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Jurassic Park

Monster Mondays: Jurassic Park III (2001)

June 20, 2022 by ScreenFish Staff Leave a Comment

With the success of The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), it seemed pretty obvious that film would not be the last in the franchise.  In June 1998, a third Jurassic Park film was confirmed by Universal Pictures, with a release targeted for the summer of 2000.  Unfortunately, the same big problem that faced the writers for the previous film remained: what could possibly happen next?

With no third novel on which to base the new film, the plan was to bring Michael Crichton on to write the script. Crichton, however, left the project very early on to continue working on writing novels.  Likewise, Steven Spielberg decided not to return as director, insteading becoming the executive producer and passing the baton to director Joe Johnston, who had made the successful Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and Jumanji (1995).

Writing the film proved to be a major challenge.  The script went through several reworkings, even after construction had begun on sets and casting had started.  In the end, principal photography commenced without a finalized script.

The basic premise of the film is pretty simple.  A wealthy couple hire Dr. Alan Grant and his assistant, Billy Brennan, to join them on a chartered flight over Isla Sorna so that he can teach them about the dinosaurs they see.  When they get to Isla Sorna, however, the plane lands.  The couple, it turns out, are not wealthy.  They are actually divorced and have come to the island to search for their missing son.  Of course, they all end up stranded on the island together and have to find a way to get off before they are eaten by the island’s dinosaur residents.

Despite the issues in the writer’s room, Jurassic Park III is a brisk and fun little adventure film.  Though it lacks the depth of the previous two movies, the film delivers on dinosaur action sequences.  Stan Winston’s animatronics are top notch, with the gigantic Spinosaurus being an awe-inspiring practical special effect.  The final encounter our protagonists have with the Spinosaurus happens in a river, and the animatronic is truly life-like as it thrashes and splashes around alongside the human actors.  The CGI is also pretty good for the most part, though it is noticeably weak in a few shots.

While The Lost World: Jurassic Park brought back Ian Malcolm and John Hammond from the first film, with Lex and Tim Murphy getting a small cameo, Jurassic Park III brings back Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler, with both Sam Neill and Laura Dern returning to reprise their roles.  It is nice to be reunited with these two characters again, though fans were a little disappointed to learn that Dr. Sattler had married some boring bureaucrat rather than Dr. Grant.  

Replacing the Tyrannosaurus rex as starring carnivore this time is the Spinosaurus, a decision I think was a bit of a mistake.  Spinosaurus was first described by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer in 1915 from very incomplete remains discovered in Egypt in 1912.  In April 1944, this only specimen of Spinosaurus was destroyed as Britain bombed Munich.  Only a handful of highly incomplete Spinosaurus specimens were found in the years between World War II and the making of Jurassic Park III, meaning very little was known about the dinosaur prior to the making of the film.

New discoveries in the years since Jurassic Park III was released has shown that the depiction of Spinosaurus in the movie is terribly inaccurate.  We now believe Spinosaurus was semiaquatic and hunted primarily fish.  In keeping with this semiaquatic lifestyle, Spinosaurus was adapted to live in the water much more so than it was for living on land.  It had shorter hind legs than most other therapods, meaning it was probably not a very fast runner, and it had a flat, paddle-like tail to help with swimming.  The shape of the sail on its back is now also believed to be much different than the semi-circle shown in the movie.  Perhaps one of the most controversial moments in a Jurassic Park film comes when the Spinosaurus battles and kills a Tyrannosaurus rex, impossibly snapping the Tyrannosaurus’ muscular neck with its narrow fish-catching jaws.

Also getting its chance to shine is the pterosaur Pteranodon, which briefly appeared in the final shot of The Lost World: Jurassic Park.  Despite the name Pteranodon literally meaning “wing toothless”, the animals on screen are depicted as having sharp teeth lining the inside of their beaks.  Similar to Spinosaurus, Pteranodon was actually primarily a piscivore and spent its life in and around water.  Still, there is no denying the scene in the aviary is one of the highlights of the film. Interestingly, this scene is adapted from a scene in the first Jurassic Park novel that did not make it into the earlier movies.

