In depth analysis

Rating: 7/10 (30 July 2001)

Based on a rather slow moving book by Michael Crichton (Sci-Fi author and screenwriter of ER), The movie Jurassic Park is an excellent adaptation that provides staple entertainment. The movie has flaws  some of the typical cliché's of Sci-Fi movies, but is presented so well, that we can forgive it and enjoy a good old-fashioned Dino romp.
The central theme of the book  Chaos theory  underpins the plot, but it fails to come across effectively in the film. While chaos theory finds order and pattern in apparent disorder, the film bastardises this into the philosophy that `life cannot be contained', as embodied by the dinosaurs. They break through the boundaries of time through being reincarnated, and then proceed to defy the control imposed upon them by the park owners. This theme is at times subtle (such as when the lawyer trips on some uneven rocks), and at times garishly unsubtle, such as some of the debates that take place. If it were not for Jeff Goldblum's superbly awkward acting of mathematician Ian Malcolm as he explains, it would be cringeable, and yet he pulls it off  we can forgive him. Again, however we are made aware that the screen adaptor did not understand chaos theory  he has his `Chaotician' (a mathematician specialising in chaos theory) telling us that chaos theory is all about unpredictability and chaos (and implies a celebration of such concepts). WRONG! Chaos theory is the opposite  it says that there are patterns in chaos, even if they are too complex for us to understand. Mathematicians are the worlds best at managing order. In the book we are educated about chaos theory, fractals and such matters which apparently are too deep for the big screen. Dr.Malcolm's little potted theme `life breaks free' about how living things cannot be controlled is even proved wrong  we watch a dumb placid cow being hoisted to its doom, still chewing the cud like the controllable beast that it is. Shame on you cow, for your poor acting skills  didn't anyone tell you to wriggle about a bit?
The characters are rather hit and miss, a flaw present in the original book, which is not character focussed  rather pop-science and monsters based. None are particularly likeable or memorable, and even Richard Attenborough struggles to maintain sincerity in his acting. His character, Hammond (the orchestrator of the park) is a supreme control freak, and he is good at it. He succeeds in manipulating our two protagonists into visiting the island by waving his fat cheque book: we loose all respect for them at this point. We are slowly shown how paper thin Hammond's control is, first by the jerky helicopter landing, then by how easily the scientists escape his guided tour  indoors, and later outdoors when they leave their vehicles in the middle of the next tour. His statement of `No expense spared' is revealed to be a complete lie as it is his underpaying one of his employees that undoes the park. Left at being said once, this would be a nice irony, however, the line becomes laboured after a while, and after the n-th time it is said, our upper lips curl impatiently.
Dr Grant (Sam Neill) is a simple run-of-the-mill luddite who is a fossil himself  unwilling to co-operate with technology (he cannot even do up his seatbelt). While the character is unsubtle, Sam Neill does look rather like a dinosaur, and the zooming in close ups are in keeping with the films shots of the dinos. Apart from that, he is rather dull, and is only partly saved by the growth of his affection to the children (a cheap way of making us like him, that did not fool me).
Despite such flaws, there is a solid scientific basis for the film, with nice explanations that are plausible with no need for deeper exploration. In the light of the cloning in recent years, the JP concept is even more acceptable.
It is not enough to call this just another special effects movie, as if that in itself belittles it. The excellent documentaries on the DVD provide insight into the enormous effort that went into making the film look so effortlessly good, employing Industrial Light & Magic (George Lucas' SFX company), THX (Lucas' digital sound company) and top animators, the results are truly breathtaking, especially in the cinema (other links with Star Wars include a soundtrack by John Williams, and James Earl Jones narrating the documentary).
Computer imaging and animation are art forms, and like most art forms, attempt to recreate life; to understand it. Whereas quality fiction authors look at character and plot in an attempt to mimic human society, sci-fi authors use their imagination to further existing ideas and create new worlds, focusing on a more immediate and less subtle approach such as brightly coloured lasers and massive aliens. What they skimp in character and plot (and they always do), they make up for in creativity in other areas. It is very rare to excel in more than one area of creativity  it takes a genius such as Leonardo Da Vinci to be a superb painter AND a genius scientist. JP will never be Shakespeare, but then Shakespeare never had dinosaurs walking about munching on each other, which is also pretty fun too. 7/10