The Lost World: Jurassic Park

The Lost World: Jurassic Park is an above average sequel. I just saw it for the third time and I will still continue to fight for it. The script (although containing flaws) is a billion times better than its sequel, Jurassic Park 3. When I look back at the three times I've seen it (Theater, VHS, DVD) I saw very few flaws in an overall exciting movie. The biggest flaw is that the "wonder and amazement" were at a low level. This is mainly because we were exposed to it in the first film and it is hard to keep things fresh. Other than that, this film is one of the better sequels ever. Great action and adventure, (3 of 4 stars)

I grew up watching the first two Jurassic Park movies and I was crazy about dinosaurs as a kid and I used to have lots and lots of dinosaur toys. The first Jurassic Park movie is a classic and is up there as one of Steven Spielberg's best who also one of my favourite directors.

But what I can't understand is why a lot of people didn't like The Lost World - Jurassic Park. I mean sure it may not be as good as the first one and it has flaws and plot holes and some cheesy dialogue. But I mean even the first movie had flaws, plot holes and cheesy dialogue as well. But I think The Lost World deserves more credit because it has more characters, more action and more dinosaurs. And I also thought Jeff Goldblum did just as good a job as the main protagonist as Sam Neill did.

I also can't believe that this movie was nominated for multiple Razzies including Worst Screenplay and Worst Sequel. I mean I can understand why bad movies like Con Air or Batman & Robin for nominated for Razzies but The Lost World just didn't because those movies were far worse.

Okay, the best Jurassic Park is obviously Jurassic Park. It was the most faithful to the fantastic Michael Critchton books, plus it was well done. As a sequel, The Lost World does just fine. Of course, I'm used to seeing horrible sequels all the time. Jeff Goldblum does a good job reprising his role as Ian Malcolm, and the newcomers of Julianne Moore and Vince Vaughn do well too. The story is a little unbelievable, though. After recently being replaced by his nephew as CEO of InGen, John Hammond(Richard Attenburough) reveals to Ian Malcolm(Goldblum) a site B: A place where dinosaurs run free. He sends him and his girlfriend, Sarah Harding(Moore), technology expert Eddie Carr(Richard Schiff) and photographer Nick Van Owen(Vaughn) to document the dinosaurs, while the official InGen team, led by Roland Tembo(Pete Postlethwaite), tries to capture the T. Rex and transport it to San Diego. As always, there is many bone-crunching deaths, the Special FX are excellent, but the story and plot fall a a bit short. Overall: 7/10

The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a valiantly decent follow-up to it's perfect predecessor, managing to find new ways to scare and amaze, admittedly in fewer numbers.

Jeff Goldblum is upgraded to the lead role from his previous stance as a comic relief, and it works well enough to root for his survival, even if his absence of constant quipping makes it difficult to recognise him as the same Ian Malcolm. There are a plethora of new editions to the cast, with the personal stand-outs being Richard Schiff and Pete Postlewaite as Eddie Carr and Roland Tembo, respectively. The new location Isla Sorna makes for a great new setting, with the abundance of wilderness adding to the elements of feeling stranded and amazed at seeing the dinosaurs in a more natural environment. Moreover, the dinosaurs themselves, both new and returning, are still a spectacle to behold from the tyranical Tyrannosaur to the majestic Stegosaurs and Parasaurs. But the most terrifying in this instalment end up being the critter-sized Compsognathus, which have several memorable moments throughout. In terms of the actual plot, the more environmentalist aspects of the film helps it have a message worth exploring with the complexities of how involved humans should be with nature, even if it does pale in comparison to the grandiose debate of 'playing God' that it's predecessor carried. More on the filmmaking, the movie is much faster paced and spends less time pulling back the curtain, making way for more action to be at the forefront and ditching the noticeable absent element of contemplative hindsight as to what led to the Dinosaurs' creation. The new score pairs well with the more tropical-dominant setting with its use of jungle drums, bongos, and other percussion instruments. Furthermore, it feels relatively in line as a logical step forward from the absolutely iconic original theme and stands out on its own, even if it is much less memorable.

On the other hand, the film has many issues other than the obvious and inevitable impossibility of being unable to fill up the massive shoes of Jurassic Park. The movie has a very large cast, some played by interesting actors, but most are very uninteresting characters that either come across as one-note, one-dimensional, or simply boring, with the worst case possibly being Arliss Howard as the primary human antagonist Peter Ludlow. The dialogue in most of the expository scenes have four or more characters carrying out several conversations at once, making for a difficult time to figure out what's being discussed or what conclusions are made, making for some unnecessarily overwhelming conversations throughout. Although the increase in action makes for more fun, most of the sequences involving dinosaurs don't seem to know how to properly transition to the next scene; on several havoc-filled occasions the Dinosaurs disappear or disband to let an action scene end without much explanation or consequence from any of the main cast. And perhaps most notably, the final act takes such a different direction that it ends up being a complete departure and borderline nosedive from the otherwise excusably flawed plot to seemingly become another movie entirely where half the cast don't attend the climax, the tone shifts to be more comedic, and everything becomes very conveniently solvable to reach the eventual end.

In conclusion, The Lost World: Jurassic Park may have some obvious imperfections and is missing the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the original, but what it lacks in magic it manages to admirably try to make up for in a compelling plot with its own few strengths.

Jurassic Park II, officially known as The Lost World: Jurassic Park, takes audiences back into the dinosaur-laden world that captivated viewers in the original film. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this sequel shifts the focus to Isla Sorna, the island where dinosaurs were originally bred before being moved to Jurassic Park.

The story follows Dr. Ian Malcolm, who returns to lead a team of experts sent to document the dinosaurs in their natural habitat. As they venture deeper into the island, they encounter a variety of prehistoric creatures, some familiar and some new, all while grappling with the ethical implications of their presence. The stakes escalate when a rescue mission turns dangerous, leading to thrilling encounters that highlight both the wonder and peril of these magnificent creatures.

While Jurassic Park II features stunning visual effects and intense action sequences, it does not quite capture the groundbreaking storytelling and suspense of its predecessor. The character development feels less robust, and some plot points lack the same depth that made the first film so compelling.

Despite these shortcomings, there are exhilarating moments that showcase the film's ambition and the awe of the dinosaurs. The film still delivers entertainment and excitement for fans of the franchise, even if it doesn't reach the heights of the original. Jurassic Park II is a worthy addition to the series but ultimately leaves viewers longing for the magic of the first film.