The Lost World (2001)

An expedition leaves for the Amazon to prove the existence of dinosaurs.

Director:

Stuart Orme

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (novel), Adrian Hodges

Stars:

Bob Hoskins, James Fox, Tom Ward

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Hoskins	...	Prof. George Challenger
James Fox	...	Prof. Leo Summerlee
Tom Ward	...	Lord John Phillip Roxton
Matthew Rhys	...	Edward Malone
Elaine Cassidy	...	Agnes Cluny
Peter Falk	...	Reverend Theo Kerr
Nathaniel Lees	...	Indian chief
Tamati Rice	...	Achille (as Tamati Te Nohotu)
Nicole Whippy	...	Maree
Inia Maxwell	...	Indian leader
Tessa Peake-Jones	...	Mrs. Hilda Summerlee
Tim Healy	...	McArdle
Joanna Page	...	Gladys
Tom Goodman-Hill	...	Arthur Hare
Robert Hardy	...	Prof. Illingworth

Storyline

Professor Challenger reveals the existence of a remote plateau in the Amazon jungle where dinosaurs have survived. He returns there leading an expedition. Not only are dinosaurs found and confronted, but also highly evolved apes, Amazonian Indians who think Challenger a god, and, on the way, the attractive orphaned niece of a lonely missionary. Theology intervenes in this exercise in vindicating Darwin and the missionary twice attempts to sabotage the mission. After much excitement, love is found in unexpected places, and, confronted by civilization, as represented by the Royal Society in London, Challenger changes his story.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | dinosaur | royal society | year 1911 | explosive | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

bbc.co.uk

Country:

UK USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Lost World

Filming Locations:

Flock Hill, Canterbury, New Zealand

Company Credits

Production Co:

A+E Networks, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), RTL

Technical Specs

Runtime:

150 min 147 min (2 parts) 145 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Professor Challenger talks to Summerlee about his life as a young boy, that he was raised by his parents under the Bible. Then as he became more interested in Science, his father had "lost" him. This is similar to his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and his own religious experiences. He too, was a scientist that was raised Catholic and became more supportive of Spiritualism.

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Goofs

When the Allosaurs attack the Indian camp Challenger sees one and tries to shoot it with his sawed off shotgun. He fires two shots and a split second later a third. There was not enough time for him to reload.

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Quotes

Prof. George Challenger: You've been in a few scrapes, Roxton. Have you ever been in a situation worse than this?
Lord John Phillip Roxton: Uh, well, let me see. No. No, I think I can quite safely say this is the least promising set-up I've ever encountered.
Prof. George Challenger: Oh.
Lord John Phillip Roxton: We have no way down off the plateau, and thanks to your insistence on secrecy, the only person who even has a clue where we are is a religious lunatic who seems quite happy to let us die here.
Prof. George Challenger: Well, there's no need to be so cheerful about it.

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Connections

Version of The Lost World (1998)

User Reviews

What? Another adaptation of The Lost World!

Yep! The producers of this film just felt that the story of a group of British explorers wandering through the jungles of South America in search of a hidden plateau riddled with prehistoric monsters had not been tackled enough or not tackled with any degree of accuracy. Despite having been made into film and television fare since 1925 numerous times, the folks at A & E wanted to remake Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel. They wanted to try and create a definitive version of his classic tale. They did do a pretty good job. Sure, one can see the major differences between the book and the film. There are not many, but there are some major ones(the addition of a female character). Yet,despite these changes, the film remains very faithful in spirit to the novel. The characters are central to the story not the dinosaurs. The acting is quite good with Bob Hoskins doing a fine job as Professor Challenger. Edward Fox gives a first-rate performance as Professor Summerlee, bring wit, humour, and even some pathos to his role. Peter Falk is also fine in his role, a role which brings to light the everlasting fight between religion and science to the forefront of the film. The special effects are pretty good and the story is plotted with action, suspense, and wonderful dialogue. But what I liked more than anything about this film was the fact that the producers refused to pander to the less literate and articulate members of the audience. They did not sacrifice characterization for action and special effects all the time. They did not abandon having viewers use their minds and think about the inherent problems of science and religion when they collide. For this I thank them and hope that others take their lead and remember that not all viewers are between the ages of 10 and 25. A fine adaptation and a ripping good yarn!