Review: the source for Jurassic Park and Up
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 27, 2014
It starts with a journalist visiting a cranky, aggressive scientist to ask about his most recent trip to South America. After getting kicked out, and gamely returning for second attempt, the scientist agrees to tell what happened. The journalist believes him, helps him put a four-man expedition together at the gentleman's club, and they steam up the Amazon until they find the plateau of the dinosaurs. I say this is a source for Up because of the Fantastic Creature, the South American location, and the way the scientist is disbelieved for lack of evidence when he claims that Fantastic Creature exist. This is a source for Jurassic Park because Dinosaurs, Cranky Scientist (he reminded me of Hammond's character in the book), Big Game Hunter (from the sequel), and Oh Dear God We're Going To Die. The scene about arranging the Expedition reminded me of the set-up in Around the World in 80 Days -- Proper Gentlemen in a Men's Club, Doing Things Properly.  Dinosaur nerds will probably pop a vein over the mixing of the eras (there's cavemen), but this is fiction. Accuracy is not as important as an entertaining story. This is primarily an adventure, set in a science fantasy, and the mother-source for the subgenre of Dinosaurs Still Exist In a Remote Jungle Somewhere Tropical.  Enjoy the ride.