Plot: What’s it about?
The stories of dinosaurs have been told for centuries, tales of massive reptiles, sharp teeth, and in the end, total extinction. Although searches have yielded bones and such, the real story of dinosaurs seemed one that was destined to be untold, but according to Professor George Challenger (Bob Hoskins), that story can now be told. Challenger claims a remote plateau deep in the Amazon is not only the place where dinosaurs once roamed, but that the creatures still live & breathe there in this modern era. Of course, no one believes his claims and as such, he decides to lead an expedition himself and bring back witnesses, traces of proof, and perhaps even some undeniable evidence, no matter what the danger. His party includes a rival scientist determined to see a total failure, a daredevil who wishes to face the ultimate predators, and a writer, who is supposed to keep a record of all that happens. As the trek pushes onward, some unexpected twists & turns emerge, even in the personal side of the explorers. In addition, they encounter some beasts no one ever imagined they’d see with their own eyes, a world filled with not only dinosaurs, but evolving cavemen and other surprises. This journey was destined to be one of discovery, but will the dinosaurs be the most important of these findings?
Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous novel of the same name, The Lost World brings together a solid cast and tries to tell an epic story, though sadly, it stumbles and suffers from internal limitations. As this was a television mini-series, the budget wasn’t immense and it shows, as this kind of story needs some serious production values. The dinosaurs themselves were crafted by the same folks behind Walking With Dinosaurs and look solid enough, but the overall values seem less than impressive. I didn’t expect perfection here, but the lush setting comes off as cramped and finite, instead of the large, open atmosphere it needed to be, which instantly limits the scope of the production. In addition to the budget problems, we’re given some paper thin characters to watch and while the novel also suffered from this trouble, I had hoped some improvements would be made, but any betterments were minimal. The performances are decent however, plus I have to admit, any chance to see dinosaurs is cool by me. I wanted The Lost World to be an awesome release, but it falls short of those expectations, though as I mentioned, diehard fans of dinos shouldn’t pass too soon on this one. But thanks to A&E’s baffling lack of a widescreen edition, I recommend you either import this title, or simply wait for another television broadcast.
Video: How does it look?
The Lost World is presented in a full frame transfer. Although the case states the transfer is an anamorphic widescreen treatment, stickers were slapped on at the last second, to warn folks of the botched visual effort. The Australian import edition sports a nice 16:9 transfer, but here we’re stuck with a compromised presentation, which is a real disappointment. The image is clean and sharp, with accurate colors and contrast, but thanks to the missing visuals, the scenes never pack the full punch they should. This is a poor outing from A&E, who is usually known for supporting the filmmakers’ intentions, so let’s hope to see a proper release soon and of course, no more missteps such as this one in the future.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included soundtrack is rather bland, but it sounds decent enough, though I expected a lot more, to be honest. As this series has dinosaurs, action, and an active jungle setting, I had anticipated some solid presence, but there is minimal surround use or dynamic audio to report, even active scenes come off as reserved here. But the basics seem well covered and as such, I can’t complain too much, I suppose. The music sounds good and dialogue is clean & clear, so in the end, this proves to be an adequate, but unremarkable presentation.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The extras aren’t numerous, but the quality is excellent and as such, fans should find a lot to enjoy with this edition. The main supplement is Dinosaur Secrets Revealed, which might not be about the mini-series, but it stays on the same path and takes an in depth look at how much we’ve learned about dinosaurs. I found this ninety minute program to be well made in all respects and it makes a terrific companion piece, without question. The show is up to the normal History Channel standards, which means insightful interviews with assorted experts, as well as a wealth of knowledge drawn from all kinds of sources. The kind of program that entertains as it informs, a top notch production and an excellent inclusion here. This release also includes a twenty minute behind the scenes featurette, some talent files, and information on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
