Jurassic Park
Image courtesy of Universal Films
Hailed as a groundbreaking achievement in visual effects when it was initially released twenty years ago, Jurassic Park redefined the modern blockbuster. In 1993, Jurassic Park wasn’t just a movie, it was an event. During its run it grossed almost a billion dollars and it overshadowed every other film that came out that year. Now, 20 years later, Universal Films has converted it to 3D and has re-released it for a new generation of moviegoers. For those of you who aren’t familiar, Jurassic Park is the story of a nature preserve/theme park that is built around the fact that scientists have managed to clone dinosaurs from the DNA that they have recovered from blood in prehistoric mosquitos who have been trapped in fossilized amber. Before the park is set to open, a group of scientists are brought in to tour the park and they are forced to fight for survival when the park’s security systems fail and the dinosaurs break loose.
Scott’s Take:
When I saw Jurassic Park as a 13 year old, I remember being very disappointed because it had previously been my favorite book, and the film was missing a few of my favorite scenes from the book. Seeing it now as an adult, I didn’t care about that anymore and I was able to enjoy this movie for what it is. It is a really fun and exciting adventure with visual effects that are still impressive 20 years later. There are plenty of laughs, gasps and white knuckle moments of tension during a fairly economical 2 hour running time. My only detraction is that I didn’t think the 3D added anything to the movie, and to be honest, I can’t think of one time I noticed it. Ultimately, Jurassic Park is a movie that was made to be seen on the big screen so if you didn’t get to see it that way during its original theatrical run, you should see it now. B+
Krista's Take:
Twenty years ago Jurassic Park scared me so much that I have never had any desire to see it again (I will admit that it doesn't take much to scare me). This time around, I found it far less terrifying. The combination of live action and special effects works well and is still believable. I agree with Scott that the 3D effects did nothing to elevate the movie and it made me wish that they had also released it in 2D so that I could enjoy it on the big screen without the distraction of the 3D glasses. The acting is strong, the kids are charming and there is enough of a balance between the tense moments and the humor to keep the movie flowing and working well. As a whole I was thoroughly entertained. B+