Prehistoric Predators: Megalodon

Synopsis: National Geographic series takes a look into the life ans extinction of the Megalodon.
Viewed on: Youtube

Prehistoric Predators, another episode in the National Geographic series, goes into intriguing detail about the life history of the Megalodon, the giant prehistoric shark. I really like this episode. Its not too in your face with cheesy facts. I mean all we really know about this animal is its teeth so a lot of time is going to be utilized for its jaws and killing techniques. The animation effects were good, better than the Smilodon episode I think which is weird for episodes within the same series. Some scenes were a bit gory for a nature program but I have no complaints.

I do also like the fact that I might of learned a few new things. Stuff like how the jaws were proportionally incorrect with the wrong teeth in past replicas and also that great whites and Megalodons aren’t that closely related. I gotta look that last detail up to make sure it holds up but its an interesting idea.

This pop science doc was taken more seriously than I was expecting. The animations were well done and the science portions were entertaining enough to keep my attention like the scene where the Megalodon jaws bite into synthetic whale blubber. In my opinion this is one of or probably the best Megalodon documentary out there.

My score: Tyrannosaurus Recs

Bizarre Dinosaurs

Synopsis: A documentary on that focuses on the more peculiar dinosaur.
Viewed on: Youtube

I believe it was National Geographic that originally aired this but not for certain. There a few videos on Youtube but most were weird and didn't air the last 15 min for me. But I've watched it before so i'll try to review the rest from memory.

Anyways, this documentary was better than I thought it would be. Thought it was only going to highlight famous dinosaurs like T-Rex and Stegosaurus but touched on relatively unknown dinosaurs like Armagasaurus. It went by quick enough and the animations, though terrible, were varied at least.

Again, I did like how the program showcased more weird dinosaurs than I was expecting. Highlighting a Spinosaurus, Carnotaurus, of course Tyrannosaurus, Armagasaurus and some ceratopscians was a pleasure to see and learn about.

For straight entertainment value id say this is a skip. But just to sit back, maybe have a brew, and be open learning a new thing or two about oddball dinosaurs you didn't know existed is where Id say this documentary's strength is.

My score: Meh...sozoic

Monsters Resurrected: Bear Dog

Synopsis: This documentary miniseries explores the life history of  Amphicyon, the bear-dog.
Viewed on: Youtube

Monsters Resurrected was a cheesy pop science doc series that followed a formula of showing of the predatory features of the animals and showed the animals in a modern day setting chasing people. For what purpose was the budget spent doing the modern day scenes except for dramatic yet probably unintentionally cheesy reasons.

Anyways getting to the review. The Amphicyon or also known as bear-dog, is an unusually built animal with features from both canines and bears. Quite interesting animals, despite the name they aren't actually closely related to bears or dogs. They were an apex predator like we have never seen before. Although smaller in stature to its immediate competition, bear-dogs could stand on their own and possibly worked together to challenge bigger predators. The scenes where it was challenged by a Daeodon, an giant ugly carnivorous pig were cool to see but I also recognize that's just good TV; not that its unlikely the fights ever happened.

In terms of entertainment, this doc isn't the best in the series, nor is it that good in keeping your undivided attention. The editing is tedious, and you can really feel the stretch for time the producers made this episode with multiple reused animation shots and redundant unnecessary information like Amphicyon being part, bear, dog and even lion; it's called bear-dog we get it already its a weird.

It was nice seeing a full scale replica next to a person because it sold the intimidating size of the animal. It was fun to watch these scientist get in a good mood just to mention these animals so there is some good educational value here in predatory science. The scientists really do go into detail about how these animals lived and get really into the predatory characteristics which is fun to watch and listen too. I feel this episode hits a low bar, in terms editing, but in the delivery of the message, which is bear-dogs were scary, they accomplished their goal.

My score: Meh...sozoic