Plot: What’s it about?
Professor Challenger (Wallace Beery) believes that prehistoric animals still exist, but within a hidden, lost world where they can thrive and avoid the interference of mankind. But of course, no one believes him and in truth, he is mocked and thought to be losing his marbles. Although he suffers because of it, he continues to insist he is correct in his statements, but he wishes he could somehow prove it all. Soon he decides to do just that, so he organizes an expedition and treks off to the Amazon, where he believes this lost world is located. His party of explorers includes a scientist named Summerlee (Arthur Hoyt), a journalist named Edward Malone (Lloyd Hughes), a keen hunter named Sir John Raxton (Lewis Stone), and young Paula White (Bessie Love), the daughter of an explorer who disappeared in the area. The team hopes to rescue Paula’s father, document the existence and behavior of the dinosaurs, and perhaps even bring back some real proof, which would silence the critics forever. But this trip could prove to be more dangerous and have more consequences than any of them could ever imagine.
No, this isn’t the sequel to Jurassic Park, but it is a movie that heavily influenced the special effects gurus that made J.P.’s dinosaurs come to life. This is the 1925 classic The Lost World, which features some of Willis O’Brien’s excellent special effects work, including the legendary stampede scene, which is restored to full length in this restored release. O’Brien’s work can also be seen in such films as King Kong and Mighty Joe Young, but his influence stretches all the way into modern times, as he is an inspiration for many special effects creators. The stop motion here looks very good and in some cases, more than rivals modern efforts, especially in the stampede sequence. I do think the dinosaur driven moments are the highlight of this picture, but there is also a fun storyline and so the film is well rounded. The visuals are so stunning and immersive, the silent nature of the film never hinders this movie in the least. This release is excellent in all respects and as such, I recommend this disc to anyone interested, even if the interest is slight. But make sure to purchase the disc from Image Entertainment, as the other edition, from Lumivision is very poor and not worth the effort.
This excellent film has been given the deluxe treatment here, as Image Entertainment has released one heck of a disc. I’ll talk about specifics in the technical section later on, but I wanted to give an overview of what magic has been worked for this release. The materials have remastered and restored at length, which means this edition is the best looking and sounding version you’ll find on home video. In addition to that restoration work, this release also features a wealth of footage returned to the feature, so this version runs about 50% longer than we’re used to, at least from the general issues the movie has been given. But there’s more here than added footage, as this disc also features new audio mixes, in both traditional and modern forms. This means that no matter which variety you prefer, your needs will be covered by this excellent presentation. As if those elements weren’t enough, you can also peruse a nice selection of supplements, which enhance this release even more, including a reproduction of the full original souvenir program. This is the kind of treatment we dream of for our favorites flicks, so fans of The Lost World have a lot to be thankful for here, and I commend Image Entertainment for this outstanding package.
Video: How does it look?
The Lost World is presented in a full frame transfer, which preserves the film’s intended aspect ratio. This release was formed from eight different prints, with the best versions of each scene used to create the finest edition of the film to date. But this is still a film from 1925 that has seen better days, so don’t expect pristine materials from this disc. The material shows debris and damage at times, but the restoration work is more than evident, as this is by far the cleanest and sharpest version I’ve ever seen. The color tints look good also and in the end, I have minimal complaints to lodge against this transfer. I am very pleased with the restoration work done here, but first time viewers need to keep in mind the age of the film, as well as the history of the materials used here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc offers the choice between a modern edition of the soundtrack, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and a more traditional version, which is given a stereo mix. I like the modern soundtrack a lot here, thanks to some cool methods and of course, a much more immersive experience. But both tracks sound very good and whichever you choose, I think you’ll be more than pleased with these options. This is a silent film of course, so aside from the music, there is no audio presence to discuss. I think the inclusion of both traditional and modern soundtrack is an excellent idea, so I hope to see future silent releases make use of this feature.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to the very cool souvenir reproduction book included inside the disc’s case, this release also contains some other supplements. An audio commentary is offered from Roy Pilot, who wrote the book The Annotated Lost World. Of course, Pilot has a vast amount of information to offer within this track, which makes it a must listen for those who like this picture. I was concerned that he might be a rather dull speaker, but Pilot moves at a brisk pace and is a pleasant speaker, very impressive track indeed. A selection of photos from Pilot’s book are also included here, from production photos to various shots of the locations and such. Even more material can be seen here, in the form of additional production photos, as well as promotional materials and other pieces of artwork used in relation to the movie. Rounding out the disc is about thirteen minutes of unused animation, which is sure to delight fans of the film, as the more dinosaurs and such, the better, if you ask me.
