The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Somewhere out there is a Fisher-Price My First Sequel workbook diligently filled out by this film's screenwriter.  I'm amazed at just how many clichés they can squeeze into a two-hour film.

So this time it's revealed that there's a second island filled with dinosaurs.  Old John Hammond, recently removed as Ingen's CEO, says this was the "breeding" or "B" island conveniently unmentioned in the first film.  (Later, though, there's some indication that this was the first attempt at a park, which likely went even more horribly wrong than the park from the first movie.)  Ever the optimist, Hammond thinks a team should be sent in to document the creatures, and Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Ian Malcolm is a perfect fit.  Oh, and Hammond has tricked him into going by sending his girlfriend, Julianne Moore's Dr. Sarah Harding, along first.  Did I mention that there's a stowaway and a secret second mission by Ingen's new CEO, Arliss Howard's Peter Ludlow?  Yeah, they brought a huge team, all of which, with the exception of the stereotypical hunter (Pete Postlethwaite's Roland Tembo), are complete idiots, hellbent on bringing the creatures back to San Diego and completely unable to take any reasonable means of precaution.

Hilarity ensues, which by hilarity I mean waiting inevitably for each and every one of them to be picked off and eaten.  Some go quick, some stay surprisingly long (and a few do walk away), but in the end it's down to Malcolm and Harding to save the city of San Diego while the entire U.S. military, coast guard, and local SWAT remain completely helpless.

While I've seen the first film several times (having, I presume, more appeal for TV networks and their viewers alike), this was the first time I'd seen the sequel.  I won't say it will be the last; next up on my Netflix queue is Jurassic Park 3, and as far as I know it's a clichéd clone again.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park
1997, 129 minutes, directed by Steven Spielberg