Where Jurassic Park III really falters, however, is its ending.  After returning some stolen eggs to a Velociraptor pack, the characters run out of the jungle and are greeted by the military.  After all that had come before, including two major clashes with the Spinosaurus, it all just feels anti-climatic.  Worse yet is the reappearance of Billy, who is all bandaged up in the military helicopter after his encounter with the Pteranodon.  It feels a little too neat and tidy, and it lacks any final sense of tension.

Jurassic Park III is a deeply flawed Jurassic Park sequel which likely suffers from its inability to pin down a final script before shooting started.  Its portrayal of the Spinosaurus borders on crossing the line from animal to monster, and its lackluster ending sucks the air out of its sails rather than leaving a strong last impression with viewers.  Still, the film is fun, and its short running time keeps the movie from becoming bogged down.  While not as strong as the previous two films in the franchise, Jurassic Park III is an entertaining movie that is definitely worth watching.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews, VOD Tagged With: dinosaurs, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, Jurassic World, kaiju, Sam Neill

Monster Mondays – The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

June 13, 2022 by ScreenFish Staff Leave a Comment

By Ben Dower

When Jurassic Park hit screens in 1993, the film not only wowed audiences with its realistic looking dinosaurs, but also made a fortune at the box office. Almost immediately it seemed that a second Jurassic Park film would be inevitable, but there was a big challenge facing the writers: what could possibly happen next?

Author Michael Crichton was initially not too keen on writing a sequel for Jurassic Park, but he eventually decided to write a follow-up, titled The Lost World after the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle book of the same name. Crichton’s The Lost World novel was loosely adapted to film by director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp, and was released to movie theatres in May 1997 as The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The film was an instant hit upon its release, smashing several box office records.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a mixed bag. The core of the film’s story is that two rival teams – the hunters and the gatherers – have arrived on Isla Sorna. The hunters come from InGen and they want to trap some of the dinosaurs to take them to a new Jurassic Park facility in San Diego. This would allow InGen to recoup some of the money lost by the failure of Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar. The gatherers, meanwhile, were sent by John Hammond in an attempt to thwart the hunters and allow the dinosaurs to live free on Isla Sorna. The gatherer team is meant to be our heroes and consists of Dr. Ian Malcolm, Dr. Sarah Harding, Nick Van Owen, and Eddie Carr. Kelly Curtis, Ian’s young daughter, also joins the gatherers after she stows away on the ship to Isla Sorna to be with her dad.

Jeff Goldblum returns to the role of Dr. Ian Malcolm for a second time. The character was very well- liked by audiences in the first film, with his funny but insightful philosophical musings helping to carry the key messages of the film. Crichton wisely resurrected the character for his The Lost World novel, and Spielberg and Koepp had the good sense to follow Crichton’s lead and keep Malcolm as the protagonist of their film adaptation.

Another standout from the cast is Pete Postlethwaite who plays Roland Tembo, an experienced hunter who has been hired by InGen to run their expedition to the island. The reason Tembo took the job is because he wants the chance to hunt the ultimate predator: Tyrannosaurus rex. Postlethwaite is fantastic in the role, and the character of Roland Tembo has become a fan favourite, even getting a new toy in 2022 as part of Mattel’s Jurassic World Legacy Collection line.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park also manages to keep the dinosaurs on screen looking just as realistic as they did in Jurassic Park, even with more screentime and more reliance on CGI. The film is bolder than the first in how it pushes the envelop of CGI effects, with the scene where the InGen hunters trap several herbivorous dinosaurs on a game trail being a highlight. Several new dinosaur species appear in the film: Compsognathus, Stegosaurus, Mamenchisaurus, and Pachycephalosaurus, as well as the pterosaur Pteranodon.

There are a few little homages to earlier dinosaur-related media sprinkled throughout The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The ship used to transport the adult Tyrannosaurus rex to San Diego is named the S.S. Venture, a call-back to the ship in King Kong (1933). The T. rex rampage through San Diego is an homage to the film The Lost World (1925), which has a sequence where a Brontosaurus escapes captivity and rampages through London. There is also a little wink at the Godzilla films in that scene as well.

