The Lost World

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

It took the world four years to revisit the horror Steven Spielberg brought to life with Jurassic Park, one of the biggest blockbusters of its time. The sequel, The Lost World hardly elevated the success but nonetheless was a hit and another joy to watch, people that didn't find it interesting and remained with the first one, and eventually the third should rent it again and look to the stunning scenes with the trailer at the edge, and the incredible raptor scene near the end, if not forgetting our own Dinosaur in San Diego. The score barely summed up the praise of the first and in a way this is a shame. True, the majestic vista, the stunning beauty, the wonderful main theme is gone but there are other moments to praise, if only for their stunning accompaniment during the visual effects shots. The Lost World doesn't amazes and later scares but surprises and creates the sensational pace when things start to get out of control. The first score truly had the main theme in all its glory, but received more concert arrangements then moments in the movie, this doesn't changes, the first track 'The Lost World' is a great heroic if what darker theme, still it brings the environment to life for another walk in the park.

The actual main theme of Jurassic Park is discovered in the last track 'Finale and Jurassic Park Theme', (if played a bit too fast and without the choir) and the journey theme is witnessed for the first time, very briefly in 'Hammond's Plan'. The choice of using other themes to accompany the film may disappoint a lot of fans but I for one think it was the right thing to do, if people want to hear the main theme then they should listen to the first one, and John Williams isn't the composer to re use his already composed material, the themes he composes for the island as the hunting sequence are great, vibrant compositions, 'The Hunt' is one of the highlights of the score. What also notices is the minimal impact of the really dissonant scary stuff, in Jurassic Park it controlled too much the actual film, here it remains on the background more or less and is replaced by percussion rhythms and awesome timpani accompaniment, the two tracks 'Rescuing Sarah' and 'The Raptors Appear' create the example with all their power. Especially 'Rescuing Sarah' works amazingly in the movie. The sudden dissonant flute music in 'The Compys Dine' is annoying but it never reaches the line Jurassic Park somewhat passed, a movie like this without dissonance should really sound powerless, wouldn't it?

It is without question that The Lost World feels and breaths completely different as Jurassic Park, but John Williams approached it the way it should have been, and it also comes as no surprise to reflect the sudden change of Williams' style. The score hasn't got the right sequenced order and sometimes offers more music then the movie did. In the end if you expect the first one in all its glory, then The Lost World will disappoint, open your mind for something a bit different and it will more or less amuse you. The score does create the magical feeling of the first with brilliance in the last track 'Finale and Jurassic Park Theme', to give the fans what they ultimately want sooner or later. The Lost World is darker but less the dissonant one, we had our share of beauty with the scare in the first, we receive the more mature example of Williams with several highlights and some stunning accompanying scenes. It will please the fans for what it achieves in the movie but depends on your taste on that subject alone.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Lost World (3.33) Excellent Track

2. The Island Prologue (5.03)

3. Malcom's Journey (5.43)

4. The Hunt (3.29) Excellent Track

5. The Trek (5.23)

6. Finding Camp Jurassic (3.03)

7. Rescuing Sarah (4.00) Excellent Track

8. Hammond's Plan (4.31)

9. The Raptors Appear (3.42)

10. The Compys Dine (5.07)

11. The Stegosaurus (5.20)

12. Ludlow's Demise (4.26)

13. Visitor In San Diego (7.37)

14. Finale And Jurassic Park Theme (7.54) Excellent Track

Total Length: 69.00

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===