The Lost World isn’t necessarily known for its characters, but with the return of Jeff Goldblum and the addition of Julianne Moore, there are some truly gifted actors among the cast. Hence why I wanted to write a list of the best characters in this Jurassic Park movie, that’s admittedly riddled with flaws. Be that as it may, there are many characters to choose from, so I think I’m capable of throwing together a pretty good list here. So, how about we get it started? Here are the top 5 characters in The Lost World: Jurassic Park!
5. Kelly Curtis
Played by Vanessa Chester
Say what you will about Vannessa’s performance, the inclusion of Kelly was vital to add some spice to this bland cast of characters. And the actors that did show up, were not all that great! We got B-version of Ian Malcolm, a 2-minute return of John Hammond, and a poorly written Sarah Harding, who does her best to be as annoying as humanly possible. This wasn’t good enough, and in turn, I find Kelly Curtis to be among the best characters!
Kelly’s rebellious nature adds some unpredictability to The Lost World. Not that we don’t have enough of it with the dinosaurs running around, but her part in the film changed the storyline drastically. She’s not just a kid that
While I liked Kelly Curtis in The Lost World, I hated the ridiculous gymnastic scene where she kicked a Velociraptor in the face. It was utterly stupid, and not fitting Jurassic Park. While I’m fine with a handful of goofy and funny moments, I didn’t fint it to be good in any way shape or form. It just took me out of the movie more than the other 10+ ridiculous things that happened
4. Sarah Harding
Played by Julianne Moore
First and foremost, let me just say that Julianne Moore put a lot of effort into Sarah Harding. It is as clear as day! From the way she presents herself to the way she just throws herself into the wild and jaw-dropping action sequences is truly admirable. It’s as if she’s been in action films her entire life, but that’s not the case. In turn, I liked her effort. If only the character itself was well-written. Then we could’ve had a special character in our hands. But that’s not the case.
While Julianne Moore is a likable actress, Sarah Harding is an unlikable character. It’s as if the writers didn’t think about how annoying she is? Sarah acts like a rebellious child, without any care in the world, giving downright stupid explanations to her actions. It doesn’t matter what she does, she justifies it with subjective reasoning, without any objective thinking whatsoever. I wonder if Sarah Harding was supposed to be a 12-year-old? Like, did they get Kelly mixed up with Sarah? It sure seems that way, as Sarah Harding’s behavior is appalling. In turn, she’s an extremely unlikable character.
Keep in mind, this doesn’t have anything to do with Julianne Moore. It’s the writing, as there is nothing the actress can do about a poorly-written screenplay. Therefore, I’m willing to give Sarah Harding the 4th place, but that’s as far as she’ll climb on my list.
🥉 John Hammond
Played by Richard Attenborough
John Hammond appeared for a couple of minutes in the beginning and a few seconds at the end, but it was enough for me to consider him one of the best characters in The Lost World!
Richard Attenborough has a warm aura about him, doesn’t he? It’s something that makes his character, John Hammond, feel so down to earth. Ironically enough, he comes across so out of reach. It’s like I understand him, while not knowing him at all, and that’s a special feeling. I would say that it’s an integral part in making John Hammond feel relatable, as he just loves what he does with a burning passion. He’s a welcoming individual, who does care about the right things, but shows it only when necessary. It’s something that can be seen even in The Lost World.
The thing keeping John Hammond from a higher ranking is his small amount of screen time. If he would’ve played a bigger part in The Lost World, I could’ve possibly elevated him to the 1st spot on my list. After all, John Hammond is the heart of Jurassic Park. Without him, there’s no story to be told and no dinosaurs to be seen. I’d say that holds weight in my book.
🥈 Roland Tembo
Played by Pete Postlethwaite
He’s the big game hunter, who was a part of the expedition to Isla Sorna simply to “live” and experience the hunt after the Tyrannosaurus Rex. While his motives were made crystal clear just 15 minutes into the movie, it was hard to understand what role Roland would play in the big picture. Would he turn out to be the bad guy? Does he get some sick pleasure from killing dinosaurs? Well, it turns out that Roland loves the hunt, but isn’t a bad human after all. In fact, he’s the most level headed individual in The Lost World. He knows what he wants, knows how to get it, and does everything the most logical way imaginable.
Once the journey was done, he left the island, unhappy with the outcome, but content with the experience. In turn, he played an integral role of grounding the movie with a genuine sense of realism, something that none of the other characters were able to achieve. Therefore, I’m confident in saying that he’s one of the top characters in The Lost World: Jurassic Park!
🥇 Ian Malcolm
Played by Jeff Goldblum
The Lost World: Jurassic Park is all about Ian Malcolm, and a handful of problems that he has to deal with. It’s not just about the dinosaurs, you know? Ian actually has to face something a bit more dangerous than a raptor – a wild girlfriend who doesn’t even notify him about leaving the country! Not only that, but the film focuses heavily on Ian’s struggles of being a father, and also how his relationship with the dino island changed after his dreadful experience. It’s quite honestly what makes his character stand out; the problems he has in his personal life. While I can say that he has plenty of great action scenes, what I remember the most are his dialogue scenes.
Admittedly, Ian Malcolm comes across very different from the light-hearted, flirty and quirky personality that we adored in Jurassic Park. But it’s not surprising. Considering what he experienced on Isla Nublar, the changes in his behavior and personality make sense. However, this means that Ian isn’t as charming, joyful or engaging as he was in Jurassic Park. Like I said in the Kelly Curtis section, this is a B-version of Ian Malcolm. I guess it’s fine, as it works for the film, but I would have loved to see some umph! You know, see the charisma that made Ian Malcolm a legendary character!
Overall, Jeff Goldblum does a solid job as Ian Malcolm. He portrays a weather, more mature, man, but still comes across as relatable and interesting as ever before! Plus, he’s still likable! With that being said, I’m gonna crown Ian Malcolm as king of my list of the top 5 characters in The Lost World: Jurassic Park! 👑