The Lost World (2001)

The Lost World (2001)

Dir. Stuart Orme

I covered a previous adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous novel (1912 ) not long ago (see HERE), but if a more polished, modern looking interpretation is your preference, then you may want to explore the 2001 British TV version, available as both a TV Movie (145 mins) or as a two-part TV Miniseries (75 mins each, approx).

The basic story, about a group of adventurers who brave the dangers of an Amazonian plateau in search of prehistoric life, is essentially the same, but there are some changes worth noting.

Firstly, there are a couple of omissions in the character roster and a couple of newly created ones that perform the same basic function. Reverend Theo (Peter Falk) and his niece Agnes (Elaine Cassidy) are two such examples.

The cast seem happy and confident in their role, but Bob Hoskins as Challenger is an odd choice. That's not a slight on Hoskins' professionalism in any way, he's a fine actor, but it's peculiar casting, nevertheless, for a character that Conan Doyle described as a man whose '...appearance made me gasp. I was prepared for something strange, but not for so overpowering a personality as this. It was his size, which took one's breath away – his size and his imposing presence. His head was enormous, the largest I have ever seen upon a human being. [...] A huge spread of shoulders and a chest like a barrel were the other parts of him which appeared above the table, save for two enormous hands covered with long black hair. This and a bellowing, roaring, rumbling voice made up my first impression of the notorious Professor Challenger.' Let's be honest: it should’ve been Brian Blessed.

Things could be a lot worse, though. If it was made today, Challenger would probably have his gender and/or race swapped for politically orientated reasons, and be rewritten to endlessly talk about his/her inner feelings. Hoskins had the attitude needed, at least, and he can really act.

The locations are a lot more picturesque and believable than in the previous filmed version that I mentioned, with a more grandiose sense of scale. The cinematography is likewise imbued.

FX are a mix of live action and CGI. Generally, that means live action (physical props) for dinosaur heads in close up, and CGI for scenes that require the full body. The physical props are excellent. The CGI is better than expected for a TV production of the era, but it's still pretty immersion breaking when the scene changes from a well-lit CU to composited CGI.

The pacing is variable. The first half of the story seems slow in comparison to the more eventful second half, which I felt was more rewarding dramatically and thematically. That'll be the second episode, if you choose the miniseries version. I need to add that a lot of what I'm referring to is not in the book, but I really do feel it's beneficial, adding a layer of subtext and motivational depth that even manages to justify the enhanced commentary on ethics and beliefs that resurface throughout. Tinkering with a source text for the better?! That's a goddamn rarity.

Overall, while I like the good-natured charm and warmth of the previous filmed for TV version, I acknowledge that the 2001 version is probably going to be enjoyed by a lot more people.