Review of The Real Jurassic Park (1993) by Matthew D — 25 Jun 2018

Dinosaurs brought to life!

Director Steven Spielberg beautifully captures the magic of childlike wonderment of dinosaurs. These long extinct creatures feel real as you witness Spielberg's camera pan across fields and indoor environments alike. The practical effects and puppetry is still top tier and realistic as when this movie was first released. The CGI is starting to look dated, but when it is mixed with the practical effects, you cannot even tell the difference.

Although, Jurassic Park is overly long, you are entertained the entire movie. Jurassic Park remains as one of the most re-watchable films ever made. Families continue to pass this movie down generations as the effects still dazzle and the adventure still engages. Your sense of imagination is sparked by screeching dinosaurs and fearsome chase sequences. The moral parable aspect of Jurassic Park also still holds water as the ethical debate around controlling life with DNA and cloning conversation continues to this day.

John Williams' score is so memorable and truly inspires awe right when you reach the island. The tense quiet passages meet with the uplifting rousing theme. I cannot imagine this movie being as successful with another score.

The acting is pretty solid throughout. No one besides Sam Neill, Richard Attenborough, and Jeff Goldblum really deliver incredible feats of acting, but they are very emotive. I like Laura Dern in Jurassic Park, but I feel like she overacts at times. B.D. Wong, Samuel L. Jackson, and Wayne Knight all play their part perfectly believable to their characters. The kids can get annoying, but they are the audience's viewpoint into Jurassic Park. You are supposed to empathize with their experiences. I think they did a respectable job, but often come across as amateur. Overall, nice casting and decent acting from the ensemble for Jurassic Park.

In the end, Jurassic Park is a classic science fiction adventure with many horror elements thrown in from time to time. It will always be fun and well intentioned even as the CGI ages poorly. The practical effects persist as realistic though as does the set design. You really think that this theme park could exist at least while the movie is playing. It's a fun ride for sure while Spielberg has more impressive outings, Jurassic Park will always be a favorite to this critic.