Unfortunately, The Lost World: Jurassic Park also makes quite a few misteps, particularly with its handling of its characters. Perhaps the most poorly handled character by the script is Dr. Sarah Harding, who is portrayed by Julianne Moore. Though Dr. Harding is supposed to be very knowledgeable about research methods and animal behaviour, she foolishly interacts with a baby Stegosaurus. Dr. Harding also brings an injured baby Tyrannosaurus back to base camp, leading its parents to attack the trailer and kill Eddie Carr. After surviving that attack, she walks through the jungle with the infant’s blood on her clothes, which results in the adult Tyrannosaurus pursuing her and killing several members of InGen’s team.

Also problematic is the script’s handling of Nick Van Owen, played by Vince Vaughn. Though he is supposed to be one of the “good guys”, Nick Van Owen sabatoges InGen’s camp, allowing the dinosaurs they’ve captured to go free, and takes the injured young Tyrannosaurus rex to Dr. Harding. This ultimately leads to both groups being stranded on Isla Sorna with no way to contact rescue teams. Later in the film, he deliberately removes bullets from Roland Tembo’s gun so that he won’t be able to hunt a Tyrannosaurus. When the group is attacked by the two adult Tyrannosaurus, Tembo is forced to use a tranquilizer, which leads to the Tyrannosaurus being taken to San Diego and several lives lost on the U.S. mainland.

Then there is Kelly Curtis, Ian Malcolm’s daughter, played by Vanessa Lee Chester. As there really is no place for a child in this particular story, Kelly’s inclusion feels forced into the plot to provide a point of identification for younger viewers and to raise the stakes in a few scenes. Unlike Lex and Tim in the previous film, Kelly seems to get carried around by the plot as opposed to being an active participant in key plot points.

Lastly, there is the final act of the film, which features the adult male Tyrannosaurus loose in San Diego. Though a fun idea on paper, on screen it is a little silly and filled with ridiculous sight gags. It doesn’t really fit the darker tone of the island-set portion of the film.

In the end, The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a worthy attempt at a sequel to one of the greatest movies ever made. It was never going to be able to live up to its predecessor, but considering how self- contained and outright spectacular the previous film was, it’s a testament to Spielberg’s skill as a filmmaker that The Lost World: Jurassic Park turned out so well and managed to recapture some of the magic from Jurassic Park.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews, VOD Tagged With: Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Steven Spielberg, The Lost World

8.27 Lost Worlds and Legacies in JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION

June 10, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Directed by Colin Trevorrow, JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION takes place four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar. Since that fateful day, the once-secluded dinosaurs have spread across the globe, living and hunting alongside the human race. However, when a new species threatens the global food industry, teams spanning generations must reunite in order to solve the mystery and prevent global catastrophe. This week, Dave Voigt (In The Seats) and Ben Dower (SF’s Monster Mondays) band together to bite back at DOMINION and its world of mayhem as we discuss missed opportunities and the joy of theme park rides.

You can stream on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Google Play, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can downoad the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

8.27-Jurassic-World-DominionDownload

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Podcast Tagged With: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, dinosaurs, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Dominion, Laura Dern, raptors, Sam Neill, Universal

Jurassic World: Dominion – Sound and Fury

June 10, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

The age of the dinosaurs has come to an end. And there are many who are celebrating its demise.

Although the franchise has seen tremendous financial success over the past three decates, few of the entries have been a hit with critics. Other than the (still) brilliant original, many have felt (rightly) that the sequels have been somewhat of a mixed bag, either relying too heavily on nostalgia or just plain ridiculous. But its latest instalment, Jurassic World: Dominion, has found itself utterly blasted by poor reviews across the board.

Spoiler alert: this won’t be one of them. (Well, not entirely.)

Directed by Colin Trevorrow, Jurassic World: Dominion takes place four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar. Since that fateful day, the once-secluded dinosaurs have spread across the globe, living and hunting alongside the human race. However, when a new species threatens the global food industry, Dr. Ellie Sadler (Laura Dern), Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) reunite to prevent global catastrophe. Meanwhile, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) are also working hard to discover what mega-corporation BioSyn wants with their daughter Maisie (Isabella Sermon) as she may hold the key to solving the mystery herself.

