Jurassic Park

After nearly a quarter of a century since I last saw Jurassic Park on video, I am all the more amazed at how terribly well the film works even when nostalgia is taken out of the equation, especially on the big screen with 250 other people enthusiastically reacting to it. Spielberg crafted a sophisticated yet minimally ostentatious meta-film by approaching the narrative about an amusement park as the blockbuster movie equivalent of an amusement park – from the initial promise and fascination through disappointment and cringe to the genuine wonder and physically intense roller coaster. He takes us not only to the marked visitor paths and souvenir shop, but also to the technical facilities and inside the enclosures, where a pure yet dangerous adventure awaits. He takes a similarly self-reflective approach to special effects and the revolution then underway during the production of this film, when computer-generated images were displacing animatronic puppets and optical trickery (but without the necessity of throwing his ingenuity in people’s faces as something that they should notice and appreciate). Because of that, the first Jurassic Park also has a perfect dramaturgical structure that carefully shapes viewers’ expectations and lays the groundwork for individual money shots, whose brilliance consists primarily in their framing by means of the surrounding shots, thanks to which (not only in comparison with today’s usage) the film manages to get by with a surprisingly modest number of computer-generated/enhanced shots. (15/04/2023)

An icon to which I owe much, and I’m not exaggerating. When I was little, it made me fall in love with Hollywood big movies, and with the passing of the years and with each new viewing, it has enriched me with more and more discoveries of how to make a perfectly polished and narrated Hollywood big movie. The immense ease with which the story is carried, unravelled and concluded is only a reflection of the meticulously thought-out screenwriting process and the result of Steven Spielberg's admirable work. Even after at least the fiftieth time, it makes me so happy to get carried away by the initial ideal family idyll, which gradually and smoothly turns into a thrilling adventure ride with the raptors that the film tastefully and systematically introduces in the opening scene. Spielberg's production design and Williams' brilliant score cause goosebumps with unlimited staying power, and the stunts just don't get any better or more believable. I love this film, its characters, its world, its story full of timeless directorial tricks (the vibrating water surface, the tree, the rebooting of the system...), and I love the unprecedented aware merchandising. Iconic status with capital I. (21/08/2018)

A fantastic blend of adventure, excellent popcorn action, and likeable main characters. Spielberg knows how to entertain people and he proves it to the dot here. The commercial success is completely understandable and it must be emphasized that it is well-deserved, too. Jurassic Park is most likely the best adventure film of all time and even for the umpteenth time, you cannot take your eyes off it. Just the scene of arrival on the island is breathtaking, even without the presence of a single dinosaur. It’s impossible to say with certainty whether Janusz Kaminski would have filmed it better, but the camera work is phenomenal here, as are the visual effects, everything is underscored by the unique John Williams, who deservedly won two Oscars that year. (15/06/2006)

Jurassic Park - two hours of SOMETHING that probably changed my life. A perfect film in every respect. No matter what anyone says, the special effects are still unrivalled today. I don't know how it's possible, but when I look at a giant Brachiosaurus, I feel like it's alive. The T-Rex or the raptors in the kitchen are equally creepy. Jurassic Park got me into movies - I've loved the silver screen ever since. It also taught me to appreciate film music and gave me a reason to adore John Williams. That Spielberg's direction is unparalleled probably does not need to be mentioned, as well as the performances of all the actors. Basically, this is a movie miracle. You know it by heart, but you always like to watch it again.___P.S. Crichton's book is better, but in this case I don't think the book-adaptation comparison is appropriate. It should be perceived as Crichton and Spielberg looking at the same thing, but through their own eyes. (19/09/2007)

“Life, uh... finds a way”. I've loved dinosaurs and everything related to them since I was a kid – from encyclopedias, to museums, to feature films and documentaries – and Spielberg's Jurassic Park is at the top of the list for me in terms of feature films about these prehistoric lizards. I've seen it several times now, and even though it's been a whopping thirty years since its premiere, it still manages to mesmerise me to the hilt. The film breathtakingly manages to breathe life into the long-extinct creatures that once dominated the land, sea and airspace, bringing them closer to the audience in a supremely authentic way. In addition to the stunning work with animatronics and the incredible visual effects, the makers "spared no expense" on the sounds of the dinosaurs, which feel truly believable (even if it is essentially a reconstruction). The scenes with the escape from the T-Rex and from the kitchen with the velociraptors still take my breath away. But Jurassic Park wouldn't be what it is if it weren't for the casting, with Jeff Goldblum and the young Joseph Mazzello entertaining me the most. Last but not least, I can't forget the wonderful musical score by John Williams, which wraps-up the unique audiovisual experience that Jurassic Park was, is, and will be - "We spared no expense." (03/04/2023)