It's been twenty years since Steven Spielberg released his dinosaurs upon the world. 'Jurassic Park' went on to become one of the greatest smash hits of all time. Audiences marvelled at prehistoric giants, resurrected by the latest filmmaking innovations. Now, the dinosaurs have returned to theatres all over the world. And Spielberg shows, once again, what a real blockbuster looks like.
Unlike the films I normally review, this is one that's been out there for a while. It is one of those movies I grew up with. 'Jurassic Park' has been in my life for so long that I can't even remember my first time watching it. And while nothing is as exciting as seeing a great movie for the first time, there's something grand in returning to a film you're intimately familiar with.
That's exactly why I'm a huge supporter of re-releases like this one. Yes, they've added 3D and no, it doesn't really add anything. But as much as I loathe the 3D medium I'll never pass up on seeing a great film on the big screen. Unfortunately, it's a tradition that's far more prevalent in the United States than in Europe, or at least the part of Europe I reside in. What's wonderful about these re-releases is that it gives us a chance to share in our love for a film years after it's initial run. It's truly a celebration.
'Jurassic Park' started life as a best-selling novel by Michael Crichton. The writer drew upon speculation within the scientific community. The idea was that it would be possible to extract dinosaur DNA from musketoes trapped in amber. It's pretty much impossible of course, but it's as good an explanation as any. In a fine example of self-plagiarism Crichton placed the dinosaurs in a theme park; a setting similar to his own film 'West World'.
The novel is noticeably darker than the film. Focusing more on the inherent dangers of wielding genetic power than the wonder of resurrecting an extinct species. This is why I prefer the film to the novel. While both are perfectly good stories, Spielberg's film releases itself from the cynisism of the source material. This change is most apparent in the character of John Hammond, played in the movie by Richard Attenborough. Crichton's Hammond only wants to get rich, while Spielberg's version comes off like Walt Disney's slightly disturbed brother.
This optimistic approach means that we're allowed to experience the wonder of Hammond's creation. The moment we see our first dinosaur (a Brachiosaurus that's almost too big for the screen) is simply magical. It's a moment of cinematic beauty made possible through Spielberg's use of all his tools. There's the human element, the actors, and the visual effects and the wonderful musical score by John Williams. The combination of these elements creates a genuine moment of wonder.
What's even more commendable is how the film switches from wonder to fear. 'Jurassic Park' isn't afraid to get scary. (Hell, it's not even afraid to get funny. Wayne Knight's run in with a Dilophosaurus never fails to make me chuckle.) The first T-Rex attack sequence is a revelation for someone who is used to seeing the film on a small screen. And it's not just the images. The cheap cinema seats were literally trembling at the sound of his roar. Even the shrieks of the frightfully intelligent Velociraptors seemed to cut right through you.
After twenty years the film hasn't lost much of its impact. You'd expect that the special-effects, which were revolutionary at the time of release, would look dated. Strangely enough, that's not the case. The computer generated creatures are still stunning. Which might be due to Spielberg's sparse use of CGI and the combination with Stan Winston's animatronics. Many modern filmmakers could learn a thing or two from 'Jurassic Park' and its use of computer generated imagery.
When you get right down to it 'Jurassic Park' is a perfect blockbuster. An entertainment machine. It's an example of a skilful director using all his tools to create wonder and excitement out of thin air. The film is one of the hallmarks of Steven Spielberg's career. It might not be as brutally effective as 'Jaws' or as transporting as 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. But it is still one of the most memorable movies in this director's long and diverse filmography.
After twenty years the film hasn't lost much of its impact. You'd expect that the special-effects, which were revolutionary at the time of release, would look dated. Strangely enough, that's not the case. The computer generated creatures are still stunning. Which might be due to Spielberg's sparse use of CGI and the combination with Stan Winston's animatronics. Many modern filmmakers could learn a thing or two from 'Jurassic Park' and its use of computer generated imagery.
When you get right down to it 'Jurassic Park' is a perfect blockbuster. An entertainment machine. It's an example of a skilful director using all his tools to create wonder and excitement out of thin air. The film is one of the hallmarks of Steven Spielberg's career. It might not be as brutally effective as 'Jaws' or as transporting as 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. But it is still one of the most memorable movies in this director's long and diverse filmography.
