Big pharma, mercenaries, and shipwrecks. Whatever happened to the dinosaurs? OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but you get the idea. However, what is not an exaggeration is that the Jurassic World franchise, which is back in theaters with Jurassic World Rebirth, seems to be incorporating a lot of gimmicks to stay afloat. It’s certainly come a long way since it was just an amusement park in the early ’90s. Humans and prehistoric reptiles are now attempting to coexist in peace, while armies may be using them as weapons, and conversations surrounding dinosaur rights have entered the fray. As much as Universal Pictures’ newest Jurassic movie — led by actress Scarlett Johansson and actor Mahershala Ali — is doing just fine at the box office, it’s about time we toned down the frenetic and chaotic energy of these dinosaur-based stories.
Believe it or not, a BBC production from over 20 years ago might be the answer. Furthermore, this made-for-TV movie is an excellent adaptation of one of author Arthur Conan Doyle’s best works. Rather than mixing the ancient beasts with the elements of an action or horror movie, 2001’s The Lost World retells Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1912 novel. It offers a more adventurous reintroduction to the world of humans and dinosaurs. In the span of two 75-minute episodes, we are reacquainted with Professors George Challenger and Leo Summerlee, Lord John Roxton, and Edward Malone (played by Bob Hoskins, James Fox, Tom Ward, and Matthew Rhys, respectively) as they journey across South America.
‘The Lost World’ Adapts a Classic Novel
Release Date
2001 – 2000
Network
BBC One
Directors
Stuart Orme
Writers
Adrian Hodges
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James Fox
Prof. Summerlee
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Matthew Rhys
Edward Malone
Led by Challenger, they’re all in search of a legendary place that did not keep up with the rest of civilization. Specifically, a plateau that is not only filled with all sorts of dinosaurs but also deadly ape-human hybrids and long-forgotten indigenous tribes. Even though this small-screen version of The Lost World might sound dated at first (being just about 25 years old at this point), the behind-the-scenes team put extreme care into making the monster reptiles feel all the more special on screen. They combined the latest computer animation software, for the time, with life-sized animatronic pieces. The results were surprisingly impressive for a 2001 TV miniseries. Some dinosaur sequences still hold up against modern films like Jurassic World Rebirth.
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It will certainly take a while for Johansson and Ali to achieve the same level of fandom from their movie in the Jurassic franchise as those from the original trilogy, such as Sam Neill’s Alan Grant, Laura Dern’s Ellie Sattler, and Jeff Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm. On the other hand, the BBC’s version of The Lost World instantly has you believing that the characters belong here. As an eccentric professor dismissed by others, Academy Award-nominated Hoskins commands the screen with genuineness and charm. You’ll certainly believe in his character’s claims about living dinosaurs before anybody else. Fox’s Summerlee is a fantastic contrast to Challenger, consistently denying his truth until he sees the hidden world for himself. He’s not rude or mean, just deeply rooted in science and nothing else. But once they are both in the face of dinosaurs, ape men, and unknown natives, it’s nice to see these two finally get along.
The BBC Miniseries ‘The Lost World’ Gets This Part Right
BBC
The film largely follows Doyle’s book, with one much-needed change: the addition of a female character, Agnes Cooney (Elaine Cassidy), to the expedition crew. She is the niece of a reverend in the Amazon and joins Challenger as a much-needed translator. Her presence not only helps the explorers form a relationship with the natives but also helps Malone realize that he is worth much more than his wife gives him credit for (she ends up marrying someone else while he is away). Considering her character is not from the original novel, Cooney elegantly adds to the story without detracting from any of the other cast members. She not only brings forth a much-needed feminine nuance but also literally saves others multiple times from a dire end.
To bring the best shot to audiences, the producers behind this retelling of The Lost World filmed in the high hills and untouched forests of New Zealand. The thick greenery and vast mountains create a more believable world, especially for the larger dinosaurs. Speaking of, don’t let the made-for-TV tagline fool you either. Just like the dedication to the setting, showcasing the right type of creature was most important to the making as well. Different types like the Allosaurus (carnivores that attack the crew), Iguanodon (which Challenger observes peacefully while they are eating plants), and the flying Pteranodon (which are thin flying beasts and lay eggs) are all highlighted here.
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While the miniseries roots its dinosaur lore in a 1912 historical setting, it still delivers plenty of action and suspense for genre fans. Besides the shocking and suspenseful betrayal early on, we see the humanistic apes murder and eat a man, an Allosaurus falls right into a deadly spike trap, and fights between the tribes ensue. Just as in Jurassic Park (and World), the question of human impact on uninterrupted ancient life arises, but the answer comes swiftly and conclusively.
BBC’s The Lost World is much more linear than Universal Pictures’ line of movies, and that’s how it remains a classic. The 2001 adaptation avoids unnecessary padding or sequels, instead focusing on telling a complete and satisfying story. The Arthur Conan Doyle adaptation relies heavily on character development and human philosophy to drive home its ending. This British adaptation of The Lost World is available to stream for free on Prime Video and the Roku Channel. Jurassic World Rebirth is in theaters now.
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