinosaurus) and "When Dinosaurs Roamed Australasia" and "When Dinosaurs Roamed China". I would recommend this programme very highly.

Perhaps the best effort to date of dinosaur documentaries... "When Dinosaurs Roamed America" takes us back in time and presents the most well known of American dinosaurs in their day to day trials and fight for survival.My daughter and I loved this movie and watch it again and again. The special effects are not quite up to Jurassic Park but they are the best yet in any documentary I've seen. My only criticism is that the movie is too short, just as it starts to pull you in, it's off to another timeline and new dinosaurs.Overall a great movie for youngsters, though it will leave serious dinosaur fans wanting more, much more.