The Lost World

Long before Michael Crichton wrote Jurassic Park, Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World hypothesized on the possible meeting of humans and dinosaurs. First adapted in 1925 by Harry Hoyt (with effects from King Kong's Willis O'Brien), The Lost World's latest incarnation is a handsomely made A&E production starring Bob Hoskins as Professor George Challenger, an early 20th century maverick British scientist who is convinced that on a hidden plateau in the Amazon Basin, dinosaurs have survived. Leading an expedition that includes a hunter (Tom Ward), journalist (Matthew Rhys), and skeptical fellow scientist (James Fox), Challenger is joined in Brazil by an anti-evolution reverend (Peter Falk) and his spunky and beautiful niece (Elaine Cassidy). Shot in New Zealand, the first part of The Lost World offers up a wonderful adventure yarn as the expedition initially stumbles upon those amazing animatronic and CGI-created dinosaurs. But the story lags somewhat in its second half as the literally large-scale drama surrounding the terrible lizards gives way to the smaller theatrics of the underwhelming apemen, before recovering for an ending that's provocative and may set the stage for a sequel. Hoskins, a veteran blue-screen actor from his Who Framed Roger Rabbit? days, is especially good opposite his real and fabricated co-stars in this perfectly cast miniseries. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 20-minute "Making of The Lost World" featurette, brief biographies on author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and costars Peter Falk and Bob Hoskins, and The History Channel's 90-minute documentary Dinosaur Secrets Revealed, which looks at dinosaur misconceptions, celebrated theories, paleontology history, and features authentic expedition footage. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a decent miniseries.] (D. Fienberg)