WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE: DINOTOPIA {PART 1 OF 3} (TV)

Summary

One of this series of Disney movies presented under the umbrella title "The Wonderful World of Disney." Part one in this three-part miniseries, based on the children's books series by James Gurney, about a utopian world where humans and dinosaurs co-exist peacefully. The program opens with Disney CEO Michael Eisner introducing the story. The narrative begins with Frank Scott taking his two teenage sons, Karl and David, island-hopping in his small plane. During the flight, Frank takes a nap and gives Karl control of the plane. Later, the plane hits some inclement weather and the plane plummets into the ocean. Karl and David survive but they are unable to rescue their father from drowning. Swimming to a nearby shore, the two brothers find themselves on a bizarre island, still distraught about having left their dad behind. Walking through the seemingly deserted terrain, Karl and David encounter a strange rock sculpture in the shape of a dragon's head. Then, there is an explosion and the two boys encounter the oddball archeologist and jack-of-all-trades Cyrus Crabb. He tells them that they are new arrivals to Dinotopia. Cyrus leads them through the dense island foliage to a small village, with the boys increasingly surprised by the undiscovered and ancient civilization. Then, the boys encounter their first living dinosaur, an ankylosaurus, and watch as the beautiful Dinotopian Marion Waldo brings it under control by curing its toothache. Then, the two brothers try to get a ride to Waterfall City. That night, while waiting for their ride, Karl and David question how it's possible for this odd land to actually exist. Karl thinks they need to simply get to Waterfall City and try to find a way back to the world they know. David thinks they should try and "understand" their new environs. At dawn, the boys run into Marion, finally getting a chance to speak with her. They learn she, too, is heading to Waterfall City. She tells them to "register" once they get to the city. Then, the three see a brachiosaurus -- dubbed in Dinotopia as a "brach" -- having armor applied to his neck and back so that it can act as a bus for their journey. En route, the brach gets scared and they are forced to stop while traveling throught the carnivore-filled "rainy basin." Marion notes that a herd of tyrannosauruses seems to be near. Knowing that the species typically doesn't hunt in groups, Marion wanders off to check whether everything is alright. Reaching a deserted outpost, Marion discovers a dead "sun stone," a source of power that keeps the area safe when it is running. As it begins storming, Marion realizes that they cannot return to the brachs and will have to take shelter for the night in the building. They find some fruit to eat -- as meat-eating is not allowed on Dinotopia -- and settle in for the evening. After Karl wanders off, David tells Marion that he and Karl are half-brothers, having different mothers, and aren't particularly close. While trying to sleep, David hears a rumble outside and wakes up Karl. Then, the roof caves in as a T.Rex attacks them. Marion tries to get them to safety but even she needs the help of some winged skybax, who fly into the area and take the trio back to the brachs. En route, Karl asks Marion why violence isn't allowed in Dinotopia, even if a life is at stake. Eventually, everyone finally reaches Waterfall City. Then, David sees a globe sculpted by Marion, showing America, Europe and the other continents still linked as part of Pangea. Upon arriving in Waterfall City, the locals are enamored by the "newcomers" Karl and David, making them instant celebrities. Marion leads them to the palace where her father, Mayor Waldo, welcomes them. Waldo tells the two brothers that each will be ceremonially connected to their own dinosaur, like all citizens of Dinotopia. Then, Waldo asks that Karl and David inform everyone of significant world events that have occurred since the last newcomers were shipwrecked on Dinotopia in 1944. Afterward, David is still in disbelief that "his" world has yet to have discovered Dinotopia. Then, Marion takes Karl and David to the city library, where they see dinosaurs that are able to read. They meet the head librarian, the stenosaurus Zippo, who has mastered several languages, including English. Marion arranges for Karl and David to stay at Zippo's house. The erudite dinosaur brings them home and serves them a meal. Later, after Marion speaks to the Senate, she dines with her father. She wonders why the sun stones are failing and whether the outer settlements are under attack. Meanwhile, Karl and David check out their digs and discuss the odd partnership between humans and dinosaurs. Karl wants to leave but David is quickly adjusting to their new adventure. That night, Waldo gives his daughter a special gift, a letter from her grandmother telling her to "find the light," as well as her very own sun stone. Meanwhile, Karl speaks with Cyrus, who think David is a bit odd. The next day, Zippo encourages Karl and David to attend a beginner's school class with young dinosaurs, taught by Marion. She teaches them the codes of Dinotopia as well as the local language. After explaining the legend of "the world underneath," Marion also reveals that no one has yet discovered the eleventh code of the island. Karl sneaks away from class, already bored with schooling. He goes to the library and gets Zippo to play an impromptu game of table tennis with him. At the same time, Marion wonders why Karl left her class and if she did something wrong. She also discusses her "destiny" with David, then taking him to see the prime sun stone. Marion leads David to the top of a spiral staircase in a tower where they are able to overlook the entire city. She shows David the most powerful sun stone of the land, which brings life to all of Dinotopia. Later that evening, Karl is yet again infuriated by how quickly David is becoming a part of the community. Eventually, the two get in a spat and Karl storms out of the house. He walks through town before ending up at Cyrus's antique shop. There, David questions the man as to whether there is any way to get off the island. Cyrus claims he has spent the last two decades trying to get off himself, but that he needs one final thing to do so -- a captain's log under Zippo's lock and key in the library. Cyrus tries to encourage David to steal it, but even he is a bit leery. He then shows David that his leg was bitten off by a dinosaur while he explored a sacred temple. Later, Karl and David receive cryptic invitations from Marion, written in "footprint" language to the annual sun stone ceremony and parade, which she will lead. While David attends the ceremony, Karl sneaks into the library and steals the captain's log. Meanwhile, Waldo addresses Dinotopians, talking about the history and importance of their "magical" stones. Then, Marion marches through the crowd in ceremonial garb to join her father onstage. After the show, Karl tries to speak with Marion, who encourages him to return to finish the course. He claims he can't handle school, but she eventually convinces him to receive private tutoring from her as long as he also takes a footprint exam. Later, a distressed Zippo tells Karl that his captain's log book has been stolen. Then, Karl brings Cyrus the captain's journal and the man begins studying it for insight on how to get them off the island. Karl wants to get David off the island, too, but Cyrus realizes that David has already given in to Dinotopia's lure. Then, at graduation, Karl's answer to how Dinotopians should live is read to all, with no one except David aware that he cribbed it from "Bohemian Rhapsody." When David later confronts Karl about their father's shortcomings, the two fight and fall off their room's balcony into the raging rapids below. By the next day, Marion is concerned about Karl and David having disappeared from Dinotopia. Zippo tries to console Marion, who wants to go searching for the brothers. Meanwhile, Karl and David's waterlogged journey takes them way down the river and deep into the forest. With David ailing, Karl ventures off to check out the region while Marion sends off a "postal bird" to search for them. The bird eventually finds them and delivers Marion's message to Karl. Later, it takes her to them. Marion examines David, who has become cold and sick. Zippo sends the bird off to retrieve a rescue party before David shows him an ancient temple he discovered. Zippo thinks one of the entrances may lead to the world beneath, but worries that it is guarded by carnivores. Then, Karl hears huge, water-based carnivores approaching and everyone is forced to run across a rickety wooden bridge. However, Marion has to jump the final span, after which Zippo falls into the river. Zippo is quickly attacked but David saves him. Afterward, the exhausted quartet try to figure out their next move. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: May 12, 2002 Sunday 7:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:57:54
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:71367
• GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Dinosaurs
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2008
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CREDITS

