Customer Reviews

The Last Dinosaur [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The last dinosaur is a film about a rich hunter and business tycoon (RICHARD BOONE) who learns of a living T-rex. He sets out to "study it" with a team comprised of a journalist (JOAN VAN ARK), a palentologist, Tribal tracker, and the pilot of a Polar Borer craft to take them under the polar ice to a hidden valley heated by a polar volcano. The team becomes stranded and the tycoon's real intentions become aparent. He plans to hunt and kill the T-rex as the ultimate hunter's prize...no matter what the cost! The 70's filming is apparent as the dinosaurs are Ok for the time period by truely cheesey for today's era of CGI. Acting and plot are good...at times. I would love to see this film remade with the concept and production methods updated. As for the original, if you are a dino movie fan, it's a must see at least once.

First of all let's get the special effects thing straight.....they are good for the time (it wasn't made in 2000 you know) The storyline is unique and exciting and Richard Boone delivers. It as action, drama, romance and everything you could want. My recomendation.....OWN IT!!

The movie is a blast--never saw the end as a kid--but I'm disappointed that it's in EP mode on VHS which lowers the video and audio quality. I purchased it throught Amazon.com, and I think that this fact (extended play mode), should have been revealed. At times the clicking, popping, and hissing of the soundtrack made it sound like the movie was made 45 years earlier.

I remember when this aired on TV (I was 10 or so). For the last 25 years I thought I was the only one who knew of this movie.

I taped it 10 years ago and of course it's not the same feeling - but what is?

BTW, I cannot believe 3 people here wrote that Wilt Chamberlin was in this movie??? - he was not. The guy's name is Luther Rackley. Check IMDB for more reference.

There were other tall black guys in the world you know.

I first saw this about 2 decades ago, back on TBS when they use to show movies on Saturday morning. I vividly remember there was a dinosaur movie marathon on that morning and this was one of them. Originally part of CBS's attempt at making theatrical films, this ended up going to TV instead. The film is a Japanese/American co-production between Rankin/Bass (popular for their Christmas specials, the movies The Hobbit and The Last Unicorn, and the 80s cartoon series Thundercats) and Tsuburaya Productions, founded by Godzilla FX legend Eiji Tsuburaya and creators of the mega-popular Ultraman TV series. The story revolves around big game hunter Mastin Thrust who uses a boring machine to travel inside a giant dormant volcano to hunt the ultimate prize, a giant Tyrannosaur. Under the false pretense of scientific research he brings along a Japanese scientist/and friend, a reporter, his trusty African guide, and the sole survivor of the previous expedition. When his friend is killed Mastin's true intentions become apparent and now he will stop at nothing to put the monster's head on his wall. Too bad he is without weapons and constantly hounded by a tribe of cavemen (all interestingly portrayed by Japanese actors). The film features several creatures (most played Japan style by actors in monster costumes) including a Uintatherium (mistakenly referred to as a Ceratopsian), a Pteranadon, a giant turtle, and (in the films best scene) a Triceratops who breaks out from beneath the earth (don't ask) to do battle with the titular monster. On that note the title has double meaning referring to the Rex and Mastin, both the last of their kind. Sure the movie is kinda cheesy, the FX wildly uneven, and the dialogue laughable at times but considering when and where it was made much can be forgiven. Maybe its part nostalgia and my love of Japanese monster movies that make me think of this film so fondly, but it has and always will be one of my childhood favorites. On an interesting note the T-rex costume would also appear as lead villain Emperor Tyrannus in the short lived TV series Attack of the Super Monsters. If your a fan of Japanese movie/TV monsters or cheesy 70s cinema, I highly recommend this. Awesome there's a good English DVD copy after all these years, especially since the only other official release is Toho's super expensive Japanese DVD.

I thoroughly enjoy watching this type of bad cinema, so when I saw this stinker (re-released during the "Jurassic Park" era), I knew I had to order it for my collection. When my copy finally arrived, I rushed it to the VCR and insisted that my wife watch it with me. My favorite scene is when the eminent Dr. Yamamoto turns around to find that a 5 ton dinosaur has snuck up on him! That scene could have been believable if the dino had surprised Richard Boone, who was convincingly incoherent throughout the film.

My wife's unforgettable scene came near the end, when the U.S. Navy was attempting to retrieve the Polar Borer and crew. "That's Uncle Don!", she screamed in horror. Apparently, while working in Japan, her uncle was offered a bit part in the movie. His fee... third billing on the credits!

This is a fun movie... and it stars Uncle Don!

What a great flick! Fun fun fun.I think the title song (sounding a bit James Bondish) really sums up the whole point of the movie, which is the comparison of "The Last Great White Hunter" and "The Last Great Beast". However, the film also focuses on man's obsession with "Killing That Which We Do Not Understand" because it makes us feel superior. As for the FX, hey it's no Speilberg movie, but I remember when I was a youngin' and saw this flick for the first time and thought the special effects were awesome. Richard Boone definetly gives an over the top performance as the hunter who is dead set on killing this T-Rex. Wilt Chamberlin as the African Scout/hunter who acts as Boone's right arm is a real treat - he's one tall dude! Also, Joan Van Ark playing a reporter, who gets to go on the Polar Borer trip to document it, does wonderful in her sympathetic, fall-in-love with the crazed hunter, get me out of this god forsaken dinoland role. All in all a great flick with a great storyline. Grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy 70's camp at it's best. -Sure wish someone like Wolfgang Peterson would remake this movie and really push the message it has home-

"The Last Dinosaur" is without a doubt one of my favorite films from growing up in the 70's. For years, fans wanted this film to come out on dvd since the Japanese import version was running $50 to $60. This release is the uncut version just like the Japanese import. The transfer is nice (looks great upconverted to 1080p via HDMI) and is anamorphic widescreen. This is the film that really made me like Richard Boone (R.I.P.). He was awesome in this film and when he did the voice for Smog in "The Hobbit". And who doesn't love Joan Van Ark? This film and "The Land That Time Forgot" ruled back then with the exception of the Gojira and Gamera franchises of course; even though they are monsters not dinosaurs. "Dinosaurus" and "One Million Years B.C." are classics too. The big megahit came when "Quest For Fire" was released in 1981 showcasing primitive humans; Rae Dawn Chong was incredible in the film. "The Last Dinosaur" is a fun and exciting way to spend a couple of hours on the weekend for any age. The legendary title song sung by Nancy Wilson is still incredibly beautiful but yet haunting.

This movie brought back many fond memories of early science fiction movies of the 50's and 60's. The plot was predictible and the monster a little less than frightening. Richard Boone's performance as the heartless, driven millionaire was over the top. His acting takes the movie from simply good to outstanding.

Ok! so dinosaur is'nt that good and looks awful...and the special effects are low budget. But it still a fun and intertaining movie to wacht on a rainy day.