James Gurney’s “Dinotopia” is given the mini-series treatment beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday on “The Wonderful World of Disney.” Readers beware: There have been some changes in the transition from page to screen. But the special effects that conjure up a world where dinosaurs and humans live harmoniously look awesome. Tyron Leitso and Wentworth Miller star as Karl and David, teenagers who find themselves in this wondrous land after the plane on which they are traveling with their father crash-lands. The six-hour mini-series continues Monday and Tuesday.
‘Snow Dogs’ arrive on home video
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Walt Disney Home Video unleashes “Snow Dogs” this week on VHS ($23) and DVD ($30). This live-action comedy by Highland Park native Brian Levant (“Beethoven”) is one of the year’s sweetest surprises. Academy Award-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. is Miami dentist Ted Brooks, a “dumb city slicker” who finds himself in top-of-the-world Tolketna, Alaska, a community of “misfits, outcasts and just plain weirdos.” He has inherited a pack of champion sled dogs (led by the intimidating Demon) whom he becomes determined to run in the grueling Arctic Challenge race.
Send in the clones, forget Jar Jar
“Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones” opens in theaters Friday, but you knew that. The advance word is that the Force is back. Reason to be cheerful: Jar Jar Binks has been reduced to a cameo.
Spongebob hosts a ‘House Party’
Be there or be Square(pants)! “Spongebob Squarepants House Party,” airing at 8:30 p.m. Friday on Nickelodeon, has the promising makings of a spin-off from the phenomenally popular animated series about the “absorbent, yellow and porous” sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. Live from Encino, suburban pirate Patchy (comedian Tom Kenny, the voice of Spongebob), opens his doors for the most rollicking get-together since “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.” Guests include Minnie Mermaid (dancing her tail off), the aptly named Longbeard the Pirate, and, of course, Neptune. One-man band Patchy loses his head over his fife playing, but puppet band The Bird Brains keeps things sailing. Oh, yes, there is a Spongebob cartoon, “Party Pooper Pants.” Like the Spongebob cartoons, this will reel in adults as well as kids.