Movie Review: Jurassic Park Is Just As Thrilling As You Remember, And The 3D Doesn’t Hurt
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What is there to say about Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park? Well, considering that this is the 20th anniversary re-release of one of the most popular movies of the 1990s, there’s not much to say that already hasn’t been said about this classic film. Jurassic Park is a genuinely great movie! The film still works as a great piece of popcorn cinema that doesn’t have to sacrifice its brain for thrilling chase and action sequences. There is a new digital restoration and 3D up-conversion worth talking about, which doesn’t hurt the overall film and experience, but does very little to enhance it either.
Steven Spielberg changed the way movies were made and marketed with the release of Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark in the 1970s and ’80s. In more recent years, the quality of his films Spielberg has taken a slight dip, but with the release of Jurassic Park, Spielberg re-invented himself as a smarter and more technically savvy director than his contemporaries. The movie landscape has changed a lot since Jurassic Park‘s release in 1993, with the advent of more powerful computer technology and the general lowering of audience expectations. But Jurassic Park is as timeless as ever.
Watching Jurassic Park again on the big screen brought back so many memories that had to be reconciled with an adult’s point-of-view of movies. Spielberg creates a world of mystery and intrigue that doesn’t boil down to cheap tricks. He useds the camera as an unseen character to develop the story and build character moments without losing vital information about what went into the making of the Jurassic Park theme park.
Viewers will feel like a tour group themselves as they examine the nooks and crannies of Jurassic Park, while engaged with the multiple storylines that come to a rip-roaring crescendo in the film’s third act. Jurassic Park is not cynical about its worldview, which is surprisingly refreshing, despite the arguably cynical 3D up-conversion and re-release.
Jurassic Park is 20 years old, but it looks just as good as it did back in 1993. The film still stands as a great example of blending practical special effects with computer-generated ones. The dinosaurs are extremely believable because the characters (and therefore the audience) believe in their existence, and the actors really sell the sense of wonder and terror. Compare that to Michael Bay’s Transformers movies, which lean heavily on the CGI but without the heart or the acting talents to support the visuals.
The best way to experience a film like Jurassic Park is on the big screen, surrounded by people, chowing down on popcorn and drinking sugary soda. There is no way you can replicate that experience at home, no matter how big your home entertainment system might be. So, is Jurassic Park worth watching on the big screen (again), even if it is in 3D? Absolutely yes! Unfortunately, Jurassic Park 3D has a limited one-week IMAX release engagement, so please catch the film before it goes extinct.
