“Deep in the heart of the Amazon, the Butler family was exploring an uncharted river canyon. Suddenly, caught up in a violent whirlpool, they were propelled through an underground cavern and flung into a hostile world of giant prehistoric creatures; a world that time forgot. Now, befriended by a family of cave dwellers, each day is an adventure in survival in…the Valley of the Dinosaurs!”
Sound familiar? Would it surprise you to learn that Land of the Lost and Valley of the Dinosaurs both premiered on the same day? Weird how that happened, isn’t it? Anyways, the Butlers and their gracious cave dwelling hosts the Gorok’s (I know they never gave them a last name, but the male’s name is Gorok, and you have to figure it was a patriarchal society) spend each episode running from dinosaurs using a combination of the prehistoric families knowledge of the area and the Butler’s grasp on science. Somehow it manages to incorporate the threat of dinosaurs with mini lessons about scientific principles. Who could ask for more? It’s like an educational program based on Jurassic Park.
It’s campy, it’s stupid, but it’s oh so amusing. Granted Hanna-Barbera never got as funny with the dino-humor here as they did with The Flintstones, but Valley of the Dinosaurs still has its moments.
Voice talent includes Shannon Farnon, Jackie Earle Haley (yes, really), Don Messick, Alan Oppenheimer, and Frank Welker.
Valley of the Dinosaurs on DVD is available exclusively as a made-to-order item from the WBShop.
DVD Bonus Features None.
"Valley of the Dinosaurs: The Complete Series" is on sale March 22, 2011 and is not rated. Adventure, Animation, Children & Family, Sci-Fi. Directed by Charles A Nichols. Written by Peter Dixon, Peter Germano, James Henderson. Starring Frank Welker, Jackie Earle Haley, Shannon Farnon, Alan Oppenheimer, Andrew Parks.
