Not faithful to the Crichton book, the film is a fair at best action movie.

Rating: Null/10 (1 October 2001)

Steven Spielberg had so much fun directing JURASSIC PARK, he felt eager to film a sequel to the hit 1993 blockbuster. Unfortunately, JURASSIC PARK- THE LOST WORLD is a fair to mediocre outing at best. Instead of an awe-inspiring, suspense filled action picture like its predecessor, the movie-going audience is given nothing more than a superior filmed B-grade monster movie. Spielberg deviated heavily from the Michael Crichton novel, THE LOST WORLD, in which the story and characters are more engaging. It was nice to see one of the lines from the novel make it into the film: "These animals have no rights! They're product. We've made them. We patent them. We own them." The film starts out along similar lines with the second island's discovery, and the rescue operation, but that's where the parallels with the novel end. The antagonist of the first film and both novels, Louis Dodgson- head of a rival organization, is replaced in the new film by John Hammond's nephew Ludlow, the new head of InGen, played by Arliss Howard. Howard's performance is very unremarkable and is at times a blowhard.
Jeff Goldblum returns to reprise his role as Ian Malcolm. Goldblum is a trained actor in the Meisner Method and his spontaneity is impeccable. However from film to film, Jeff Goldblum tends to play himself. I wish I could see a bit more diversity with his roles from film to film. Still, Goldblum turns in a good performance. Pete Postlethwaite is wasted in this film. He is an excellent actor with a classic background and his portrayal of Rolland, the "White Hunter", is the bright spot of the film. Unfortunately, most of Postlethwaite's scenes are left on the cutting room floor. Vince Vaughn is pretty much scenery. He appears for half the movie and then disappears without a trace. His presence is not necessary to the advancement of the plot and the film can probably get by without him. He's in it, but he has nothing to do except be chased by dinosaurs.
This brings me to the major disappointment I have with THE LOST WORLD. The majority of the film is spent watching the hapless victims running and screaming from the rampaging T-Rex or the Raptors. Spielberg has the nerve to include several ridiculous close-ups of people shrieking in terror rather unconvincingly, as they are about to become victims of the Rex. The action and thrills get worn out toward the end, there are too many ridiculous effects gags not to mention plot holes. What exactly caused the massacre on board the cargo ship? There is a severed hand hanging from the steering wheel on the bridge. How did that get there? The T-Rex certainly couldn't have fit in there without wrecking the cabin.
The film does have a few bright spots. It is beautifully shot by Januz Kaminski. The scene involving Peter Stormare and the "Compys" is chilling as well as the shot of the Raptors advancing through the tall grass. And as always John Williams' score is lively and full of emotion. My recommendation is to read the book. The book is much more entertaining and has more surprises than the film. THE LOST WORLD just doesn't live up to the hype and the magic that the original generated.