Customer Reviews

National Geographic Kids: I Love Dinosaurs [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

We purchased this video based on NG's reputation and on the box information. Yes, this video begins with 5 minutes of "kid level" dinosaur talk. After that, it is pure drugdery. Dull, dull, dull!! The remainder of the video follows paleontologists on "digs". Fine - except that most children aren't interested in hearing about the political climate, supplies needed, etc, ad nauseum (about an hour!). As my 3 year old said - "Mom, I don't weant to watch a video about people in the desert. I want to watch about DINOSAURS!" This film really is about the difficulties in finding complete skeletons - about pure Paleontology - not about the dinosaurs themselves. BBC's "Walking With Dinosaurs" or Dorling Kindersley's "Eyewitness: Dinosaur" are far better choices. I've tried to return the video (yes, it is that dull!), but National Geographic won't take returns of items not purchased directly from them. I am an elementary school teacher - and, I feel this video is appropriate at about the grade 5 level - totally out of step with the marketing and introduction. Don't waste your money.

My 2 1/2 year old son loves dinosaurs. He was so excited to get this video and we had to rush home to watch it. He then proceeded to cry throughout the video because it is NOT about dinosaurs at all. It is about a dinosaur DIG and is much more appropriate for older children (late elementary school age). I would not recommend this video for anyone who is looking for a video about dinosaurs, unless they primarily want to see a paleontologist at work.

I purchased this video for my nephew and as we sat down to watch it I was shocked that it was so inappropriate for small children. I was led to believe this video was geared for children and boy was I wrong. It's all about paleantologists searching for dinosaur bones. I am very disappointed and feel it was a very big waste of money! I wish there was a way to return it.

I would like to add a few words to the previous comments regarding this video. It is not going to interest most very young children. But it is an excellent video that introduces children to the science behind dinosaurs, and allows them to see how people can work with dinosaurs and fossils. And some younger kids may enjoy it. My own son is not quite three, and he loves the video. He even knows the names of some of the featured paleontologists, and he wants to work in a museum when he grows up.

We own several National Geo's for Kids, and this one is quite different. Instead of the usual catchy sophisticated intro, this tape starts with 3 yr olds roaring and talking about dinos. Bad. This video is really for 5 and above and once the real tape starts it is great. No animation - this is about a DIG! My 6 year old son enjoyed it and asked pertinent questions and I (his mom)am ready to go off and help find the next Sauropod, too! As an adult I have lots of unanswered questions (Tell us more about how daily life on the dig is, how did the bones get transported back, who cooked? How did they make the models from the molds? How did they transport the model after it was built?) But this video was made for kids, not for me. Sigh. It definetely peaks one interest. There is one d*#$ while they are raising the tent if that is of concern. The film about Sue is interesting, makes one feel so bad for Susan Hendrickson, the finder of 'Sue', I'm glad to know the history. Being in the medical profession it was amazing to see Sue being CAT scanned, no big thing for my son. He repeatedly asked "why did they take Sue away from those people?" I wish they had told us if Susan had been invited to help with or visit Sue. This video is a good introduction to the field of Paleonthology, don't be put off by the introduction.

My son was 4 1/2 when he got this video. He absolutely LOVES it. I think it gives a realistic view of what being a paleontologist is like. My son has decided that he wants to be one now too! This video isn't full of silly cartoons or blood-thirsty dinosaurs. Our whole family found it very educational and entertaining. It kept my son's attention throughout the video and he has watched it many times. He is very interested in science in general and dinosaurs in particular, so a child not so inclined would not appreciate it as he does.

Based on the other reviews, I think the appropriateness of this video depends more on the child than on the age. My son will turn four in a couple of weeks and this is by far his favorite video. I admit that surprised me because the documentary format of the video appears more suited to adults. But my son watches the movie over and over and learns something new each time. At the natural history museum he was delighted to point out the plaster still stuck to some dinosaur bones and to inform me that the paleontologists put it around the whole bone to protect it during transportation. He also puts his knowledge from the movie into his playtime. At the park, he calls himself a "Paleontology" and tells everyone that he is riding his tricycle from Gana to Niger. After pretending to get stuck in the mud several times, he makes it to the sand box and proceeds to dig up all kinds of pretend dinosaur bones. Surely, he does not understand everything in the movie, but he is fascinated by it. After several renewals we had to return the video to the library and he threw a fit. So here I am purchasing it.

I think this is a terrific video. It really gives you a feel for what paleontologists do and conveys the excitement of being a scientist. It tells two fascinating stories - first, an expedition into the deserts of Niger led by world class dinosaur hunter Paul Sereno. They uncover one of the largest plant-eating dinosaurs in Africa. Then the story of Sue the T. rex - found by Sue Hendricks in S. Dakota, fought over in court, auctioned off and then finally studied in Chicago.
My three y.o. son loves this video. He watches it repeatedly and can tell you about Sue, Paul Sereno, how dinsosaurs are dug up and packaged for shipping, etc., etc. I suppose if you were expecting fantasy you would be disappointed (try Jurassic Park) - but true life can be so much more fascinating!

What a total let down. Should have expected the documentary format based on the National Geographic name. However, the title and links led me to believe otherwise. My husband and I like it, but not being the dinosaur fans my 3 year old is, another shelf life video.