Last Dinosaur [DVD] [1976] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

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!!

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.

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.

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 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!