Jurassic Park (1993)

3 out of 4

Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Ariana Richards, Joseph Mazzello, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, Wayne Knight, Samuel L. Jackson, B. D. Wong

Director: Steven Spielberg

Time: 127 mins

I'm sure most moviegoers have heard of, if not actually seen, Jurassic Park by now. Released in the North American summer of 1993, the movie adaptation of Michael Crichton's bestselling novel broke all box office records up to that date, and would eventually go on to become the worldwide champ (until the all-conquering Titanic came along). It not only contained the thrills and chills for which director Spielberg is well-known (one only has to be acquainted with Jaws and, to a lesser extent, Duel, to witness his talent for crafting suspense), but also the most life-like recreations of dinosaurs ever put on celluloid up to that time. While the action scenes compare favourably with those in Jaws (Spielberg's previous "monster" movie), it does fall short in two crucial aspects: story and characterisation. These alone were obviously not enough to prevent the hordes of people lining up to see the film back in 1993, and they won't stop anyone now. Jurassic Park is an experience to savour, especially with a group of friends and a big bowl of popcorn. It is larger than life, and filled with an overwhelming, jawdropping sense of wonder. Whatever its weaknesses, you can't deny that it is a film that is eminently re-watchable (and bound to be a home theatre staple).

Turn the clock back to 1993. It was a banner year for Spielberg, with the unbeatable 1-2 punch of Jurassic Park and the Best Picture Oscar-winner Schindler's List opening within 6 months of each other. While he had never really gone away in terms of box office success, his last major hit before that year was the third Indiana Jones adventure (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) in 1989. His cheerless dalliance with the Peter Pan update, Hook, in 1991, was successful dollar-wise, but a critical disappointment overall. When Crichton's novel Jurassic Park became a bestseller, and Spielberg signed on to direct the film version, one sensed something special was about to emerge. After all, Spielberg's previous attempt at a creature feature, Jaws, was a massive blockbuster, and with the advances in special effects since that time, Jurassic Park was set up to be the monster movie to end all monster movies. This was confirmed when the dollars and generally favourable reviews came in.

Jurassic Park is the film that really made computer-generated imagery (CGI) a household name. While Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and The Abyss (1989) showcased the process, its use in JP to depict a bunch of living, breathing animals that had been extinct for millions of years made everyone gasp. Spielberg was originally only going to employ models and stop-motion effects (a technique used in many previous creature films, especially those with Ray Harryhausen's involvement), but when Industrial Light and Magic guru Dennis Muren showed him some computer footage of a Tyrannosaurus Rex running, the director was sold. There are some 6 minutes of CGI in the final cut of JP, and while the technology has now advanced far beyond what was shown in this film, some of the nighttime scenes are still very impressive. Non-CGI effects, such as that of the brachiosaur head in the trees, look more like plastic puppets than something real, but some of the other models are quite good.

Though he's been writing for over thirty years, Crichton still knows what forms the basis of a good novel. His books, if not particularly well-written, are usually intriguing and based on good research. He also often writes about the next hot topic to hit world news. Such was the case with Jurassic Park, published when genetic engineering was still in its infancy in the public's mind. The story in Jurassic Park has a billionaire, John Hammond (played by Richard Attenborough), trying to build an island theme park populated by a multitude of dinosaurs. These dinosaurs have been recreated from DNA found in the blood of mosquitoes that have been preserved in amber. Though such technology is still fictional, Crichton made it sound at least plausible. And that's all one needs to sink their teeth into the subsequent adventure.

Of course, like all theme parks, not all things run smoothly. A park worker is killed in an accident, and to appease worried investors, Hammond engages paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) to come to the island and give their expert seal of approval. Along for the ride are mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum, who would reprise the role in the sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park), lawyer Donald Gennaro (Martin Ferrero), and Hammond's grandchildren Lex (Ariana Richards) and Tim (Joseph Mazzello). They don't account for the sly Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight), the park's head computer programmer, who's sold out to a rival and throws a virtual spanner into the system. Pretty soon, the electric fences are down, and the creatures run amok.

Spielberg is a master composer of suspense, and there are many opportunities in JP for him to apply his expert touch. The first major setpiece in the film is the T-rex attack on a couple of stranded ride vehicles. Even though I'd read the book, the scene in the movie is probably more exciting than the same scene in the book! Spielberg films much of the attack from the prey's point of view, which adds a realism one can't duplicate in prose. Later on, during the famous kitchen stalking sequence with the ferocious velociraptors, the suspense is heightened by the silence. There are also several suspense sequences that don't involve dinosaurs, and Spielberg shows he is as adept at these as when the dinos are available to him. My only criticism is that there weren't more dinosaur attacks; the book was filled with non-stop encounters with tyrannosaurs, pterodactyls, and other vicious denizens. There was also an exciting raft ride/waterfall sequence in the book (where Grant and the kids are being chased by a T-rex) which was storyboarded by Spielberg, but eventually not filmed. On my first viewing, I felt cheated by the small amount of dinosaur action; while the extra scenes would have pushed the running time closer to two-and-a-half hours, I don't think anyone in the audience would have complained.

The characters also don't hold a candle to those in Jaws. They, and the actors who portray them, are fairly workmanlike, existing only to put a human element in amongst the real stars of the show. Neill, Dern, and Attenborough are adequate, though Goldblum injects plenty of humour as the sarcastic Ian Malcolm. The two kids are alternatively scared and wide-eyed, though luckily they never verge into annoying territory. Also, watch out for Samuel L. Jackson and B.D. Wong in early roles.

John Williams' score for Jurassic Park is one of his more memorable compositions. It captures perfectly the majesty and awe the magnificent creatures on the screen engender. There are the usual frantic and stirring pieces accompanying the action scenes, but the calmer moments are even more impressive. Contrast with the darker, more adventurous themes found in the sequel.

Jurassic Park's place in history is assured, even if it ultimately is just a big monster romp touched up with modern technology. Several scenes will have you on the edge of the seat, which is what makes the film good repeat viewing. Most of you will probably have seen the film in one form or another, and have formed your opinion already. Whatever that opinion is, Jurassic Park will still be one of the standards by which other monster flicks are judged, whether in the thrills department or the (then) cutting-edge special effects.

(c) Joe Wong (28 December 2000)