The Lost World (1997) Retrospective / Review

The Lost World (1997) Retrospective / Review

Let's Play Channel

[MagicAccent]

I love this film. No matter what anyone says. I remember getting this on VHS from my dad while I was home sick with an ear infection as a kid. He watched it together with me twice the same day just to cheer me up. Man, what an awesome day that was :)

[connorbrennan]

Oliver, all those guys on YouTube who just sit in front of a camera and talk about movies just can't compare with you. You clearly know what you're doing, and you make it great "edutainment" too.

[Cropsy]

I personally loved The Lost World and thought it was a very solid sequel.

[internziko]

"Alan!"

-Raptor on plane

[sespider]

Older films like this depress me every time they show the price of gas. :(

[Texy]

I laughed a little when I first saw the end credits listing David Koepp’s on-screen appearance listing him as “unlucky bastard”.

[Papillon]

I’m sick home today and the best medicine besides ibuprofen is listening and rewatching these reviews which I do occasionally. Your editing is great and commentary thoughtful and overall it’s very soothing for a sick body. Thank you.

[shanephillips]

My 11th birthday was a rented theater with just me and my friends watching this together. This is the best Jurrassic Park movie of all, and it is certainly tainted by those nostalgic rose colored glasses. Yes it was in 97'

I don't care what anyone says, The Lost World was great.

[NickMichalak]

I did see all three movies theatrically.  The first is a beloved film for me.  I saw it at age 13, which I think was the perfect age to grasp the wonder of it while still being well scared at those tense moments.  I saw it again during last year's re-release, and it still holds up beautifully, even on a 75 foot wide, three story tall screen.  A purely magical film of wonder and awe, possibly one of the last films of its kind before CGI dominated effects and made everything that was impossible before entirely possible.

The Lost World I do like to an okay extent, but I cannot dispute any of your criticisms.  All of those flaws are there, the adoptive daughter being the biggest stinging point of it all.  There was no need for her inclusion.  The darker shaded music and cinematography are engaging, reflecting the more wild and untamed nature of the story.  However, Cundey's work on the first film is exemplary capturing much of the Spielberg magic.  Richard Attenborough, as well, brings the warm, child-like wonder and magic to the film which I feel is necessary for this franchise.

The third film is one I've never had much to say about.  It is designed to just be a fun, stripped down adventure film, and it does essentially succeed in that.  However, it just doesn't have the weight of character or philosophical drama that the series started out with (and even The Lost World still employed at times).

[DLR]

I really loved The Lost World. It is seriously one of my favourite films of all time, and I think contains the majority of my most favourite scenes from the entire trilogy. Please feel free to flame and troll my opinion or discuss rationally and calmly without just resorting to "my opinion is better than your opinion therefore i am right and you are wrong" but here are the reasons why I enjoyed the second film more than the first or third:

The score for The Lost World is the best from the entire series in my opinion. The first film was great of course, and became an instant classic, however the second created a feeling of a grand adventure. Something outside of mans control was happening around them. During the action scenes it set the tones perfectly, although I really do admire the lack of music from the first scene that we are introduced to the T-Rex in the first film (and also this one).

The story and plot were a very good progression for the series. It added canon for spin-offs, further development and other interesting characters to add in. Namely Hammond's nephew and the hunter group. It would have been nice to see some sort of call-back to the shaving cream can from the first film since there was a lingering shot on the can which I believe was only there to establish some sort of sequel bait.

Im not so blind as to not see the flaws from the film. The lack of a strong lead character meant that there was disconnect from the characters. The daughter character was seriously painful to watch. She could not act to save her life (though child actors are generally pretty bad) and the gymnastics scene was just awfully bad. I also didn't like how PP's character just disappeared from the film after San Diego, and I still don't understand what happened to the crew on the ship. 

But the film is still entertaining as hell. The whole trailer sequence from the t-rexes showing up until the trailers finally go over the edge was some of the best ever on film and my personal favourite from the entire trilogy. The herd scene and the chase scene are also up there.

Overall, yes this film did lack the graceful subtlety that made the first on a great and a staple of film and cinema history, however the sequel did exactly what any great sequel should do: It up-ed the action, the scope of the film, the action scenes were bigger and better, and it was more exciting too. It not only took the story in a different direction, but also had its own impact and additions to the canon of JP. It was a great example of a sequel done right.

[sspdirect]

I find this movie entertaining and Spielberg really tried his best at making a sequel but the script had so many problems but I did enjoy the set pieces. I just think Spielberg was trying to get back on his feet with doing a Summer Blockbuster after the emotionally draining experience of Schindler's List. Not to mention the fact, setting up DreamWorks Pictures, Establishing the Shoah Foundation and other things as well.

[cabbyb]

I've never understood the hate for this film, it was nothing compared to the original but it was an enjoyable sequel, very underrated

[Jefugo]

You manage to channel so much nostalgia in all of the beginning and end bits...and ressurect positive, artful, genuinely good moments from even the most disappointing films that you review.  The way you approach even bad films without scathing cynicism is so refreshing. I can see how much you love cinema! Well done sir!    

[ambrieldoll]

Love how you always include sound design. Some of my favorite aspects of visual video medium. Maybe being a musician myself is why. Who knows.

[SebastianHalm]

"I found 'Jurassic Park III' more enjoyable then the Lost World" - after decades of walking alone in the shadows i finally found my soulmate. Thanks and cheers @Oliver Harper!

[brettpritchard]

I absolutely love your channel Oliver! I discovered it late last year after listening to your Superman commentaries with Captain Logan over on Geekvolution. I love the variety of your channel, not only do we have your excellent and always thorough retrospectives. But also the superbly entertaining Lets Play Retro and movie pod cast commentaries. It's a delight to listen to the thoughts of someone who is clearly very passionate about many of the things I too have a deep enthusiasm for. Like yourself I'm a huge Chris Reeve/Superman fan. Keep up the fantastic work! 👍

[pretzelheaddd]

His channel is super good. Thank you Oliver. You do very good work.

[aldenburton]

I stumbled upon your channel only 2 weeks ago and I have to say, I always wanted someone giving informative recaps and reviews of movies like you do. Most important to me is your valuable information about different cuts and versions of the movies.

Thank you.

[NasojTnek]

Saw this at the movies as a kid. It was awesome. One of those movies you had to experience first hand and not on dvd.. so much fun back then.