There are certain movies that have... what would one call it? Staying power. They hold a fascination for us, something childlike for us to enjoy. They never grow old, they'll never get old. Why? Because the child within never dies, even though he may grow quieter. And this movie fed more than just that fascination, it had great directing, great music, great design and legendary special effects. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome... to Jurassic Park!
The Plot: After an incident loading a mysterious animal into a park, wealthy CEO John Hammnd invites famous paleontologist Alan Grant, along with his friend Ellie Sattler, to a "biological" prserve off the coast of Costa Rica. Once there, they are shown an incredible discovery: dinosaurs. Living, breathing dinosaurs, brought back to life by InGen's incredible genetic knowledge and technology. However, the further they explore the park, the more they wonder if the park itself is a good idea. But when a greedy employee's virus cripples Jurassic Park's power, the dinosaurs are on the loose, and the survivors are running for their lives...
The Cast: Sam Neil as Dr. Alan Grant
Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler
Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm
Richard Attenborough as John Hammond
Ariana Richards as Lex Murphy
Joseph Mazzello as Tim Murphy
Wayne Knight as Dennis Nedry
Samuel L. Jackson as Ray Arnold
The Review:
The opening sequence is both ominous and terrifying, as it leaves you with no doubt the tone of the film.
The film has an air of mystery early on, as you know little of what's going on.
The main characters of the film are presented in a fairly welcoming manner. We're introduced quickly into their way of thinking and what makes them different from each other.
Grant's quite a storyteller. A creepy one, though.
The film contains an All-Star cast of actors and actresses. Each one of the main leads were huge names.
We're given enough of a teaser for Hammond's park to interest us, and make us want to really see more.
Nedry's an idiot, but very funny.
Williams, as usual, delivers a stellar score. Behind Star Wars, this might be his best ever.
Our first encounter with a dinosaur is mesmerizing and memorable. One of the iconic scenes from this film.
The film's tour scene is a little weird, but shows how quickly the people behind the park are disregarding the power they have.
The birth of the velociraptor is beautiful, as we get to see something that we've always dreamed about.
Ian Malcolm is an oddly memorable character, as his wry and sarcastic nature was quite entertaining.
Though we never see the velociraptors feast on the cow, we don't need to. The reactions of the characters is enough to show how violent it is.Hammond and Genarro's "lack of humility" is eerie. When man does not rspect the power he wields, it ultimately comes back to haunt him.
Timmy aggravating Grant marks the beginning of Grant's growth as a character, as he's forced to put up with kids and has no choice but to be polite.
Samuel L. Jackson. Pretty much all we need.
"Dennis, our lives are in your hands and you have butterfingers??"
The triceratops. How many kids must've remembered this after seeing it in theaters.
"That is one big pile of ****." Sorry, but this line is hilarious. How often is crap shown in a movie?
The very rapid deterioration of the island is pretty cool. Adds a lot of tension to the overall feel of the film.
The T-Rex's entrance deserves special mention. Just its footsteps inspire terror.
The CGI in this movie is twenty years old, and it still looks pretty darn good.
The animatronics are fluid and beautiful. These dinosaurs could fool you into believing its real.
The T-Rex attack scene is extremely intense, and delightfully frightening.
The acting is among the best I've ever seen. Truly stellar work all around.
We knew the fat guy was going down. We just didn't know it would be so entertaining when it happened.
Ariana Richards as Lex is hysterical. She definitely knows how to freak out.
T-Rex chase scene is a different kind of intense, as we get to see the creature show its full strength and speed.
As the film proceeds, we see Grant's character sine forth as he does whatever he can to protect Lex and Tim. It's nice to have some kind of decent person as a hero in a film nowadays.
Sattler's discussion with Hammond is the turning point for the CEO, as he realizes the fatal flaw of his work at the park. When the chips are down, he finds out power and control do not matter: those we love matter.
The film isn't as grim as my review suggests. There are plenty of lighter-hearted moments that can get some laughs. Remember, filmmakers knew children would want to see this.
Despite the park's attempts, life found a way. A good symbol for how little control man really has over nature.
"Hold on to your butts." Jeez, this movie has a lot of good lines.
No matter how violent, no matter how gory, Tim's reaction to the T-Rex killing a dinosaur proves young boys will always be fascinated by dinosaurs.
The velociraptors have been hinted at throughout the movie. The moment that they're loose, the film enters a whole new level of fear. A powerful, stealthy predator with the ability to kill in seconds flat is horrifying.
HOLY CRAP! Did not see that raptor coming! This films loves to keep people on edge.
Muldoon was a premiere hunter, who knew the world's top predators. Even he is easily outmatched by the velociraptors.
The velociraptors in the kitchen is terrifying. Just terrifying.
Just when it looked like the raptors would feast... BA-BOOM! Enter the T-Rex! Man, what a great way to finish the adventure on the island.
The Bottom Line: Jurassic Park had it all: A stellar cast, a legendary crew, and possibly the greatest director who ever lived. Add it all up and you have a film that creates a legacy all its own, and needs help from no one. Everyone knows Jurassic Park, and generations will come and discover the magic of this film for the first time, and they'll think of just how awesome dinosaurs are. This film will most likely still be around even after I'm dead, simply because of the spell it put us under, and how glad we were to see its wondrous adventure.
Well, that's it for this round. See you in two days, with another great movie!
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