Jurassic Park (Written 9/27/10)
This weekend I attended a one night only showing in Los Angeles of Steven Spielberg’s classic, Jurassic Park. At first I was not sure if I even wanted to go. I’ve probably seen the movie around 20 times so I didn’t really want to see it. However, I realized that if I really was the film-connoisseur I claimed to be, I had to see it the way a movie like that is meant to be seen. I saw both sequels during their initial theatrical runs in 1997 and 2001 but I was only 8 years old when the original was released. I can now proudly say I have seen all three in the theater, the way they were meant to be seen.
In the 17 years since Jurassic Park became the highest grossing movie of all time (Before Titanic trumped it in 1997) there have been some amazing advances in CGI and overall filmmaking techniques so when you sit down to watch a movie from 1993 you know you probably aren’t going to get much from the film visually. This was at least my mindset this past Saturday night. Boy was I wrong. The graphics blew me away. Yes, some points are cheesy and you can totally see the flaws in a few of the animatronic dinosaurs but overall, this movie still holds up beautifully by today’s standards.
For any who doesn’t know, Jurassic Park is basically about an island that is converted into a “zoo.” The only thing different between this zoo and all others is that this one holds living dinosaurs! Of course, everyone on the island is put in danger when a hurricane blows through, releasing all the dinosaurs and putting the humans on the island in harm’s way.
It goes without saying that Jurassic Park is still one of Steven Spielberg’s greatest films. There’s no denying that. Unfortunately, unless you live in L.A. or NYC, chances are you won’t be seeing this movie on the big screen anytime soon. I consider myself one of the lucky few for having had the opportunity to see such a great film on the big screen with a packed crowd who shared the same love for the film that I did. Cheering, laughing and screaming with a packed audience who obviously loves this movie because was a whole new experience for me that I hope everyone gets the chance to experience at some point.
Jurassic Park is a movie that has aged very well in the almost two decades since its release. However, there were a number of things that you would just not see in movies these days. Lingo that was considered “cool” in the early 90s and technology that was, at the time, advanced, is now just comical. I honestly felt bad listening to the audience laugh at points where Spielberg obviously was not trying to be humorous.
On the other hand, I found myself watching this movie and reminiscing about the way movies used to be made. Personally, I have always loved film scores. The music in a film can do wonders. These days, there are no memorable soundtracks. They are all recycled and mixed up as if they were thrown together at the last minute. Watch Jurassic Park again and you will know what I mean. The famous song played when the helicopter first arrives on the island is exhilarating. At the end of the movie, when the helicopter is leaving, Dr. Grant looks out the window and a peace comes over him as he watches the pelicans float above the ocean. The soft, slow piano is so calming you can’t help but feel as though all your own problems just faded away.
You may not be able to see it on the big screen but if you have never seen Jurassic Park or its just been a while, I hope when you finish reading this you will immediately place this timeless, action-packed thrillfest on your Netflix list.
In the 17 years since Jurassic Park became the highest grossing movie of all time (Before Titanic trumped it in 1997) there have been some amazing advances in CGI and overall filmmaking techniques so when you sit down to watch a movie from 1993 you know you probably aren’t going to get much from the film visually. This was at least my mindset this past Saturday night. Boy was I wrong. The graphics blew me away. Yes, some points are cheesy and you can totally see the flaws in a few of the animatronic dinosaurs but overall, this movie still holds up beautifully by today’s standards.
For any who doesn’t know, Jurassic Park is basically about an island that is converted into a “zoo.” The only thing different between this zoo and all others is that this one holds living dinosaurs! Of course, everyone on the island is put in danger when a hurricane blows through, releasing all the dinosaurs and putting the humans on the island in harm’s way.
It goes without saying that Jurassic Park is still one of Steven Spielberg’s greatest films. There’s no denying that. Unfortunately, unless you live in L.A. or NYC, chances are you won’t be seeing this movie on the big screen anytime soon. I consider myself one of the lucky few for having had the opportunity to see such a great film on the big screen with a packed crowd who shared the same love for the film that I did. Cheering, laughing and screaming with a packed audience who obviously loves this movie because was a whole new experience for me that I hope everyone gets the chance to experience at some point.
Jurassic Park is a movie that has aged very well in the almost two decades since its release. However, there were a number of things that you would just not see in movies these days. Lingo that was considered “cool” in the early 90s and technology that was, at the time, advanced, is now just comical. I honestly felt bad listening to the audience laugh at points where Spielberg obviously was not trying to be humorous.
On the other hand, I found myself watching this movie and reminiscing about the way movies used to be made. Personally, I have always loved film scores. The music in a film can do wonders. These days, there are no memorable soundtracks. They are all recycled and mixed up as if they were thrown together at the last minute. Watch Jurassic Park again and you will know what I mean. The famous song played when the helicopter first arrives on the island is exhilarating. At the end of the movie, when the helicopter is leaving, Dr. Grant looks out the window and a peace comes over him as he watches the pelicans float above the ocean. The soft, slow piano is so calming you can’t help but feel as though all your own problems just faded away.
You may not be able to see it on the big screen but if you have never seen Jurassic Park or its just been a while, I hope when you finish reading this you will immediately place this timeless, action-packed thrillfest on your Netflix list.