• Robert Halmi … Executive Producer
• Robert Halmi … Executive Producer
• Howard Ellis … Supervising Producer
• William P. Cartlidge … Producer
• Dusty Symonds … Producer
• Michael S. Stone … Co-Producer
• Seth M. Siegel … Co-Producer
• Scott Usher … Co-Producer
• James Gurney … Co-Producer, Based on Dinotopia Books by
• Chris Harrald … Associate Producer
• Fiona Walkinshaw … VFX Producer
• Nikki Penny … VFX Producer
• Tim Keene … VFX Line Producer
• Lucy Killick … VFX Line Producer
• Charlie Bradbury … CGI Line Producer
• Marco Brambilla … Director
• Simon Moore … Writer
• Trevor Jones … Music by
• Michael Eisner … Host
• David Thewlis … Cast, Cyrus Crabb
• Katie Carr … Cast, Marion Waldo
• Jim Carter … Cast, Mayor Waldo
• Alice Krige … Cast, Rosemary Waldo
• Tyron Leitso … Cast, Karl Scott
• Wentworth Miller … Cast, David Scott
• Colin Salmon … Cast, Oonu
• Hannah Yelland … Cast, Romana Denison
• Stuart Wilson … Cast, Frank Scott
• Anna Maguire … Cast, Samantha
• Geraldine Chaplin … Cast, Oriana
• Ross Mullen … Cast, Zippo Stand In
• Lee Evans … Cast, Voice of Zippo
• Terry Jones … Cast, Voice of Messenger Bird