Re: movies

[Dino Guy and Computer Gal <gbabcock@best.com>]

For best overall paleo documentary series, I vote for David Attenborough's "Lost
Worlds, Vanished Lives."  It's simply the best (in my humble opinion).

For educational dinosaur videos, I thoroughly enjoy "Assignment Discovery:
Dinosaur Magazine: New Dinosaurs."  It's an overpriced video from
<www.discoveryschool.com> that features Tom Williamson's _Parasaurolophus_
research, Nathan Myhrvold's whip cracking _Apatosaurus_, Karen Chin's Maiasaura
coprolite research, Kent Stevens' binocular _Tyrannosaurus_ study, and Farlow's
and Thomas' Paluxy River track investigation.  No other video packs so much
recent dinosaur research into one package.  The computer generated dinosaurs are
only fleetingly glimpsed, and rate a B +, but the video gives a nice look at
some of the fun things that have been coming out recently.

I also like PBS' "The Dinosaurs!" 4 part set.  Some of it is a bit over the top
(Bakker's back plate flapping _Stegosaurus_ comes to mind) and it isn't the
latest video to come out, but it is a very informative show that covers a nice
range of topics well.

Then, of course, there is the PBS series that plays next week in the US,
"Evolution," eight hours of educational bliss (one hopes).  It will be broadcast
for two hours each night September 24 through 27, and the producers encourage
teachers to tape it and use it in the classroom!  Check your local listings, and
reread your VCR manual to set it up to record!

Is this the sort of list you (Trent Hall) had in mind?

-- Ralph W. Miller III   ralph.miller@alumni.usc.edu