Great for kids, not so for adults.

Rating: 4/10 (28 December 2006)

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Having watched this film in the cinema at the age of 9, i was mesmerised , like any kid would be, by the amazing, life like dinosaurs that seemed to jump right out at you and scare you witless. Obviously, being so young, I was there for the dinosaurs and had no idea it was based on a novel. Now, i haven't read the novel but my dad (who took me to see the film) had, and when i watched this film again some years later, I was rather disappointed with the banal characters and asked my dad how 'true' to the book the film had actually been. Obviously, Spielberg had adapted the book to fit the big screen and to ensure its box office success, at I think, the expense of the integrity of Chricton's original vision. Upon second viewing i was immediately struck by the lack of enthusiasm shown by the main leads, with the exception of Malcolm, although his characters incessant 'moral complex' was continually annoying, he at least played the part convincingly. Unfortunately, as the movie progresses, one can't help thinking that what started as a promising film, quickly descends into Hollywood 'action' territory, with all notion of plot, suspense, and character development thrown aside in favour of big, brash, in your face style cinema that while entertaining first time round, leaves those who demand a little more from their movies, rather underwhelmed. Its great as a kids/young teens movie, it has action, big dinosaurs, and a nice uncomplicated plot that you already know the ending too (to all intense and purposed). To the critical viewer, the poor, lacklustre acting, (as exhibited throughout by Sam Neil and Laura Dern) makes you wonder why they bothered signing up since their characters aren't forced to challenge any major, significant social issues about cloning and its repurcussion's, just how they are going to survive until the next dinosaur pops up. The plot barely holds up under scrutiny in the film, the 'believability' of the scenario, or the seriousness of the overall implications for cloning, are either undermined or just plain forgotten in favour of allowing our 'heroes' to be exposed to danger as quickly as possible. And last, but not least, the most scathing attack must be levelled at Spielberg's pre-occupation with entertaining, as opposed to challenging, his viewers. He takes a novel (that my father assures me raises relevant and thought provoking debate on a controversial subject, but also displays an understanding of human terror and helplessness in the face of mother nature gone wild)and reduces it to little more than a 'theme park' of a movie with sugary characters who have little or nothing of relevance to say, a plot situated squarely in 'safe', Hollywood, boundaries and (apart from a solid soundtrack) a thoroughly underwhelming cinema experience which, unfortunately, is all too common with directors whose success has gone to their heads. Its a shame that such promising source material has, once again, been pillaged by Hollywood to make big bucks. Watch it once for the effects, but i doubt you'll want to experience it again lest you want to be periodically awoken by loud dinosaur screams as the actors cower away in their shadows.