One Thrilling Dino-Film!

Rating: 9/10 (4 May 2001)

I first watched this movie in the theaters and it was one heck of a ride. Here, two doctors who studied prehistoric plants and dig dinosaur bones were invited by a billionaire to his theme park, inhabited by cloned dinosaurs brought back to life by preserved DNA. All goes well as the doctors, joined by an attorney, a mathematician and the billionaire's grandkids, tour the park. But, all is chaos when a greedy park technician, wanting to smuggle dinosaur embryos off the island in exchange for some big cash, shuts down the park so he alone can escape, which releases he dinosaurs from their confinement. Then, it is a fight for survival for those remaining on the island as the dinosaurs roam free.
The dinosaurs are very realistic and inspiring, very well-executed. The special and visual effects used to bring the creatures to life take the meaning of a dinosaur film to a whole new level.
Each of the actors gave a memorable and solid performance in their respectable roles. I especially enjoyed actor Martin Ferrero's role as Donald Gennaro; him hiding in a public restroom trying to escape from the just-escape T-Rex is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. I also enjoyed Jeff Goldblum's role as Ian Malcolm, as he gave the movie needed humor with comedy relief. Sam Neill and Laura Dern delivered good drama and on-screen comprehension and Bob Peck did an excellent and daring job as "game" warden.
The music by John Williams is terrific and very haunting; his theme for the first appearance of the Brachosaurus will etch in the minds of many and will go on to become this movie's signature theme. Director Steven Spielberg gave some of his finest work, giving us a movie with a solid plot and a charming story that will delight an audience of all ages for years to come. And, all the running, screaming, and thrilling scenes of the dinosaurs and the human characters are edge-of-the-seat excitement.
Excellent dinosaur film and definitely one of the greatest movies of its time.
Grade A