Re: When Dinosaurs Disappointed

[MKIRKALDY@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/26/99 1:38:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Dinogeorge@aol.com writes:

>  Yes it should, and I'm disappointed that dinosaur list members 
>  continue to  find fault with these relatively unsophisticated 
>  television shows. We all know that dinosaur documentaries will
>  be filled with the usual slashing teeth, lumbering animation, 
>  gaffes, and so forth. 
One thing that bothered me was the continued emphasis on what
killers these dinosaurs all were, how huge they were, steak
knives, daggers, puncture, rip, slash, etc.  

As for the same dino head being used, a good actor is versatile
so it was a _T. rex_, an _Allosaurus_, some of the South American
theropods, etc.  _Baryonyx_ was said to slightly resemble a 
_T. rex_!  The same family group of _T. rex_ were an _Allosaurus_ 
trio in another scene.  The same bumpy patch of skin was Every Dino.  
Feet?  Pretty much the same feet trampled through the woods, ferns,
sand, the mall...  Jeff Goldblum mispronounced Bakker's name, and 
the plural form of dinosaur names was used incorrectly.  _Scipionyx_
regained a liver without challenge.

>  Good points: lots of exposure for paleontologists who are not yet 
>  well known to the public, organization of shows in biogeographical 
>  segments,  presentation of new discoveries and ongoing work  
<SNIP>
I liked this aspect also, as we had a chance to see list member
Tony Thulborn and the famous trackways, Tom and Pat Rich, John 
Long, Anusuya Chinsamy, Jim Kirkland (who may or may not be 
Kirky to his friends), list member Scott Samson, and many other 
interesting people in addition to the paleontology program regulars.

An artist friend of mine asked where were the dinosaur and
paleo paintings?  Those could have been used to great effect,
similar to other fine series such as the one on the Civil War,
and would have been much more realistic than an arcade
shooting gallery head popping up as a refrain.

Mary
mkirkaldy@aol.com