"Jurassic Park" Film Series

The Jurassic Park film series is one of my all-time favorites, and I'm happy to give you some quick reviews of these terrific movies. Read and enjoy!

- Jurassic Park (1993): Man oh man, do I love this movie. I saw it for the first time in elementary school (I couldn't have been older than seven or eight years old at the time), and it absolutely blew my mind. I was one of those weird little kids who was fascinated with dinosaurs before the movie was released, and I could ramble on for hours about the deinonychus or the allosaurus or, my personal favorite, the stegosaurus. Then, when this movie came out on video and I was able to watch it, my love of dinosaurs increased tenfold. Even when I reached those hormonal preteen years, and my dino-obsession ended, I still popped in Jurassic Park whenever I was hankering for it, which turned out to be at least once a summer, when it was late at night and my parents were asleep upstairs and I had the television to myself.

There are many reasons why Jurassic Park is a classic. Firstly, there's the exquisite source material. Michael Crichton's novel, which was released in 1990, is amazing. The imagination, the science, the chaos (both in theory and practice)...it all amounts to a frightening, exciting, and awe-inspiring adventure. With master craftsman Steven Spielberg directing the film adaptation, he was able to maintain all those wonderful, potent moods in tact. Seeing that first dinosaur, a massive brachiosaurus, transcendent in the glinting sunlight, is enough to make you cry. The velociraptors stalking in the kitchen, sniffing out the children, still makes my skin crawl. The mighty tyrannosaurus, crashing his massive jaws through the top of the jeep, is terrifying.

But this film is more than just a series of incredible moments. The acting is fantastic, from our lead protagonists on down to the bit-parts. Sam Neill is perfect as the gritty yet caring Alan Grant, Laura Dern is natural and grounded as Ellie Sattler, and Jeff Goldblum is hilariously bizarre as Ian Malcolm. If there's a stand-out performance, though, it's veteran actor Richard Attenborough as the park's creator, John Hammond. His madness is so palpable, so sympathetic, that it makes you squirm. Thankfully, all of these portrayals are grounded by screenwriter David Koepp's snappy dialogue.

And who could forget that captivating musical score? John Williams absolutely nails it, adding to the film's heart, chills, and thrills. In fact, I'm listening to it now, while writing this review. The range of this composition, from brassy fugues to dreamy strings to violent percussion, is amazing. It truly lends itself to the emotional range of the film.

...okay, so I ended up writing way more than I intended, but whatever. Jurassic Park, with its inventive premise, engaging characters, and groundbreaking special effects, is simply essential. It's a modern Frankenstein story, the King Kong of our digital age. If you're reading this review and somehow haven't seen this film, or perhaps it's been years since your last viewing, then stop immediately and check it out. Although the movie is over twenty years old now, its characters, creatures, and compassion are timeless. Final Grade: A+ 

- The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997): I'm gonna get this right off my chest from the start - I really, truly, thoroughly, love The Lost World. Just like he did with Jurassic Park, Spielberg crafted a fantastic action-horror flick. While I admit it's not as good as the original, it's still a very enjoyable film.

The performances are solid, but although Jeff Goldblum returns in all his snarky glory, the new characters steal the show. I enjoy Vince Vaughn as obnoxious saboteur Nick Van Owen, and character-actor Richard Schiff as Eddie Carr. Best of all is Pete Postlethwaite as the great white hunter Roland Tembo, exuding every ounce of archetype he can muster.

Again, the special effects are top-notch, and I truly believe the dinosaurs look better the second time around. After setting the groundwork in the first film, the puppeteers and computer-effects departments really hit their strides with this one. The dinosaur round-up scene, in which a stampede of creatures is chased down a sun-bleached game trail, is as real as it's ever going to get. And, best of all, is the infamous "long grass" sequence, in which a pack of raptors stalks unsuspecting human prey ambling through the brush.

Yet the movie's most memorable moment is its finale, when a raging T-Rex storms through downtown San Diego. Lots of people, fans and critics alike, hate this scene. Why? It's exciting, it's witty, and it's well executed. What's the problem? If you like your killer dinosaur movies somber and
serious, then you're a man without a country. This final sequence, which can only be described as "Godzilla-esque," is a great tongue-in-cheek conclusion to a very, very dark film. The juxtaposition is welcome, trust me.

