A bit disappointing considering its credentials

Rating: 8/10 (28 July 2001)

Upon seeing JPIII today, I was thinking back to the first and the second. JPIII earned a 7/10 from me, which means that it accomplished what it set out to do with minimal stupidity and no pretenses.
The first one I also gave a 7/10. Originally, I had given it a 9/10, but I hadn't seen it since it was first in the theaters in 1992 and was just remembering how cool it was that first time you saw a computer animated dinosaur, how the word "wow" was on everybody's lips for months and even years afterwards when recalling this film. Unfortunately, when I saw it again in 1999, and after I had actually studied film and had a superior understanding of the art form, it seemed trite. Comparing it to the other toothy monster which Spielberg brought to life, Jaws, Jurassic Park is a near dud. One who once made action masterpieces later made pap, hardly better than any other action film at the theaters. JPI is better than JP3. It creates suspense a bit better. I can't think of a more tense moment than when the little girl falls through the floor and a raptor's mouth comes about an inch from her dangling foot. Still, it is nothing more than an actioner. A good one, but not anything better.