Not many movies stand the test of time.
The subject matter becomes outdated. The performances grow stale after a few views. The special effects cease to wow the audience. The film just ceases to be relevant.
But after 22 years and countless viewings, “Jurassic Park” still thrills.
Steven Spielberg’s classic masterpiece is set on Isla Nublar, an island off the coast of Costa Rica. The isolated destination was meant to be a theme park that housed cloned dinosaurs. But the brutal death of a park worker at the hands, or rather, teeth, of one of the park’s many savage inhabitants, sees investors demand experts are consulted to determine if the park is safe for visitors.
The movie follows Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), a pair of dinosaur gurus requested by park-founding millionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) to gauge the dangers of the park. The pair is joined by renowned mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), the guest of Donald Gennaro (Martin Ferrero), the lawyer representing the park’s investors.
The movie is still a thrilling tale largely due in part to the book of the same name (penned by Michael Crichton) from the which the screenplay was adapted.
“Michael’s talent out scaled even his own dinosaurs of ‘Jurassic Park,’” read Spielberg’s email statement following Crichton’s death. “He was the greatest at blending science with big theatrical concepts, which is what gave credibility to dinosaurs again walking the earth.”
Spielberg’s high praise reveals just how talented Crichton was at crafting a narrative, and there aren’t many people who can do a story justice on the big screen as well as Spielberg.
It isn’t just the story that holds up. The performances are fine, and the special effects are still outstanding. While many old movies have sequences with outdated, cringeworthy effects, “Jurassic Park” is devoid of them. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the film is that it still leaves the people watching feeling incredibly uneasy and tense, whether it is the first time or 20th time they’ve seen the film.
In the new installment, Isla Nublar has succeeded in creating a fully-functioning dinosaur theme park called Jurassic World. But things aren’t perfect: The park has seen decline in attendance after 10 successful years, and a new attraction is brought in to vamp up the park’s presence. In classic “Jurassic Park” style, things go awry, and it’s up to Chris Pratt’s character of Owen Grady to save the day.
With Hollywood’s current it-man Pratt in the leading role for “Jurassic World” and Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) directing, the newest installment is in good hands. He proved he’s capable of carrying a summer blockbuster with “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and there’s no reason he can’t do the same here.
Shortcomings in narrative should be overshadowed by eye-popping visuals and heart-pounding action sequences. If all else fails, “Jurassic World” should be non-stop entertainment for everyone in the theater.
If the latest chapter is half the movie “Jurassic Park” is, we’re all in for a treat.