ENGLISH - (PG13) - 23 July 2009 - Adventure/Comedy/Science Fiction
Distributor: Universal PicturesRunning Time: 101 mins.
Director: Brad Silberling
Producers: Sid and Matt Krofft, Jimmy Miller
Writers: Chris Henchy, Dennis McNicholas, (TV series) - Sid and Matt Krofft
Casts: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone, John Boylan, Leonard Nimoy
Plot: Based on the 1974 TV series "Land Of The Lost", this movie is about a forest ranger together with his two children who stumble upon a mysterious land - a land that is almost forgotten and no one really knows about its existence. In his adventures on the lost land, he encounters strange creatures like the reptilian Sleestaks population and also the monkey people.
THE VERDICT...
Green Tea Bern Says...
In 1974, Land Of The Lost was a popular TV series and there is no surprise why Hollywood did the same thing again by destroying the original for a bluffer and more adult-themed piece of junkie silver screen adaptation. Like many TV series that turn into films in the past – Starsky & Hutch and The Brady Bunch Movie, the movie is fairly disgust and uninspiring.
The movie tells about Rick Marshall, a paleontologist whom was reduced from the science department following his theory of time warps and his assault on Matt Lauer on The Today Show. The incidents leave him pathetic and devastated due to the negative response he received on his work on the tachyon amplifier. Things change when he meets Holly Cantrell, a student whom admires his works. Together with Will Stanton, a tour guide, they explore the Devils Cave and about to embark a strange parallelism world beyond any imaginations.
Story-wise, it is easy to pin point that the plot is interesting and well-flowed. The movie promises audience a never-forgetting journey into a wild and absolute non-sense land – therefore the comical part prevail the most than the scientific truth. One can easily tell you to not to bring your brain while watching the movie, where in fact this is a good example of movie in which entertainment-escaping-experience is brought to a new level.
However, the good stuffs remain to be as limited as that. While the movie maybe praised for the absolute fun and entertainment value it has, it is not difficult too to pin point the failure of bringing in any worth of senses at all. Call it a lame one or some mild disaster in executing the screenplay. The movie makes you feel disgusted and splattered. Others may call it highly unorthodox and a total mental-block. No matter what you wish to label it, this movie is just passable.
However, the good stuffs remain to be as limited as that. While the movie maybe praised for the absolute fun and entertainment value it has, it is not difficult too to pin point the failure of bringing in any worth of senses at all. Call it a lame one or some mild disaster in executing the screenplay. The movie makes you feel disgusted and splattered. Others may call it highly unorthodox and a total mental-block. No matter what you wish to label it, this movie is just passable.
The funnymen (and women) in the movie are rather slapstick and spontaneous. The movie has an ample characterization but it fails to sparkle any redeemable moments. Nor does it have some creativity or chances to elevate the character to a new point. Will Ferrell is a good actor but the constant and typical display of humour and lameness remains an issue of been too predictable and too lame.
Cinematography and special effects can be considered good but imagine the budget of US$ 100 million becomes wasted because of some unexciting story. The use of CGI to create the creatures and scenes has partly changed the perception of using stop-puppet-motion that has been a trademark for the original TV series. In a nutshell, Land Of The Lost is passable illogical entertainment escapist that can’t be really enjoyed of.
THE RATING....
CASTS – 2.5 stars
STORY – 1.5 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY – 3.5 stars
EFFECTS – 3.5 stars
Average - 2.5 stars
Green Tea-O-Meter: 10.0