The theme of Jurassic Park is just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you should.

Rating: 10/10 (16 June 2011)

Jurassic Park is an action-packed science fiction film based on a Michael Crichton novel. In this film John Hammond played by Richard Attenborough created and owns a "theme-park" he has named Jurassic Park. This park is different than most in that it is inhabited by cloned dinosaurs. Dr. Ian Malcolm played by Jeff Goldblum, Dr. Alan Grant played by Sam Neill and Dr. Ellie Sattler played by Laura Dern are all asked to come analyze the safety factor of the park after someone is attacked. At the same time Hammonds two grandchildren Lex and Tim, played by Ariana Richards and Tim Murphy, are also visiting the park. While all of these people are observing the park things go haywire due to a power outage and the dinosaurs start attacking the people.
The theme of Jurassic Park is just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you should. John Hammond was so wrapped up in being able to use his money and technology to do something that no one else has or could do, that he didn't take the time to think about the consequences. Sure, it's great to be cutting edge and create something great for people to enjoy. However, before doing something like this it would be best to stop and rationalize what you are really doing. This movie is a great example of how things can get out of hand really fast. Hammond had great intentions going into this "project" of his but he also put a lot of people in danger including Lex and Tim, his grandchildren. They were there to visit with him and see the park and ended up fighting for their lives. Thankfully, Dr. Malcolm and Dr. Sattler were there protecting them as best they could.
It is imperative that people take the time to analyze things before taking action, especially when dealing with something as sensitive as cloning an endangered species. Dealing with something so volatile, you would never know what to expect. Hammond was so caught up with being able to do something because no one else could and with greed of how much money he could make that he didn't test the parks safety until it was too late. It would have been wise to request the Dr.'s visit before actually cloning these animals and starting a park. It would have been wise to think about those animals as well. The whole idea of creating these animals that have been extinct for millions of years and placing them on "display" seems a bit over the edge. While Dr. Malcolm and Dr. Sattler are amazed at the genius at the park and the beauty of the animals, they also realize from the get-go that things must be thought through scientifically and logically.
One motif that is repeated throughout the film is the way the film encourages anticipation through movement. There are the scenes where you see water movement making you anticipate what is coming, how big it is and what is it going to do when it gets here? The ground may start to vibrate and this alerts the Dr.'s, the children, Hammond, etc. that something is coming. The movement of the trees and bushes in the scene where the cow is being fed to the raptor is unforgettable; you can tell by the movements what is happening. Leaving it up to the viewer's imagination was classic. This coincides with the theme nicely. Not knowing what to expect is clearly displayed throughout the film. This film thrives on the unexpected. Could Hammond really not foresee something like this happening? This film used sounds effectively. The sound worked with the movements to build to the excitement and fear for the characters, as well as, for the audience. The sound of the dinosaurs roaring make you feel like you are there and actually sends fear through the viewers. The stomping sounds of the dinosaurs approaching the characters send chills down your back. Again, the scene where the raptor is given the cow is a prime example. You can hear the cow's cries, the dinosaur attacking, the movement in the trees and the crunching sound of that poor cow being made into dinner. These sounds actually make you sit back and say, "he really should of thought this thing through" or "is revenue really worth risking all of this for?" The film Splice compares with Jurassic Park. It's another case of hindsight being 20/20. The scientist in this film also don't stop to think things through because they are so wrapped up in creating something because they can. They "splice" DNA of different organisms together to create other species. One of them takes it too far and add's in her own DNA creating this creature that ends up destroying them all.
In the end, technology is great; making money is great. However, when faced with a challenge or an opportunity, we must step back and decide if we should do something just because we can. It's important to remember that technology is not fool proof and the movie is a prime example of that. Take into account that things can go wrong and that negative consequences can outweigh benefits in situations. Using rationale, logic and moral code is important in any venture.