Steven Spielberg’s classic 1993 sci-fi adventure film was one of the most memorable and influential films in history. To this day, we still see references to it mentioned, as well as middle aged men donning T shirts with that famous emblem on it (that’s not a criticism btw). The scene of the water in the glass shaking and the pounding sound of the T-Rex is still absolutely terrifying, no matter how many times you’ve seen it before.
The plot hardly needs explaining but for any of you youngsters out there who haven’t seen it Jurassic Park centers in on an Island where Dinosaurs have been bred and the island turned into a tourist attraction. For some reason, the owner of the park, John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) decides to invite Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), a mathematician by the name of Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and a sleazebag of a lawyer (Martin Ferrero) along with Hammonds two grandchildren, Lex and Tim (what could go wrong with children and dinosaurs together right?). Anyway, long story short the dinosaurs escape and all hell breaks loose and it’s absolutely f**king brilliant.
Sam Neill is his usual self, Laura Dern is the Laura Croft of dinosaur invested islands and an absolute badass and now cult hero Jeff Goldblum is as charming as ever. This is a film that epitomises what a good Hollywood blockbuster should be and puts all the mediocre, half assed shite that’s come since (and before in fairness). It manages to capture the same fear without needing the blood and guts that you get in every standard horror, bar one or two gruesome scenes. It creates a unique sense of tension and foreboding for the audience while some of the visuals are truly stunning and way before their time. The T-Rex and co could have looked really cheap and tacky but they look so real they actually kind of give you the creeps.
Every year the film gains more of a following and it’s merchandise stills sells well all over the world. . The theme tune alone is enough to give you goosebumps. There’s even a theme park ride in Universal Studios based on it. While it is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film It should also be recognized for it’s ambition and imagination which have inspired many a film to this day and continue to inspire young filmmakers . It has an historic work of art that has changed the way we think about film and about life (sorry for getting a bit melodramatic there…). Jurassic Park is more than just a film at this stage and it’s place in Hollywood Hall of Fame is ingrained forever.
9/10