Over the past year, I have become increasingly obsessed with the movie known as Jurassic Park. I watched the movie for the first time over the summer while nannying for my neighbors and I have watched it at least once a month since. This may seem a little excessive to the average person, but if you know me well, then you know that when I become interested in something, I become fully invested. Every time I watch Jurassic Park I notice new things I hadn’t seen before and it’s still as thrilling as the first time. Here’s my complete list of reasons why you should be obsessed too. (Minor spoilers throughout.)
The Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Jurassic Park was composed by John Williams. That in itself should be enough to interest any music lover. John Williams has composed the soundtracks to some of the most popular movies of his time, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Home Alone, and Harry Potter. If the dinosaurs and characters aren’t enough to keep you interested in the movie, Williams’ score certainly will. The theme song is something I have heard since I was a child both from my parents and from many a meme.
The Dinosaurs
The most obvious reason to watch Jurassic Park is the dinosaurs. Jurassic Park marked the first time in film history when computer generated graphics and characters interacted with actors. This creates the illusion that the dinosaurs and the people are all part of the same world, unlike the movies that came before. The graphics are so impressive that even George Lucas himself was impressed by the level of reality achieved in the movie. Of course this is nothing compared to the advances we have made today, but for its time, the movie was a game changer.
On the subject of dinosaurs, the velociraptors are perhaps the scariest of the movie. Sure the T-Rex could catch you in one bite, but the raptors hunt. The buildup of suspense from the system shutdown, to the power outage, to Muldoon realizing that the raptors have broken free is intense. Their pack hunting technique is showcased in a way that makes it impossible to deny the intelligence of the animals.
Despite the fact that some key points from the book were left out of the movie, it still paints a frighteningly real picture of what could happen if dinosaurs were in fact cloned. (Don’t get me started on genetic engineering and dinosaurs being able/unable to see.)
The Cast
The actors and actresses cast in Jurassic Park make everything complete for me. Sam Neill’s portrayal of Alan Grant perfectly mirrors how he is written in the novel. The same goes for his colleague Ellie Sattler. However, no one compares to the magnificent choice for Dr. Ian Malcolm. Jeff Goldblum perfectly embodies the eccentric way Malcolm discussed his studies of chaos theories and communicates with people in general. (Of course, I am slightly biased because I have a major crush on Jeff Goldblum after seeing him in Friends.) He comes off as the arrogant weirdo that Michael Crichton wrote him to be.
The Plot
Although not feasible, the idea of harvesting “dino DNA” from mosquitoes trapped in amber is a great movie idea. And it’s extra fun that Hammond’s walking stick has a handle made of amber with a mosquito inside. Velociraptors finally get the attention they deserve thanks to Alan Grant’s focus on them. We get to see the beginning of a fossil extraction and then see him witness his first live velociraptor feeding. I obviously don’t condone the idea of a dinosaur theme park, but it’s fun to watch. The twists and turns the movie takes from technical issues to dinosaur attacks keep you on your toes and all make sense within the realm of the park. You see a strong character arc in Alan Grant and no character development at all in John Hammond. There’s a romance lightly hinted at between two characters and did I mention dinosaurs? This movie has everything!
Notable Lines
“Find Nedry, check the vending machines.” – John Hammond
“God creates dinosaurs, God destroys dinosaurs, God creates Man, Man destroys God, Man creates dinosaurs.”- Ian Malcolm
“Dinosaurs eat Man, woman inherits the earth.” -Ellie Sattler
“Spared no expense!” -John Hammond (repeated five times during the movie)
Final Words
After finally getting my father to watch the entire movie with me last week, I can confirm that it’s still fantastic and I would recommend it to everyone I know. It’s on live TV all the time and you can rent it on Amazon Prime. Get watching!