Walking with Dinosaurs

The TV series has evolved into an arena spectacular, in which dinosaurs roam the earth once more. Our palaeontologist guide takes us back in time to show us these magnificent creatures. When the first arrives, both the power and the problems of this show are immediately apparent. Wow! Realistic looking dinosaur! There's scaly skin, an expressive face and two big reptilian legs. Oh wait. Oh no. What's that? This two-legged dinosaur appears to have four legs, two of which are suspiciously arthropod. Those skinny legs don't shatter the fourth wall, but they make a dent in it.

However, no one came for the person-sized dinosaurs, and the massive ones are much more realistic. Huge heads look inquisitively around and vast tails sway powerfully as they walk. Actually, for that to be strictly accurate they'd have to walk, which they don't. Sure, their legs move in a walking motion, but the big wheeled-platform they get around on is more than noticeable.

There are some things to be learned here, and the educational talky bits are well balanced with the fighting. Although with no real contact and even less blood, the fights are more like angry shouting matches.

With some education and very mild threat, 'Walking with Dinosaurs', in trying to be both Natural History Museum and 'Jurassic Park 4', ends up being neither. But the show is really for the kids, and they absolutely loved it. It'd be a sad and cynical under-12 left unimpressed by life-size moving dinosaurs. 'Really realistic!' and, 'Amazing!' were two representative cheers of post-show delight. It seems the kids either couldn't see the strings or just weren't bothered they were there.