BY JOHN BILLINGER<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are some films where the effects are the best parts of the whole thing. In the case of 1977\u2019s science-fiction \u201cepic\u201d \u201cPlanet of Dinosaurs,\u201d that\u2019s still not saying much. Produced on a small budget, most of the money was spent on the special effects, which left almost nothing to pay the actors or acquire actual props and sets. To get around those hindrances, the actors had to sign a postponement in their contracts, and most of the film was shot in the Californian desert. There were other expenses that had to be spared during the production, as the majority of the film crew had to take on multiple roles behind the scenes, and even the actor\u2019s family members and friends had to help for free. However, all of these Hollywood sacrifices ultimately proved to be in vain when the film did not receive a theatrical release. Ouch. But hey, at least they received a Saturn Award for \u201cBest Film Produced for Under $1,000,000\u201d, so there is that. But given that the only other nominee for that year\u2019s category (\u201cParts: The Clonus Horror\u201d) actually received a release, isn\u2019t it unfair that this was the winner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plot is as follows\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s the unspecified future (they never bother to tell you what year it takes place, so let\u2019s just say 2008). A bunch of wannabe Star Trekkers crash land on an uncharted alien planet. Said planet is inhabited by Dinosaurs, that are all trying to kill them like it\u2019s Australia. The Humans have to survive, hoping that in the end, help will arrive. Maybe. Possibly. Spoiler: help never arrives and they\u2019re stuck there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n