Not only ahead of ITS time but ahead of OUR time

Rating: 10/10 (5 April 2006)

Well, maybe that's a statement too far, but the special effects, storyline and action hold up just as well today as they did 13 years ago when it was first released. How it is only rated 7.5 and not even in the top 25 or so, let alone outside the top 250, is totally beyond me. I loved this film when I was 6, I love it just as much today and I'll wager I'll love it when I'm 40.
Don't rate this on the quality of sequels as the Lost World was not brilliant and JPIII was dire overkill. The original has good acting, exciting plot line and some parts are even unpredictable (e.g. when Timmy gets fried on the fence!). Some characters (Nedry, Arnold, Muldoon, the Lawyer) get killed and although none of the major characters die you have to expect that.
One thing that really counts in favour of Jurassic Park is the brilliant music. Two main themes that go hand in hand, portraying the emotional parts and the pure action... I recently got the film out of the cupboard just to watch the credits, and with it the marvellous music! The ending scenes, where suddenly after the thrill of 1 T Rex destroying everything we get 5 or 6 Velociraptors hunting methodically, are chilling. The scene in the Kitchen especially gets nerves jangling, whilst the complex where Ellie finds Mr. Arnold's hand is brilliantly done as well.
My only criticism perhaps is that some parts were too predictable. It would have been interesting to see one of the kids being killed about an hour in, as that would set up a situation where major characters COULD die and make the ending scenes that much more tense - but then, that would have been playing with Crichton's storyline.
I'd like to see a version where some of the effects are done up and perhaps a director's cut. It's certainly been long enough and Lucasarts, who seem to have done many of the special effects, have progressed to another level since then.