What hasn't already been said?

Rating: 9/10 (2 August 2014)

Jurassic Park is a stone cold classic. Few films to this day remain as visceral and as engaging to people of all ages, as Spielberg cleverly draws upon Crichton's original novel to create a masterpiece of the imagination that hints to what a modern world with dinosaurs may look like.
The main cast is small but intensely likable, with stand-out performances (despite what some may claim) from Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough. They each fall seamlessly into the unique personalities of their characters, and as a result, close viewers are easily able to see how events change them by the film's end. Also not to be missed are the strong performances by Ariana Richards and Joeseph Mazello as Hammond's grand-children; they diversify the cast through their childish elements, making Jurassic Park more accessible to young viewers. The film-making itself seems characterised by the terrific screenplay employed, as a number of subtle camera techniques and frame shifts enable one to see the film more three dimensionally the more times they watch it. But it's the sheer quality of the CGI and animatronics that steal the show here. Spielberg employed a department on the cutting edge of the field at the time, bringing the film's creatures to life in a poignant, but not too hard-hitting way for young viewers. As ever in a Spielberg classic, the plot is solid, well written and smoothly flowing, with events transitioning so gently that even the most astute viewers will find themselves wondering where the picture's perfect running time of 127 minutes went. Often unmentioned is the film's strong musical score, which draws entirely upon a traditional orchestra to bring an impressive third dimension to the viewing experience.
By all accounts, Jurassic Park is a beautiful family film that has it all and can be watched again and again. Whether you've got friends and family over and you want an anchor, or even if you've got the night to yourself and want to fill it, Jurassic Park will deliver every time.