Jurassic Park

A movie by Steven Spielberg

With Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Richard Attenborough and others

Christina says:

Scientists managed to create dinosaurs in a laboratory and businessman John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) wants to market them in a theme park à la Disney World. Since his partners at first don't believe this any more than the audience Hammond gets out his check book and "shops for" three experts who are supposed to endorse his park: paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill), paleobiologist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and chaotician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). They are joined by greedy lawyer Gennaro (Martin Ferrero).

As we know dinosaurs are no objects of scientific studies but only exist for entertainment purposes, and therefore the group is completed by Hammond's grandchildren Lex (Ariana Richardson) and Tim (Joseph Mazello) who represent the target group. Put a group of people in a potentially dangerous environment and see what happens. Desaster strikes as planned. There's not much left of Michael Crichton's plea for a responsible use of science. The story line is subjected mercilessly to special effects and the rules of Hollywood. So Sattler and Grant have to be lovers. Grant originally doesn't like kids, so he is sent through the park with the kids and mutates to a caring father figure.

The interaction of protagonists and dinosaurs is impressive. As was to be expected the dinosaurs are the highlight of the movie. That goes for the peacefully grazing ones as well as for the attacking ones. But after seeing The Lost World I have to say that exessive use of them is no good. The appearances of the T. rex and the raptors are excellently done. And they are just short enough. My very favorite shot is the T. rex in the jeep's rear view mirror.

For a change the heroine doesn't have to be saved this time. Sattler is depicted as a competent scientist and is allowed to face a raptor on her own. They even do without the old cliché of woman's closer relationship with nature. In a conversation with Hammond when she convinces him that nature can't be completely controlled she admits that she, too, initially was fascinated with the idea.

The stupid female part is saved for Lex. When she is roaming through the park with Grant and her brother she is in hysterics. That would have been plausible if her younger brother hadn't been so calm. After they return to the control center she suddenly is a genius and has no problem restarting the park's computer system.

When I saw 'Jurassic Park' for the first time all its shortcomings came to my attention. But this is one of the movies you have to watch again. Only then you notice the things they did well.

It's a pity they didn't stick to the book. I can understand that Malcolm's monologues wouldn't have come across well in a movie. But all the characters are less interesting in the movie than they were in the book. Grant, Malcolm and Sattler aren't changed too much, but especially Hammond is way too nice.

There are some hints at satire concerning the extensive merchandising that comes with movies like this one. But the critical attitude towards striving for profit at all costs was completely eliminated. Richard Attenborough doesn't convey the image of the evil capitalist.

I am still waiting for Spielberg to make another great movie like 'The 'Color Purple' or at least brings some of the spirit of it to the other movies he makes now. Meanwhile I lean back, let let him entertain me and admire his sense of business.

See also our reviews of Michael Crichton's books:

Jurassic Park
The Lost World

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Christina Gross