Lost Potential

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2013)

(Reviewed on the basis of watching on video 16 years after release)
Plot: Ian Malcolm learns about the existence of Site B, Isla Sorna which was the breeding place of all the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park and they are still flourishing there! John Hammond sends a team, headed by Malcolm to the island to gather more information where they encounter another team out to capture the animals. What dangers await them in this 'lost world'?
Review: Steven Spielberg films, as I have learned, are meant to be lifelong experiences which curve out a permanent niche in the viewer's hearts. They take us on a journey of a life-time in a trivial period of 120 minutes. Although I am in no position to comment on Spielberg's filmography; having watched just two other masterpieces of the maestro: Jurassic Park and Jaws. But those two films were exactly that- lifetime experiences! Sadly, 'The Lost World' hardly falls in that category.
Sequels always have the burden of expectations (especially if the original is a near-perfect classic like Jurassic Park); but one expected better than this. Spielberg himself had requested Michael Crichton to write his literary sequel on which this film sequel is based. It seemed inexplicable as to why the mesmerizing Allan Grant, hero of the original, was replaced by Ian Malcolm who hardly featured in the second half. Crichton possibly felt it unjustified as Malcolm had a more heroic role in his novel and decided to give him his due here (by even miraculously reviving him after his supposed death in the book).
The film starts off well promising more thrills at the prospect of only a few people in a dinosaur infested island; with no fences this time. But after a rather tiring build-up, when the team reaches the island they witness the arrival of another team out to capture dinosaurs. Riding on armed vehicles (including motor bikes) they trap the animals almost as a matter of joke. Hunting a jackal would probably be more difficult! The ridiculous ease with which the animals are captured dilutes the whole tension of the film. Even when the animals break-free; the sequence appears more funny than terrifying.
Even in JP the real tension had begun post-intermission; but the first half was much more engrossing than here. There the debates, the character interactions and the whole arrangement hooked our attention without much sight of the 'main attractions'. Here we are exposed to a wide range of fauna; but yet the charm is missing with only the Hammond- Malcolm interaction standing out as a debate.
Things improve in the second half but unlike just a handful of people in JP; the presence of a large human contingent prevents the generation of much fear (especially having seen their daredevilry earlier). But halfway into the second half, just when the excitement is at its peak, the survivors are whisked away in a helicopter; killing all the tension in an instant. Although more fun was yet to come (thank God!), it was in stark contrast to JP where the excitement had continued to rise culminating in a grand crescendo in the end.
The plot has a lot of deviations from the novel, and probably in doing so developed a lot of glaring loopholes. The sequel raises questions about some developments from the first film itself besides having disputes of its own:- 1) If the animals were bred in Site B; then why was the embryo storage located in Site A from where Dennis Nedry stole them? 2) Similarly, it was shown that the velociraptors were artificially hatched in the Site A lab. Was any exception made for not breeding raptors in Site B? Then how could the raptors come into existence there? 3) The lysine deficiency expectedly resulted in the death of all Site A animals. Yet why it didn't apply to Site B was one of the main questions for the team. But it remained unanswered throughout the film. Maybe the script-writer just forgot about it; for was it tough to imagine any explanation like maybe the endemic vegetation of the island was the reason behind it. 4) The justification given by Hammond as to raise public support by furnishing pictures is outrageous. Wouldn't the public be more eager to watch these animals in a zoo? 5) All carnivores were supposed to be in the middle of the island. But in the opening sequence, the compsognathus were seen roaming in herds near the beach. 6) There was no such accident in Site B, unlike Site A. Then why was the radio system along with a bunch of cars left to degrade in the island? 7) How did the T-Rex get trapped underneath the deck of the ship which was bringing it to US, after having killed all the crew above?
But the film certainly has its moments. None better, than the tremendous rescue sequence resulting in the terribly tragic death of Eddie. It almost brought me to tears! Plus, the T-Rex chase, the raptor encounters and the ship-crash are the other highlights of the film. There is an element of King Kong in the climax which is good. But is it so easy to drive out a dinosaur within an hour or so? Also, a single dinosaur surrounded by infinite people spells much less fear than the reverse.
Jeff Goldblum reprises Malcolm without the old mannerisms. He appears dapper (like a hero should); but the two previous T-Rex encounters have turned him sober from the 'rock-star' avatar, as was described by Hammond. There's hardly much character-interactions this time, except the touching father-daughter relationship.
While Jurassic Park was an ultimate cinematic experience; The Lost World is just another good entertainer. But the ending, displaying the dinosaurs with Hammond's speech was masterful. All's well that end's well; but it's still not the end. The dinosaurs will be back; this time with my favorite Sam Neill as Allan Grant; in Jurassic Park III!