Everyone has his or her favorite movies. These are the films we almost live by, memorizing the script and repeating famous quotes in our daily lives. These are the films that impact us and specific moments are forever cemented in our minds. Welcome to "Jurassic Park."
John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), leasing an island off the coast of Costa Rica, has cloned dinosaurs from ancient DNA and produced a theme park unlike anything else in the world. After a tragic incident involving a worker and one of the re-created inhabitants, a lawyer (Martin Ferrero), two paleontologists (Laura Dern, Sam Neil), and a chaotician (Jeff Goldblum), are brought to the island so they can take the grand tour, proving that the park is safe to wary investors. After a disgruntled employee (Wayne Night) shuts down the park security systems for his own purposes, the tourists are unexpectedly thrust into a battle for survival against creatures no man has ever seen alive.
Never before has a film so masterfully brought to life those creatures most children grow up only dreaming about. Pioneering CGI effects that litter countless movies in unrealistic fashion today, "Jurassic Park" is a landmark in adventure, special effects, and an all-out assault on your movie going senses. After years of men-in-suits and jerky stop-motion, the dinosaurs portrayed here are real living, breathing creatures, interacting with the cast in a flawless manner. The film does not require a high body count to convey horror. The simple fact that these creatures look so realistic is enough.
Shot almost entirely on location in Hawaii, the cinematography here is nothing short of breathtaking. The early shot of the InGen helicopter making the way into the heart of the island is unforgettable in its beauty. The first appearance by one of the extinct giants, surrounded by lush plant life, is only one of the moments that will stick in the minds of anyone who watches this stunning Spielberg achievement.
The script (penned by book author Michael Crichton and David Koepp) manages to find that perfect mesh of action, humor, and horror that so many films struggle to find. Every scene serves a purpose and during the full two-hour running time, there is never a wasted moment. Richard Attenborough goes through a range of emotions as the man responsible for everything, including a scene with Laura Dern were he finally realizes he has no hope of salvaging the park. Jeff Goldblum is generally the audience favorite, receiving the bulk of humorous and memorable quotes, delivering each one with a style all his own.
Many will gripe that the movie fails completely when compared to Michael Crichton's book, but hardly any movies actually live up to the original written story. Films simply do not work the same way books do. Character development in a book is far more engrossing than it is on screen. As such, the script for "Jurassic Park" includes a few key scenes, a little back story, and then rolls on. Also, the John Williams score (robbed of any awards), used only when necessary, is something a book could never replicate.
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