Every longstanding franchise comes to a point where they have to change the formula in order to survive. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Admittedly, the Jurassic world wrote itself into a corner with the ending of the previous installment, Fallen Kingdom. By unleashing dinosaurs to rule the earth, the franchise opened a Pandora’s Box without any way to close it. All of a sudden, a series that found its greatest success telling stories about a group of people fighting for survival an enclosed environment completely reversed their formula. 

The series that began as a Lost World had transformed into Land of the Lost. 

Now, as the beasts of history were trampling wide-open spaces around the world, the franchise was forced to pivot. Given the impossible task of attempting to re-create the magic of a classic film, Dominion has had all of its rules changed. How do you attempt to wrap up an iconic franchise when the previous installment threw away the things that made it work? (In fact, one could argue that, like the characters in the film itself, the screenwriters are clearly trying to make the best of a bad situation.)

In a lot of ways, one has to respect the franchise for trying to make the old feel fresh. After all, they had been using similar formulas for the last 30 years with varying degrees of success. Ambitious and wild, Dominion is an attempt to bring an aging franchise into a whole new (Jurassic) world. As a result, the film is chaotic, silly and often non-sensical. 

But, dang it, I enjoyed myself.

Over the years, there’s been much debate as to whether certain films are ‘cinema’ or nothing more than ‘theme park rides’, as though there is some definitive line between the two sides. Dominion may be the film that hits both targets. Broad in its scope, this film feels as though the viewer has paid their ticket, gotten into the boat and takes a trip through a world of wild and possibilities. Whereas early films in the franchise attempted to delve into the moral high ground of scientific achievement, Dominion has no such sensibilities. (I believe it Shakespeare would say that it’s fueled by ‘sound and fury, signifying nothing’.) Instead, it simply wants to play with the toys they’ve created and unleash them in their new environment. Gone is much of the social commentary that marked Spielberg’s original, now replaced by scene after scene of monster-mayhem.

But it’s having fun doing it.

As (supposedly) the last film in the franchise, a clear effort has been made to bring the past and present together. By reuniting original characters with legacy cast, Dominion is very interested in bringing generations together. Wisely, the older characters are far more than cameos. Similar to the returnees in Spider-Man: No Way Home, beloved characters like Ellie Sadler, Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm are allowed to affect the plot. Although the film is drenched in nostalgia, there remains a certain level of satisfaction in seeing them back together onscreen. 

As with previous entries, there is an admiration of the natural world that pervades the film as well. At every opportunity, Dominion wants you to know that the filmmakers still care about the dinosaurs, even if the beasts almost feel as though they are the background as opposed to in it. With nature now lording over the ‘civilized’ world, these monsters are simply looking for a way to make their home among us. No longer are they for our amusement, yet they still carry the Spielberg-ian sense of wonder. (For example, an Apatosaurus slowly wandering through a lumber site is only one moment of many where humanity pauses to admire their new dino-roommates.)

As such, there is a deeper level of humility for nature in this than any of the other films. Whereas previous entries were about attempting to gain control of the nature world, Dominion recognizes that humanity is no longer the top of the food chain. (“Humanity has no more right to be top of the food chain than any other species,” pines Ian Malcolm.) The damage has been done and we must accept the reality that we’ve created. The past cannot be changed… so what does it mean to live in the moment that is here? 

Right now, there are many who feel like Jurassic World: Dominion is an extinction-level event. But this reviewer simply doesn’t agree. Although there are moments that are laughable, Dominion’s insanity is wrapped in gleeful silliness. Is it the best of the franchise? Not at all. But, despite what some may say, it isn’t the worst either.

Admittedly, one needs to lower their expectations for Dominion if they believe it will achieve the heights of the original. But, if you’re willing to hop onboard for a journey into dino-chaos, there’s no reason that you won’t enjoy the ride.