Ultimately, that's how The Lost World should be viewed - as a grand juxtaposition. It's incredibly different from its predecessor. In some ways, it couldn't be more different: That bombastic, rhythmic score. The over-the-top visuals. The arsenal of unnamed characters ready to die at the film's disposal. We've moved out of the park and into the wilderness, and if you're ready for the change, it's a very satisfying one. Final Grade: B+ 

- Jurassic Park III (2001): During my film snob years, which basically lasted from sophomore year of high school all the way into college, I absolutely hated this movie. I used to pretend it didn't exist, that it was a stupid joke, that maybe if I closed my eyes and wished hard enough, it would go away. But you know, I just finished rewatching this thing a few minutes ago, and I have to admit - it ain't as bad as you remember. Granted, I still have plenty of pet peeves, which I might as well get out of the way first.

I don't like the spinosaurus. Period. He's a poor replacement for the mighty T-Rex, and watching him strut around like he owns the place is a major bummer. I'm also not fond of the overall story, in which a divorced couple have to go on a search-and-rescue mission for their young son. To say the plot is dumb is a bit of a vicious overstatement. Simple is the word I'd use, but it's not necessarily a compliment. Some choices made by director Joe Johnston are a bit goofy: A flock of pteranodons (basically giant, flying killing machines) soar off into the sunset, and no one seems concerned about where they're going. A pack of raptors have full fledged conversations consisting of grunts and roars. Alan Grant, frustrated with Jurassic Park and the trouble it caused him, swears off returning to the island only moments before he accepts an offer to return. And, arguably worst of all, a raptor emerges from Grant's nightmares and whispers, "Alan." Like...what?

Okay, now that all that is off my chest, there actually is a lot to like in Jurassic Park III. The special effects, especially with the raptors, are awesome. The plot moves like a freight train (the movie clocks in at just over ninety minutes). The characters are generally likable, especially William H. Macy as the bumbling father and Sam Neill returning as grizzled Alan Grant. And, while I dislike some of Johnston's choices, I'm infatuated with others: The streak of feathers atop the raptors' skulls. The opaque jungle, smothering you in green. The emergence of a pteranodon from a thick fog, wings folded in, moving through the mist like a villain in a slasher movie. All these things add up to a sometimes disappointing, yet surprisingly entertaining feature. It might be far from perfect, and it's certainly a step down, but it's serviceable in a nonchalant blockbuster sort of way. In his review of the film, Roger Ebert wrote, "...it's a nice little thrill machine." I agree. Sometimes, that's all you need. Final Grade: C+ 

- Jurassic World (2015): Thankfully, things perk back up with this surprise fourth installment. Jurassic World was a movie mired in development hell for over a decade, with a multitude of writers, directors, producers, and actors attached to the project along the way. Thankfully, the stars aligned and somehow this film made it to theaters. Even better, it's pretty damn good.

Director Colin Trevorrow throws all manner of razzle dazzle up on the screen, from dizzying action to gorgeous set pieces. For the most part, the dinosaurs look amazing as always (there were a couple times I raised an eyebrow of uncertainty, unfortunately when the mighty T-Rex takes center stage, but I can write that off as a minuscule hiccup). Because the movie's setting is a fully functional, state-of-the-art theme park, there are a lot of great sci-fi gadgets all over the place. It's fun getting lost in all the technobabble nonsense. Good stuff.

Our stars, too, are equally enjoyable. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas-Howard carry the narrative with ease, ferrying it along from one plot point to the next. The two kids are surprisingly competent, and I found myself emotionally invested in their survival. Yet, as usual, the real stars of the movie are the dinosaurs, particularly the raptors. Chris Pratt's character, Owen Grady, has somehow managed to train these creatures, establishing and maintaining a relationship other than predator-prey. This is a neat dynamic, one which I honestly didn't think I'd like. But the film won me over almost instantly, and I loved seeing these ruthless movie monsters evolve into something I never thought they could be again - animals. For the first time since 1993, the raptors were truly alive.

Alive. Huh. As much as I enjoy The Lost World, as relatively likable Jurassic Park III is, I never thought the series would be revitalized in such a thorough, dramatic way. Jurassic World is occasionally familiar, a bit silly, a little overblown, but it's alive. It's a cleansing breath, a splash of cold water, a downhill plummet. The tension is weighted, the characters are dimensional, the creatures breathe and think and feel...how great is that? The third act - nay, the final ten minutes - produces that special kind of fist-pumping, ear-to-ear-grinning, tears-in-the-eyes awesomeness that perfectly epitomizes the best of popcorn cinema. Jurassic World is great. I can't wait for the next installment. Final Grade: A-