A WALK SO REAL, YOU'D BETTER BRING SHOES COOL DINOSAUR SPECIAL FOLLOWS REPTILE EVOLUTION.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic Educationally speaking, the usefulness of ``Walking With Dinosaurs'' may not be overwhelming, but who cares? It's so darn cool. Employing impressive computer animation that spans the ages from the Triassic period Triassic period (trīăs`ĭk), first period of the Mesozoic era of geologic time (see Geologic Timescale, table) from 205 to 250 million years ago. to the Cretaceous, some 160 million years, it follows the evolution of the beast from the diminutive coelophysis to the fearsome tyrannosaurus Tyrannosaurus (tīrăn'ōsôr`əs, tĭr–) [Gr.,=tyrant lizard], member of a family, Tyrannosauridae, of bipedal carnivorous saurischian dinosaurs characterized by having strong hind limbs, a muscular tail, and short . Cleverly structured as a nature special exploring the behaviors of creatures in the wild, ``Walking With Dinosaurs'' shows us reptiles reptiles terrestrial or aquatic vertebrates which breathe air through lungs and have a skin covering of horny scales. They are poikilothermic, oviparous or ovoviviparous, and, if they have legs they are short and constructed solely for crawling. in everyday repose as well as in ravenous combat. (Fun fact: The diplodocus Diplodocus (dĭplŏd`əkəs) [Gr., = double beam (or rafter)], immense quadruped herbivorous dinosaur found in the late Jurassic strata of the Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. dropped a ton of fecal matter daily.) A liopleurodon's ruthless sea attack on an unsuspecting victim is particularly spectacular. Dino-size kudos to Mike Milne, the director of computer animation: The visuals are so persuasive you could, if not careful, be lulled into believing you're watching the real thing. THE FACTS --The show: ``Walking With Dinosaurs Walking with Dinosaurs was a six-part television series produced by the BBC, narrated by Kenneth Branagh, and first aired in the UK in 1999. The series was subsequently aired in North America on the Discovery Channel, with Branagh's voice replaced with that of Avery Brooks. .'' --What: Documentary re-creating life in the age of dinosaurs. --Where: Discovery Channel. --When: 7 and 10 tonight. --Our rating: Three stars CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) The flying reptile omithocheirus had a wing span of 13 meters. (2) Discovery Channel's ``Walking With Dinosaurs'' shows computer- animated reptiles in everyday activities as well as in combat. Box: THE FACTS (see text) |
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