The long-awaited and much-hyped sequel to Jurassic Park finally hit cinema screens last weekend and the main action takes place in a surviving annexe of the original theme park where a thriving dinosaur colony has evolved. Dr Ian Malcolm, a carry over from the original film discovers that his palaeontologist girlfriend Sarah Harding, alias Julianne Moore, is on this remote island carrying out research. Convinced of an inevitable disaster he sets out to rescue her complete with her stowaway daughter. Close on his heels is a gang of dinohunters led by Pete Poslethwaite. Chaos ensues. The astounding special effects are the backdrop for an often loosely woven plot and an array of one dimensional characters. The exception is Jeff Goldblum's excellent Dr Ian Malcolm - his wry humour and cynicism give his hero a greater depth than the insipid Sam Neill in the original movie. However Spielberg seems too interested in being moralistic and the film appears confused in its anti-capitalist and eco-friendly ideology. General mediocrity is nevertheless counteracted by many sequences that show cinematic heights Speilberg is capable of reaching. Being primarily a childrens' film, there are some skilfully devised moments of tension but certainly not terror. Despite its faults The Lost World is eminently watchable and its success will not be entirely undeserved.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.