YOU try topping the $913 million 1993 blockbuster!

Rating: 6/10 (7 April 1999)

I must admit, after viewing The Lost World I felt like I had just experienced a below-par Steven Spielberg film. But, I DO NOT blame him, for the creative genius is at work in this film. The main reason the failure of the movie is the story. A clear indication was given that Michael Crichton was probably pressured into writing a sequel novel just for the sake of another movie. The story seems very rushed, sort of a last minute job. It was going to be hard to top 1993's original hit, so you can't really expect it to be better. The Lost World has its moments as the Spielberg touch is there, such as the raptors creeping up behind the party in the long grass.....but there are so little moments of coolness that you'll think this is just regurgitating the 1993 flick's ideas. The visual effects have improved since 1993, so the dinos (especially the raptors) have much greater movement, which can look good.....but the terror isn't there. The original movie was quite frightening (much like Jaws), but this sequel isn't quite as frightening. It's more like a CG feast. But overall, Spielberg tried with what he had, and got a less than average response. When you have a blockbuster that was as big as Jurassic Park was in 1993, it's extremely hard to top it.