Ep 101. Honest Trailers - The Lost World: Jurassic Park
- June 9, 2015
In episode 101 of Honest Trailers, the team takes on the second installment of the Jurassic Park franchise with "The Lost World: Jurassic Park." The video opens with a disclaimer that this movie is not as universally loved as the original and acknowledges that there are some fans who enjoy it.
The trailer quickly points out that this movie opens with Jeff Goldblum's character Ian Malcolm, a chaotic mathematician who was only a minor character in the first film, now taking on the role of lead protagonist. The narrator jokingly questions whether everyone's favorite quirky academic is really the right choice to carry a big budget Hollywood action movie.
The Honest Trailers crew then takes aim at the film's overwhelming sense of dread, pointing out that the action doesn't really get going until about an hour into the film, and even then, it's somewhat lackluster compared to the first film. The stakes never feel as high as they did in the original, leaving the viewer feeling somewhat underwhelmed.
They also can't resist poking fun at some of the weaker plot points, such as the explanation for why dinosaurs suddenly start popping up in San Diego. The trailer notes that the movie feels like two separate films, with the first half focused on the expedition to the island, and the second half taking place in the city.
The Honest Trailers team doesn't shy away from pointing out the film's blatant attempts to mimic the success of the original, such as the inclusion of a young boy in the cast and the callback to the iconic T-Rex chasing scene. They also take a moment to poke fun at the film's chintzy computer-generated imagery, noting that the dinosaurs don't look quite as impressive as they did in the first film.
Despite all of this, the trailer acknowledges that there are still some genuinely thrilling moments in the film, such as the scene where the trailer is dangling off the cliff, and the climactic confrontation between the T-Rex and the armed hunters.
Overall, Honest Trailers - The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a humorous but honest take on a film that never quite reached the same heights as its predecessor. Viewers who are fans of the original and want to see more dino action may still find something to enjoy, but those looking for a movie that packs the same punch as the first Jurassic Park may end up feeling a bit disappointed.
