h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: 'The Lost World' - The 2001 BBC Adaptation - A87834847
Author: Bluebottle - U43530

Not to be confused with the 1999-2002 television series of the same name.

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Ah - I didn't see this until just now - I shall read it tomorrow

I like this - some great moments in there!

I had a few questions as I read:

"his bundle is swept over a waterfall, except for a small fragment that he manages to save"

I didn't understand this sentence at all, but now I have read further, I think I guess what it means. Perhaps you could expand it out just a bit to say something like "the bundle he is carrying is swept over a waterfall, except for a small fragment of the contents that he manages to save."

"Wanting to see more of the world than her sheltered mission station, and especially Lord Roxton, she offers to join the expedition"

Agnes Cluny wants to see less or more of Lord Roxton?

Just out of interest, what conclusion did they come to about the Iguanodon after they meet Figaro?

At the first mention of Elaine Cassidy, I wondered what character she was playing when she picked a tarantula off Malone's shoulder.

"Did he scare away the bearers?" You haven't mentioned bearers before then, I don't think, so I wondered what this meant.

I think it would end better if the Cast section were moved further up, leaving the Differences from the Novel section to conclude.

I see you defined "tepui" in your other Lost World Entry - I think it would be good if you defined it here as well

Good comments there - I've added footnotes, moved bits round and added explanations to address all the points.

I think the only thing that needs a comment from me is that I mentioned the two legs good, four legs bad debate on Iguanadons in an earlier footnote - should I keep it where it is, or move the footnote until after the Figaro bit?

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The footnote is good, but I was just confused about what conclusion they came to in the actual film - am I right in guessing that some of them were using two legs and some were on all fours when they were spotted with the Hypsilophodon?

Yes - I've added a very brief sentence confirming that.

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Hi Bluebottle. Good entry. Just needs some tidying and rewording.

You say right at the start that this is an adaptation of The Lost World, but you don't say that The Lost World is a book by Arthur Conan Doyle. For most people, The Lost World is one of many different films. You should state explicitly at the start that this is an adaptation of the book.

Lord Roxton is the toast of society and a notorious womaniser, who promptly is strongly disliked by Malone -- the distance between "Lord Roxton" and "who" means this doesn't sound quite right. Also, the word "promptly" is an odd one to go with being disliked, as being disliked is not something that happens at a particular time. I'd say:

Lord Roxton is the toast of society and a notorious womaniser; he is immediately strongly disliked by Malone

When Summerlee states the Iguanodon bernissartensis stood on its hind legs -->
When Summerlee states that the Iguanodon bernissartensis stood on its hind legs

You could probably make this clearer as well by putting Iguanodon bernissartensis into italics. This is often done on Latin names for species.

stating that as a journalist his newspaper, The Daily Gazette, will have exclusive editorial rights in exchange for financing the trip
-->
requesting that as a journalist his newspaper, The Daily Gazette, should have exclusive editorial rights in exchange for financing the trip

Wanting to see more of the world (and especially Lord Roxton) than her sheltered mission station -- this doesn't sound right, because you are saying that she wants to see more of Lord Roxton than her sheltered mission station, which doesn't make much sense. I'd suggest:

Wanting to see more of the world than her sheltered mission station, and equally eager to get to know Lord Roxton,

she offers to join the expedition, which though opposed by Roxton, Summerlee and Malone, Challenger gladly accepts -- leaving out the "though opposed" clause, we have:

she offers to join the expedition, which Challenger gladly accepts - that is, Challenger gladly accepts the expedition. It should be the offer he accepts. Rewriting this correctly, we end up with a sentence which is far to long, so I suggest you split it up:

she offers to join the expedition. Although Roxton, Summerlee and Malone object, Challenger gladly accepts the offer.

Although Agnes persuades some locals to work as bearers to help the expedition reach the plateau that Mendoz described, the natives soon flee.
-- I think this would be better as:
Agnes persuades some locals to work as bearers to help the expedition reach the plateau that Mendoz described, but the natives soon flee.

discovers an apeman in the tree --> discovers an apeman in a tree (this is the first mention of the tree)

the expedition instantaneously returns in triumph to London -- instantaneously means that the journey takes no time at all. I think you meant "immediately".

One of the delights of this adaptation are the well-rounded, believable characters. -- it should be "one of the delights is" rather than "one of the delights are". But either way sounds clumsy. Perhaps you could say "one of the delights must be..."

He is often mocked as a mad maverick by Summerlee, for example by writing a paper about the possibility of using a rocket to send man to the moon -- this sounds as if Summerlee wrote the paper aboud sending man to the moon.

Gavin And Stacey --> Gavin and Stacey

His apparently strong, unshakeable beliefs marred with serious doubt. -->
His apparently strong, unshakeable beliefs are marred with serious doubt.

Kerr is played by Peter Falk, most famous for Columbo also appeared in films such as The Princess Bride. -->
Kerr is played by Peter Falk. Most famous for Columbo, he also appeared in films such as The Princess Bride.

with Agnes overhearing him warns Roxton -->
with Agnes overhearing him warn Roxton

calling his fellows 'savage' for their treatment of them, releasing them from their prison -- this sounds as if his fellows' treatment of the apemen consisted of releasing them from their prison. Inserting "and" before "releasing" should sort this out.

to just wonder undetected --> to just wander undetected

capture from the apemen --> capture by the apemen

from the Conan Doyle's original novel --> from Conan Doyle's original novel

In most places you say "apemen" but in at least one place you have "ape-men".

fundamental beliefs --> fundamentalist beliefs

4004BC --> 4004 BC

Thanks Gnomon – changes have been made.

The only point I'll comment on is 'the expedition instantaneously returns in triumph to London -- instantaneously means that the journey takes no time at all. I think you meant "immediately".'

I've changed it to immediately, but as far as the viewer is concerned, unlike the long voyage from England to the plateau, one instant the expedition have just left the lost world, the next they're in London.

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I see what you mean now. I don't know the best way of saying this.

how about 'the expedition returns instantaneously (seemingly, according to the viewer) in triumph to London'



GB

Amended

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