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:

dinosaur | royal society | year 1911 | explosive | rivalry | 

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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 Television 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

Brian Blessed was the original choice for the Bob Hoskins role but his casting was vetoed by the American networks.

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Goofs

The Diplodocus skeleton was not located in the main hall of the Natural History Museum in 1911, as shown in the film. It had been in the Reptile Hall (now Human Biology) to the west of the main hall since its installation in 1905. It was only moved to the main hall in 1979.

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Quotes

Prof. George Challenger: [Professor Summerlee has just had a bitter argument with Reverend Kerr over evolution: Professor Challanger has kept silent and divulged that his parents were deeply religous] Professor Challenger: One day I went to my father and asked him for a microscope. I can still remember the sadness in his eyes; he knew he had lost me then. But without even knowing it he had given me an even greater gift. He taught me humility in the face of nature. I don't know if there is a god; but I know man is no ...

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Connections

Version of The Lost World (1925)

User Reviews

Thank god for Futureworld.

Thank god for Futureworld. It was the earliest example of computer generated imagery in movies. From that spawned Tron (oh whoopee) and the stained-glass knight in Young Sherlock Holmes, then the living water in The Abyss, then T2, and the rest is history. Without Futureworld, the recent BBC adaptation of The Lost World would probably have featured dressed-up lizards like the 1960 version (which was truly diabolical). But instead the creatures have been brought to life beleivably. I am not dismissing the 1925 film version, but time has rendered the effects in that film a little out of tune with most of today's audience's patients (I still like it a lot, but I'm very patient and boring). But, and THIS is the reason I'm writing this article, the effects were not the sole reason for the film being made! Are you listening Hollywood? There is a damn good storyline beneath all the CGI. There are very good characters, people you care about, people you cry for, laugh with, come away fancying (Elaine Cassidy has left her mark with me...).

So thank you, BBC, for making this film, it's much better than the previous much touted overblown fantasy's you've been associated with recently (Gormanghast, for example). This is terrific; frightening, suspensful, emotional, gripping and at times quite, quite gross! But above all it's entertaining. And that's what really counts. Easily 9/10.