Sept 3, 2020
By Dray Breezy
It’s been 27 years since the release 1993 of the Box Office smash Jurassic Park. This was one of Stephen Spielberg’s many film successes, to date the film has grossed over 1 billion dollars. All of the classic movies have made their way to Netflix. I took some time out to rewatch the first one and shit out a review.
I must say this film as definitely stood the test of the time. Quick recap. Super rich guy (John Hammond) has figured out how to replicate dinosaur DNA and hes made living clones of extinct dinosaurs. Of course he wants to monetize this venture so he creates a Dinosaur Theme Park named Jurassic Park and he recruits two scientists Sam Neill (Grant), Laura Dern (Ellie) to provide some legitimacy to the venture. After bribing them to support his endeavor he takes them to Isla Nublar to see his miraculous creations.
What’s hilarious about watching this as an adult is that everyone except John Hammond seems to be completely against the concept of implementation of Hammond’s groundbreaking science. Literally everyone except the slimy lawyer is constantly questioning the ethics of Hammond’s intentions. Jeff Goldblum’s character is particularly antagonistic. However it’s clear that Hammond’s hubris and ego won’t let him see the huge cliff he is driving towards. Rich guys gonna rich guy.
No need to regurgitate the plot. Grant and Ellie are joined by Hammond’s grandchildren Tim and Lex just in time for the security systems of the entire park to fail. This was no coincidence, the first subplot introduced was of Nedry (Wayne Knight) a software engineer at the plant hatching a plan to steal the intellectual property of the park to sell to the highest bidder. His plan fails when he is eaten by a dinosaur. Had there only been a good guy with a gun perhaps he would have survived.
Obviously the special effects are dated but the sound effects and overall suspense of all the scenes still hold up very well. I’m pretty sure Spielberg took huge liberties with the biology of some of those animals because I don’t care what you say, Velociraptors aren’t smart enough to use door handles.
What Spielberg does best is subtly criticize structures of power while remaining focused on the main plot. There is a scene where Hammond implies that Ellie is not qualified to turn on a generator merely because she is a woman and Spielberg cleverly shoots down his implication with a quick witted response from Ellie. He also attacks the weird taboo of society shunning men having bonds and friendships with children. The entire film Grant makes continual remarks about his disdain for children, but throughout the film he has to protect children Tim and Lex, and likewise they protect him. Of course a bond forms and we imagine by the end of the film he can’t wait to have a entire brood of his own.
Spielberg does an incredible job of being a wonderfully unproblematic director. He intrinsically understands pacing and suspense, he uses every camera technique possible all the while telling a great family story. This movie will continue to be categorized as American classic and it has deserved every bit of the praise its garnered. 10/10 stars
