Cashing in on a 3D film that will be with us for years to come.

Rating: 8/10 (5 April 2013)

Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" is a true movie milestone, presenting awe- and fear- inspiring sights never before seen on the screen. The more spectacular of these involve the fierce, life-like dinosaurs that stalk through the film with astounding ease. Much scarier, however, are those aspects of "Jurassic Park" that establish it as the overnight flagship of a brand-new entertainment empire. Even while capturing the imagination of its audience, this film lays the groundwork for the theme-park rides, sequels, and souvenirs that insure the "Jurassic Park" experience will live on. And on. And on. This is a fairground ride of a movie, and as such it's one of the best. Suspense and technical wizardry are the only reason to watch "Jurassic Park." Screenwriter Michael Crichton, adapting his popular novel with David Koepp, slashes almost everything that made the book an entertaining read.
Amazingly graceful and convincing, they set a sky-high new standard for computer- generated special effects. But thoughts about how those effects were achieved aren't likely to surface while the film is under way. The most important thing about the dinosaurs of "Jurassic Park" is that they create a triumphant illusion. You will believe you have spent time in a dino-filled world. "Jurassic Park" keeps its viewers on edge while leaving much of its real violence to the imagination. When it's dinosaur feeding time, Mr. Spielberg avoids obvious gore; he gets a greater thrill out of showing farm animals that are left near the hungry beasts and suddenly disappear. Ultimately, the stars of the movie are the dinosaurs, and they still impress today. Thanks to another industrial source of make-believe, Steven Spielberg and the dinosaurs will scare you to debt, as you shell out ticket money for the kids, as they demand a second viewing.