Directed by Timothy Bond. Starring John Rhys-Davies, Eric McCormack, David Warner, Tamara Gorski, Nathania Stanford, Darren Peter Mercer, Gene Kovacs, Kate Egan, Fidelis Cheza. (PG)
Rival researchers/explorers Challenger (Rhys-Davies) and Summerlee (Warner) trek into the wilderness in search of a mysterious plateau believed to be a "lost world" untouched by the passage of time. Third attempt to adapt Arthur Conan Doyle's story as a feature film; as in other versions, a female is added to the expedition team (Gorski, playing a photographer), but this one goes further and moves the action out of South America and into the heart of Africa. Old pros Rhys-Davies and Warner are in solid form, but McCormack is a spiritless reporter "everyman"; adventure aspects inspire indifference--the film is far more involving before they ever even reach the plateau. And when they get there, the dinosaurs they find are a sorry sight, with parts of their bodies shot in close-up to make up for limitations of the paltry budget; the prehistoric beasties in "The Flintstones" looked more realistic! Followed by a sequel ("Return to the Lost World") that was shot at the same time.
40/100
Rival researchers/explorers Challenger (Rhys-Davies) and Summerlee (Warner) trek into the wilderness in search of a mysterious plateau believed to be a "lost world" untouched by the passage of time. Third attempt to adapt Arthur Conan Doyle's story as a feature film; as in other versions, a female is added to the expedition team (Gorski, playing a photographer), but this one goes further and moves the action out of South America and into the heart of Africa. Old pros Rhys-Davies and Warner are in solid form, but McCormack is a spiritless reporter "everyman"; adventure aspects inspire indifference--the film is far more involving before they ever even reach the plateau. And when they get there, the dinosaurs they find are a sorry sight, with parts of their bodies shot in close-up to make up for limitations of the paltry budget; the prehistoric beasties in "The Flintstones" looked more realistic! Followed by a sequel ("Return to the Lost World") that was shot at the same time.
40/100