The Asylum’s “King of the Lost World” (2005) arrived shortly after Peter Jackson's "King Kong," appearing just one day before that film during the Christmas season. Although it features a giant ape and an island populated by enormous creatures, those are about the only things this movie shares with Jackson’s blockbuster. It seems to draw more inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle’s fantasy adventure “The Lost World” (1912) than "King Kong." The narrative centers on a group of survivors after their plane crashes and they explore an unfamiliar island, encountering giant beasts and people living in a primitive state. With a budget of only $1 million, the blurry computer-generated imagery is noticeable, but those who enjoy low-budget comic book adventure films—particularly stories about being stranded on a deserted island—may find plenty to appreciate. It’s like “Mysterious Island” (1961) made with next to no money, similar in spirit to "Planet of the Dinosaurs" (1977). “The Land that Time Forgot” (2009), also from The Asylum, is somewhat comparable, though it had a significantly larger budget than this one did, as was the case with the 1974 film starring Doug McClure. It’s reminiscent of those older, less polished primeval adventure films produced by Hammer Studios, such as “The Lost Continent” (1968) and “When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth” (1970). If you aren't a fan of lower-tier adventure movies like this one, it’s probably best to skip it. However, if you can accept its shortcomings, the story and acting are reasonably good, with Sarah Lieving standing out in tight shorts—along with a few other performers. The Southern California filming locations provide beautiful coastal scenery, dense jungles, interesting caves, and desolate landscapes. The film’s running time is 1 hour and 20 minutes and was filmed at Pikake Gardens, Valley Center, and San Diego County, California. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB