For this year’s Jurassic June, Renovatio Records is thrilled to present a new album featuring John Williams’ riveting score for The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Released in 1997, this film is the second installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, serving as a direct sequel to the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. Loosely based on Michael Crichton's 1995 novel The Lost World, the film was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough reprising their roles, alongside Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Arliss Howard, Vince Vaughn, Vanessa Lee Chester, Richard Schiff, and Peter Stormare.
The plot revolves around John Hammond losing control of his company, InGen, to his nephew, Peter Ludlow. To avoid bankruptcy, Ludlow plans to send a group of hunters to capture the dinosaurs living in Isla Sorna, where InGen's dinosaurs were cloned, to build a new theme park in San Diego. In response, Hammond assembles a team led by mathematician Ian Malcolm and his girlfriend, paleontologist Sarah Harding, to document the dinosaurs and advocate for non-interference. However, a clash between the two groups leaves them stranded on the dangerous island, forcing them to work together to escape the primitive island.
The Lost World was one of the most anticipated sequels of all time. However, upon release, the films received mixed reviews from critics, who cited a lack of character development, familiar rainy nighttime settings, and a formula-driven horror survival narrative as points of criticism. Spielberg himself expressed his disappointment with the film, admitting that it is far inferior to its predecessor. Nevertheless, it was a worldwide hit. grossing over $600 million, it was praised for its action set pieces, excellent cinematography, and extensive use of CGI and life-sized animatronics to convincingly bring the dinosaurs back to life. Even to this day, The Lost World stands as the most accomplished sequel of the franchise in this regard.
When it comes to the music, John Williams' score for The Lost World marks a thrilling departure from the familiar soundscapes of the original film. While Jurassic Park was imbued with a sense of wonder and majesty, Williams masterfully emphasizes the darker, more primal elements of Isla Sorna in the sequel, creating a bold and adventurous yet menacing spirit. Williams' new thematic landscape for The Lost World is strikingly distinct, setting the tone with a primary theme that echoes the raw, untamed environment of the second island. Though less melodically complex than the main themes of its predecessor, this aggressive but catchy theme grows in power and impact, underpinning the film's intense and perilous setting. Spielberg liked it so much that he re-used this suite in several scenes throughout the film, replacing many cues that Williams had previously composed, such as “The Round Up” and “Ludlow’s Demise.” Nevertheless, Williams still provides interesting treatments of the main theme in “Malcolm’s Journey” and “Leaving the Island.”
Williams also introduces a mysterious four-note ascending motif, opposed to the descending “carnivore” motif of the first film. This motif opens the film in “Prologue” and appears throughout, most notably in “The Raptors Appear,” where it grows in form, suggesting that on this island, the dinosaurs have ascended as the dominant species.
The main themes from Jurassic Park make brief appearances, with the adventure theme being the most prominent of the two. It briefly appears during “Hammond’s Plan,” “Infiltrating Camp,” and “Trek to the Complex,” with a dark, brilliant rendition in “Visitor in San Diego.” Williams provides a full ensemble performance of the adventure theme in the End Credits suite, perfectly rounding out the sequel.
Williams also treats certain dinosaur species with unique approaches. “The Stegosaurus” offers a return to the awe and wonder of the original score, while “The Compys Dine” uses screeching woodwinds to create an abrasive birdlike sound effect that mirrors the swarm of diminutive carnivores overwhelming their victim. Williams avoids relying heavily on thematic elements, allowing the percussion section to dominate the score. Many of the score's standout moments are undoubtedly the sequences that utilize these relentless, primordial rhythms. Tracks like “The Round Up”, “Sarah on the Glass”, “Rescuing Sarah”, “Ripples”, “The Long Grass”, “The Raptors Appear”, and the finishing minutes of “Visitor in San Diego” pulsate with energy, creating an immersive listening experience that will have on the edge of your seat.
All in all, despite its darker tone and increased intensity, Williams' score for The Lost World is a testament to his versatility and ingenuity. Initially released in 1997 by MCA Records, the score received mixed reviews due to audio mix issues. The 2016 La-La Land Records expanded edition fixed these issues and added nearly 40 minutes of unreleased material, which, though welcomed by fans, some felt it dragged the overall listening experience. This new release by Renovatio Records presents all the highlights of the score in chronological order, aligning with the film’s narrative arc and showcasing Williams’ ingenuity. Fans of the franchise will still find much to admire and enjoy in this exhilarating and innovative score.
Track List:
Total Running Time: 76:20
Cover Artwork:
Credits:
Cue Assembly:
|
Track
Title |
Slate
& Cue Title |
|
1. The Lost World |
The Lost World (End
Credits) |
|
2. Prologue |
1m1 The Island’s Voice |
|
3. Hammond’s Plan |
2m2 Revealing the Plans 4m2 Corporate Choppers
|
|
4. Malcolm’s Journey |
3m1 To the Island |
|
5. The Stegosaurus |
3m3 Finding the Baby |
|
6. The Round Up |
4m3/5m1 The Round Up |
|
7. Infiltrating Camp |
5m3/6m1 Spilling Petrol
(Edited) |
|
8. Sarah on the Glass |
7m2/8m1 Pain of Glass
(Edited) |
|
9. Rescuing Sarah |
8m2 Truck |
|
10. Trek to the Complex |
8M3 Reading The Map
(Edited) 10M3/11M1 After The Fall
|
|
11. The Compys Dine |
9M2 The Compys! 9M3/10MA The Compys Dine
(Edited)
|
|
12. Ripples |
10M1 Rialto Ripples
(Edited) 10M1Alt Rialto Ripples
Alternate (Edited)
|
|
13. The Long Grass |
10M2 Steiner In The Grass |
|
14. The Raptors Appear |
11M2 The Raptors Appear |
|
15. Leaving the Island |
12M2 Heading North |
|
16. The Port |
12M3 Ludlow's Speech
(Edited) |
|
17. Visitor in San Diego |
13M1 A Neighborhood Visitor 13M2 Streets Of San Diego
|
|
18. Ludlow’s Demise |
13M3/14M1 Ludlow's End |
|
19. Finale and End Credits |
14M2 The Saving Dart End Credits Intro
|
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