PG-13, 127 minutes
Starring- Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
5/ 5 Stars
“Welcome to Jurassic Park.” And behold a herd of parasaurolophus with a majestic brachiosaurus thrown in. Picturesque views of sweeping landscapes with these giant, de-extinct creatures living and breathing for all to see. That is John Hammond’s (Richard Attenborough) dream as he invites paleontologists Alan Grant (Neil) and Ellie Sattler (Dern) to tour his new theme park, Jurassic Park, along with mathematician Ian Malcom (Goldblum) and Hammond’s grandchildren. But these views of serene, oohs and awes with mouths agape in delight and eyes filled with tears of wonder quickly turn to gapping screams of fear and tears of terror as, life finds a way and the dinosaurs of the park escape. Who would have thought bring back dinosaurs to life could potentially have consequences?
Everybody knows the story of Jurassic Park. Everyone at the bare least has seen clips of it and has heard the roars of the tyrannosaurus as it wreaks havoc. Let me say that this movie is my favorite movie of all time. As a fairly awkward, largely friendless child growing up who only wanted to read nonfiction books and watch “historically accurate” movies, I spent my days watching and re-watching Jurassic Park. I have probably seen it at least, at least, twenty times. I mouth the words the characters say, I know even the slightest actions that they will do, even so miniscule as taking a hat off. But when I watched Jurassic Park on the big screen for the first time, I felt as if I were watching the movie itself for the very first time.
Even though I knew exactly what was coming, when the velociraptor would appear and when the cups of water would ripple as the tyrant king of lizards’ approached, I was sitting in the movie theater wide eyed as if I were a kid again. I felt the tension rising, the fear quelling inside of me, and the anxiety for the characters as they faced so realistic terrors of prehistoric proportions.
Did Jurassic Park need to be converted into 3D? No. I don’t think any movie needs to be converted to 3D personally. As per the quality of the 3D in this movie, it was subtle yet effective. It wasn’t outstanding and it wasn’t as captivating as that of Avatar, but it was well implemented and from so many shots, one could tell that Steven Spielberg had almost thought of the film reaching out of the screen.
Twenty years later, Jurassic Park still amazes. The characters are unique and intriguing, the growth between them is well dramatized, the film never ceases in keeping your attention, and the visual effects amazingly hold up quite well. Some shots are cheesy, yes, but most are still very good and made the film even more outstanding to watch. The film, on the big screen, is more terrifying than one may think. Briskly paced, perfectly acted by all the cast, filled with everything a great science fiction/ horror film needs, this film had me clenching my seat and smiling ear to ear with thoughts nostalgia prancing through my mind like a flock of gallimimus’. I cannot recommend seeing Jurassic Park 3D on the big screen enough. It is simply marvelous.
