What If We Could Cheat Extinction?

japamo

"Prehistoric Park" is a paleontological gift from the gods. Don't listen to those fussy nitpickers that condemn it as an ersatz "Jurassic Park" clone. First of all, the various endangered, ancient beasts are NOT cloned. They are rescued from perilous time periods by the charismatic and engrossing zoologist and adventurer Nigel Marvin, a somewhat more subdued version of the late, lamented "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. Second, not all the captured beasts are dinosaurs and reptiles. Yes, T-rex makes his obligatory appearance, but we also witness bizarre creatures like a 10-foot tall, flightless, carnivorous bird (Phorusracos), a woolly rhino the size of a modern elephant with a 6 1/2 long horn (Elasmotherium), and a 10-foot long millipede (Arthropleura). Third, the creatures are allowed to and even encouraged to breed, as the Ornithomimus chicks demonstrate. Finally, not every creature encountered is captured. For example, we get to see the giant cave bear, the Parasaurolophus, and the rhinoceros-like Toxodon undisturbed in their natural environments.

Instead, this series puts a prehistoric (and sometimes gently humorous) twist on the daily activities and challenges in maintaining a natural-habitat wildlife park. Nigel and his appealing, competent cast, such as groundskeeper Bob and Suzanne the veterinarian provide detailed but fascinating information on the feeding, boarding, and medical care of disparate animal groups. The actual forays in the past are even more fascinating and gripping as Nigel and his crew deal not only with dangerous, deadly animals but also perilous natural disasters like, say, the approaching asteroid which decimated the dinosaurs during the Cretaceous, and odorless carbon monoxide, and a swamp fire during the Carboniferous period. Yes, Nigel has a time travel portal to visit those bygone eras, and yes, some people might have a problem with the time travel paradoxes which inevitably follow. To me, they were an insignificant distraction. The series seems episodic, but you can't really watch the 3-DVD set at random because there are linear threads running through it. Two of the main ones are the increasing sibling rivalry between the troublesome T-Rexes Terence and Matilda, and the living adjustments endured by the wounded, long-suffering, and ultimately heroic woolly mammoth Martha.

The series has exciting cliffhangers, but they are natural and unforced. Will Terence survive Matilda's attack? Will Martha heal and be accepted by the elephant herd? Will the male and female Smilodons breed successfully? Will Nigel get himself and his 4 X 4 out of the Carboniferous swamp before the fire strikes? Will Nigel's scorpion sting do permanent damage? Can anything stop the spooked, stampeding titanosaur from reducing the park to rubble? It's also fun to see the depiction of how animals from different eras might react to each other, such as when Martha is introduced to a real elephant herd, and when the crocodile Deinosuchus tries to take a bite out of the escaped Matilda, and when Martha attempts to protect a baby elephant from, again, Matilda; the CGI in this regard is sensational, and is seamlessly top-notch in general.

Also, in general, if you are a nature, paleontology, or wildlife buff, you will be in heaven with this series. "Prehistoric Park" may also give conservation-minded people comfort, of a sort, by kinda cheating extinction and bringing a mind-blowing array of creatures back to life for our contemplation.

score 10/10

japamo 7 April 2011

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2410075/