Editorial Review:

Description:
Nominated for three Emmy Awards, this is the moving story of the life and death struggle of Big Al, the most complete Allosaurus skeleton ever found. This program also brings you behind the scenes with an additional 30-minute feature that explores how scientists have been able to trace this incredible life story.

Amazon.com:
The phenomenal BBC series Walking with Dinosaurs spawned this 30-minute special. Using the same blend of computer animation, puppetry, and story-driven narration (by Kenneth Branagh), Allosaurus: A Walking with Dinosaurs Special centers on one particular dinosaur dubbed Big Al. Found in Wyoming in the 1980s, Big Al's fossil remains comprise the most complete allosaur skeleton ever found. Enough clues are found in the bones, 145 million years after his death, to tell the story of what might have happened from his birth to his death. The film's naturalistic approach (unlike that used in the Disney film Dinosaur, whose characters could talk) is quite spectacular, with chills (a bog turns out to be a big dinosaur threat), thrills (allosaurs chase a group of giant diplodocus), and humor (a baby allosaur seems to bump into the "camera"). A half-hour companion program, "Big Al Uncovered," illustrates how the "what-if" story of Big Al was constructed using facts uncovered by paleontologists (including the 17 injuries found in the skeleton) and filling in the gaps using the dinosaur's distant cousins (birds and crocodiles). The BBC production does not shy away from the violent world of dinosaurs, including mating and hunting techniques. However, any dinosaur fan age 7 and up should find all the Walking with Dinosaurs specials an exciting and fun education. --Doug Thomas

I love this video. I am a high science teacher and I show this film to my students every year. They absolutely love it.

Average Rating:

Rating: - Great fiction
I love this video. I am a high science teacher and I show this film to my students every year. They absolutely love it.

Rating: - Great educational and entertaining videos
I purchased these videos for my three year old granddaughter. They are entertaining for her at this age. She is even learning a few things about dinosaurs that I would not have anticipated, for example, the fact that some dinosaurs are carnivores and some are herbivores. She will likely continue to benefit from these videos as she matures.

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Rating: - Allosaurus
Tells the story of "Big Al" how he lived, the injuries he sustained and how he died. Well worth watching.

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Rating: - Disappointed that footage is same as "Walking with Dinosaurs"
Walking with Dinosaurs contains the same footage (different soundtrack and voice talent, Kenneth Branaugh is MUCH better than Ben Stiller) as Prehistoric Planet. This is NOT called out on the box or description. Since I already own "Walking with Dinosaurs" I would not have purchased this DVD if I had known.

However, if you have children under 10, this version is more appropriate for little ones with short attention spans than the orginial.

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Rating: - Very informative video...
An interesting prehistoric "detective" story where scientists attempt to recreate outstanding events in the life of the beast. Such events are based upon a close examination of the fossil skeleton left behind by "Big Al", the Allosaurus. Very good computer graphics, though not as good as the later BBC special called "Chased By Dinosaurs". My 9 year old nephew enjoyed it very much.

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Related Items:

Walking with Dinosaurs

Before the Dinosaurs: Walking With Monsters

Prehistoric Planet - The Complete Dino Dynasty

Chased By Dinosaurs

Walking with Prehistoric Beasts