Super Croc

Synopsis: Dr. Paul Sereno discovers Sarcosuchus imperator, a giant prehistoric crocodilian ancestor. With the help of Dr. Brady Barr, they try to uncover the secrets of Super Croc and its ancient world.
Viewed on: Youtube

I've seen this as a child, rewatched it recently and its still a great documentary. So much so that other docs that I have and will review try to emulate it (or have the same editor I guess). First off the narrator is freaking Sam Niell! Dr. Alan Grant of Jurassic Park fame. They don't really use as many celebrities anymore for pop science docs these days so that was a real treat. The pace of the program is fantastic, the science is interesting and engaging, and the crocodilian scenes are thoroughly entertaining.

We get a nice intro to the finding of the fossils which is kind of skimmed over. Although how much time can we really lend to digging bones in the deserts of Africa. Just would of liked more context to the environment in which Sarcosuchus inhabited. Probably the biggest and only complaint I have in this whole doc. I also really appreciate all the footage of the different crocodilian species in which bite forces and skull sizes are taken for scientific purposes relating to Super Croc. Really good stuff, especially when highlighting the publicly unknown gharial.

In the final phase of the doc we get to the sculpting of the life size replica. I will add that this doc was probably the first to implement that to documentary storytelling which other modern day docs probably take inspiration from. The pose of the sculpt is mentioned for a moment and it really got me thinking that these elements are really vital to capturing the imagination and awe of the public. The S shaped curve and powerful open jaws are important to selling the power and characteristics of this animal. I remember seeing the sculpt as a 5th grader and it hit me hard while it was traveling on the road to multiple museums. Its a powerful sight to behold. All in all check this program out!

My Score: Tyrannosaurus Recs

Bigger than T-Rex

 
Synopsis: Deconstructing and resurrecting through the miracle of science the largest known predatory dinosaur.
Viewed on: Youtube

The documentary follows the multi-dimensional story of Spinosaurus aegypticus. This dinosaur may capture the public's attention for just being bigger than T-Rex or being arguably the biggest predatory dinosaur in history, but there are so many other elements to this dinosaur's story this documentary explores. From the vague fossil laws in Morocco, the place of the dinosaurs discovery, to the destruction of the first specimen in World War 2, even the human history behind the fossil's discovery is fascinating.

I do appreciate that this documentary makes the information digestible to us non science aficionados. The editing in this doc is smooth and flows nicely with each scene building upon the next in a fashion that won't lose or bore the viewer. The animated dinosaur scenes are well made for a documentary and those clips are not repeated over and over again to stretch for time like some docs do. There has been a trend lately in recent times where the climax of the film ends with life size skeleton or life like model is created and this doc is no different. The final shots really try to hit home how big this creature is but I can't say there was a splendid wide shot that I can remember unfortunately. Either way, Bigger than T-Rex is a solid recommendation.

My Score: Tyrannosaurus Recs

Review Format & Disclaimer

For reviews there will be three tiers for the scores that I will award. I will try not to be too brutal since most pop science docs are made for TV. Also theories and hypotheses are at best educated guesses so they should be taken as such, not hundred percent factual.

Tyrannosaurus Recs -> A solid recommendation. Science was interesting and entertaining.
Meh...sozoic -> Doesn't have much educational value but is entertaining or vice versa.
Extinct -> What were they thinking? Not worth your time.

*DISCLAIMER: Take these reviews with a grain of salt. I believe all filmmaking, even if its science television is subjective. A lot of stuff appeals to everyone and a lot doesn't, but when it comes to science docs I'm biased sometimes. Most of the time that I'm watching these shows I'm sitting back and relaxing at home. I'm trying to learn something new but sometimes I just want to be entertained. So if I don't like something, it's probably not be because I disagree with the science or don't understand it, it's just mundane. Maybe I just found the topic boring as some students in a science classroom can relate. Also I know dated documentaries present old ideas and facts that don't hold up. I really don't want to back pedal on my reviews when current science disproves what I'm watching so take those reviews as more of an entertainment viewing. Same thing goes with current docs, some theories are conflicting and the internet will tell you different things all the time like what dinosaurs had feathers or not for example. So I'm just going to judge a documentary for what it is when it was released and hope I learn something and that there's also some entertainment value. Thanks for hearing my out!