One of the finest examples of escapist entertainment.

Rating: Null/10 (2 August 2001)

**** out of ****
Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg's ground-breaking (in terms of visuals, not plot) sci-fi action/thriller, may not have the everlasting historical and human importance of Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan, but damn if it doesn't thrill me every time I see it. This is the film that finally proved to me that Spielberg could do anything when it comes to action and adventure (beforehand, he had the Indiana Jones films). It's a movie that just about everyone has heard of seen by now, and it's impact is still felt now, so many years later.
Upon it's initial release I noticed nothing good reviews for the film, but I've always noticed comments and slight criticism about the lack of character development. I'm still at a loss about all those complaints. First of all, while it might not have quite as much characterization as Spieblerg's Jaws (I actually prefer JP just a tad over that film), it's certainly far more than you'd expect from the typical summber blockbuster. I can say with ease I found the cast and characters likable and engaging, particularly Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Bob Peck.
This is the movie that made Neill a recognizable figure worldwide. Before this, he'd proven his thespian talents in the thriller Dead Calm, but had never been in something as high-profile as this. I give kudos to Spielberg for not trying to put some mega-star in the lead, but instead chose to go with Neill, who has yet to deliver anything below a fine performance. To this day, Neill remains among my favorite actors, and it was great to see him back in Jurassic Park 3.
Laura Dern hasn't quite had as much attention since then, but is still solid in anything she does. It was quite good to see her in JP3 and her scenes with Neill in that respective film brought back some of the well-done sentimental feeling that Spielberg used effectively in this film. Jeff Goldblum is very funny as Ian Malcolm and would continue to be humorous in The Lost World, and Bob Peck is quite a standout as the park's game warden who understands the danger of the situation better than anyone else. Richard Attenborough is also good as the park's owner, and it's nice to see that he's not portrayed as a megalomaniac, as is what we usually see in most "science runs amok" thrillers.
But, of course, nobody watched this movie for the performances. It was all on the basis of the special effects and the action. Both are spectacular and exciting, to say the least. Stan Winston's animatronic effects are the best, creating dinosaurs so lifelike, you'd swear it had be the real thing. Michael Lantieri and Phil Tippett set up a new stage of CGI as their work on this film was unlike anything anybody had ever seen before. There are even moments when it's hard to tell which dino is an animatronic or CGI-rendered product.
As I've said before, I've always considered Steven Spielberg not only one of cinema's greatest filmmakers, but also the best action director ever. Whether it's rollicking adventure with Indiana Jones or brilliantly tense and harrowing battle scenes in Saving Private Ryan, he never fails to generate thrills and excitement. Jurassic Park is a further testament to his skill. The dino attacks are nail-biters, especially a scene with two raptors inside a kitchen that's among the film's best setpieces. The t-rex also never fails to get a chill out of me.
I have two particular favorite moments. The first is the t-rex attack on the two electric cars, which jumpstarts the movie's thrill ride mode. The other is the extended raptor chase, all the way from the kitchen to the computer room to the museum. A very tense and long sequence that caps off with a fun showdown between 3 dinosaurs.
Most summer blockbusters have this certain rule that a movie should run over two hours, thus making it an event movie, but a lot of them have the tendency to run out of steam well before they reach that mark. Jurassic Park runs at 127 minutes, but is never dull for single moment. Spielberg paces the film perfectly, building up momentum and paying off with great action and suspense.
David Koepp's script is a bit different than Michael Crichton's novel, and while I did enjoy the book immensely, I'm rather glad Spielberg's version wasn't quite in the same vein with Crichton, perhaps because certain aspects of it seemed a little too violent and too far out-of-tone. From what I've read, Crichton's script was ultra-violent and some of the characters were downright unpleasant (similar to the book, but would feel a heck of a lot different on-screen).
Another constant complaint, perhaps, is the sentimentalism Spielberg brings to the film, mostly the addition of Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards as the two children under Neill's care as they're lost in the park. Hmm, aside from the fact that it didn't bother me in the least and that all they're scenes are handled quite well, both child actors are quite talented. Besides, these scenes actually make their characters even more engaging and likable.
Adding immensely to the overall experience of the film is John Williams' score. To say this is one of his best would be a huge statement, but it is easily one of his better scores. Whether it's creating wonder or tension, Williams hits all the right notes. There's no doubting this is one of the more popular scores around, and considering Williams' resume, it's no surprise.
Jurassic Park has been compared to Jaws many times and it's usually deemed inferior, but I slightly prefer this film. Both are thrill rides that will never be equaled to be sure, but Jurassic Park adds a sense of awe and wonder that brings it up a notch. I suppose it wouldn't be outright scary as Jaws, seeing how it is sharks do exist and dinosaurs have been dead for a while, but it's still got its own good scares.
There have been 3 films released in the series and I'm sure another will be coming up in the next couple of years. Jurassic Park still easily remains the best, but its sequels are nonetheless very entertaining and enjoyable. I'm still waiting for Spielberg's next non-sequel thrill ride, and it will take quite a bit of effort to match this one.