Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Steven Spielberg, United International Pictures, PG 129 Minutes.
Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg returns to direct this entertaining sequel, released in 1997.
Jeff Goldblum returns as Ian Malcolm and renowned actor Richard Attenborough as John Hammond, head of InGen and founder of Jurassic Park the title of the original movie.
The story picks-up four years after the disaster at Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar as Hammond reveals to Malcolm of another island (code-named Site B) on which the dinosaurs were bred before being transported to Isla Nublar.
Since then the dinosaurs have flourished, roaming free in their natural environment, but Hammond is concerned certain forces within InGen, controlled by CEO Peter Ludlow (Arliss Howard – ‘Dandelion’), will exploit their existence for financial gain.
Although bed-ridden Hammond attempts to convince Malcolm to join the soon to be sent research team unaware of Malcom’s former girlfriend Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore – ‘Still Alice’) having arrived on Isla Nublar or that InGen had sent a larger team.
On his arrival on Isla Nublar Malcolm meets-up with colleagues Eddie (Richard Schiff – ‘Deep Impact’) and Nick (Vince Vaughn – ‘Couples Retreat’) prior to finding Sarah and encountering a fleet of helicopters led by Ludlow, including big-game hunter Roland Tembo (Pete Postlewaite – ‘Triggermen’).
Ludlow’s intent of establishing his San Diego Jurassic Park is significantly derailed by Tembo’s attack on a Tyrannosaurus Rex and his capture of its infant that forces everyone to scramble to safety to survive the T-Rex’s rampage.
With the demise of Ludlow during the skirmish Hammond hopes to have the secret island of dinosaurs eventually established as a nature preserve where humans aren’t allowed.
Spielberg’s sequel is an enjoyable movie but does not match his superb direction of the exciting original release in 1993 with its engaging storyline and stunning special effects relating to the animatronics dinosaurs that made them so realistic.
It is a pity that the all-star cast did not include Sam Neill whose performance was missed even though Goldman’s portrayal was significant and not to overlook that of the legendary Richard Attenborough as well as Moore and Postlewaite.
The Lost World-Jurassic Park is being televised on 9GO on Saturday 6 February at 7.00pm.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
