Not quite chicken in a basket

So where do you go after an initial blockbuster and equally successful sequel? Back to basics with the original cast. What's more, it works.

Nigel Bell

Who'd have thought Sam Neill and Laura Dern could be persuaded back to star in the third episode of Jurassic Park. Well, money probably had a large part to play.

Everyone just stay calm

Nevertheless, their presence is a great addition in bringing together both of the previous instalments.

While Neill (Dr Grant) and Dern (Ellie Sattler) featured in Jurassic Park, the action of III takes place on Isla Sorna, the setting for the Lost World.

Sit boy. I said SIT

The storyline is simple enough. Estranged couple's 14 year son is lost on said island and Dr Grant is conned into helping with the rescue operation.

The parents (Macy and Leoni) think the good doctor knows the island like the back of his hand (or at least a raptors skeleton!) Unfortunately for them, Grant's adventures took place on the neighbouring island.

Does my bum look big when I do this?

Still the premise is the same. After a plane crash the survivors have to keep one step ahead of the man-made monsters. Several meet grizzly ends.

While repeating the winning formula for a third time might seem prehistoric in attitude, the film wins by introducing us to new dinosaurs.

Much has been made of the Spinosaurus - bigger and deadlier than a T-Rex. But the knockout scenes come when our heroes find themselves in a giant birdcage, designed to keep in the flying Pteranodons.

Not a good day to go flying

Flying beasties takes us into a new arena, with people being swept up and fed to hungry baby Pteranodons.

Parents will also find a new reason to hate Barney, the purple cuddly dinosaur, whose appearance in the film almost leads to the demise of the island castaways.

If anything the dinosaurs look more realistic than ever, but while the ending provides the opening for yet another sequel, surely the producers should quit while they're ahead.