Jurassic World: Dominion roars into theatres on Friday, June 10th, 2022.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Colin Trevorrow, dinosaurs, Isabella Sermon, Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Dominion, Laura Dern, raptors, Sam Neill, Universal

4.21 Life Still Finds A Way in JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM

July 22, 2018 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/4.21-Jurassic-World-Fallen-Kingdom.mp3

After 25 years (!) since the original film, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom showed that the Raptors still have box office pull but have poor reviews brought the future of the franchise in jeopardy? This week, dino-fan Ben Dower returns to talk with Steve about how the franchise has changed, science and awe, and whether or not life really finds a way.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.21 Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom

Thanks Ben for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, dinosaurs, Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

READY PLAYER ONE Giveaway!

March 26, 2018 by Steve Norton 6 Comments

Are you ready?

In the year 2045, much of Earth’s population centers have become slum-like cities due to overpopulation, pollution, corruption, and climate change. To escape their desolation, people engage in the virtual reality world of the OASIS (Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation), where they can engage in numerous activities for work, education, and entertainment.

Wade Watts (Sheridan) is a teenage Gunter (short for “egg hunter”) from Columbus, Ohio who frequents the OASIS and attempts to win “Anorak’s Quest”, a game created by the deceased creator of the OASIS, James Halliday (Rylance), by finding the Easter Eggs. The winner is to be granted full ownership of the OASIS, among other things.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook and answer the following question in the comment section: Tell us your favourite Steven Spielberg film and why!

The winner will receive a copy of the original book for Ready, Player One, written by Ernest Cline.

For a bonus entry, like or retweet this post on Twitter.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Thursday, March 29th, 2018.

 

Ready, Player One will be unleashed in theatres on March 29th, 2018

Filed Under: Film, Giveaways Tagged With: Back To The Future, Ernest Cline, Jurassic Park, Mark Rylance, OASIS, Ready Player One, Steven Spielberg, tye sheridan

Jurassic World: A Whole New ‘World’?

June 19, 2015 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Jurassic-World-The-Game

$208.8 million dollars.

Let’s just let that number sit there for a minute.

While it was no surprise that it took top spot at the box office, the fact that Jurassic World has literally shattered every box office record in its opening weekend is nothing short of staggering. While there was high anticipation for the first Jurassic Park sequel in fourteen years (and, arguably, the first good one since the original), no one expected the response that this film has received.

But does popularity also necessarily mean that the film has anything to say?

In this case, maybe.

Directed by Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed), Jurassic World returns us to Isla Nublar, the site of the original Jurassic Park. Now a fully operational theme park with over 20 000 visitors a day, Jurassic World has become an incredible success. Although, due to the fact that it has become so accessible to the public, the dinosaurs have become commonplace as attractions. As a result, the park’s operations manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) ambitiously seeks to create excitement by developing the Indomitus Rex, a new hybrid dinosaur, to terrify and delight new visitors. However, when the Indomitus eventually escapes from its pen—an ‘inevitability’ claims the park’s CEO, Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan)—Claire must enlist the help of rugged raptor trainer, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to prevent the rampaging beast from killing innocent park patrons.

While far from a perfect film, World finally delivers the sequel that the franchise has needed, offering the right balance of new direction and nostalgia that has been lacking from previous entries. At long last, the raptors are both dangerous and have a purpose in the story. Once again, the narrative seems to have something to say about our current culture. Even the decision to return to Isla Nublar deliberately signaled a desire to return to the magic of the original film. (What’s more, if Guardians of the Galaxy wasn’t enough proof, Jurassic World fully establishes Chris Pratt as this generation’s lovable action hero. And yes, if the rumors are true, I am fully onboard with him taking on the whip and fedora in the inevitable Indiana Jones reboot.)

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Produced by Spielberg through his Amblin label, Jurassic World very mucy feels like a throwback to the adventure films of the 80s and 90s, a fact which both plays out as a strength and a weakness. As a strength, it reveals a sense of light-heartedness and pure adventure that is often missing from today’s darker, more brooding tones. However, as a weakness, it has been argued that the character development plays out in a sexist manner; a charge that I feel isn’t fully accurate. While it is true that Owen’s character plays hero to Claire most of the film, the power dynamics have balanced out by the end. (Even if Claire’s character may not have the fearlessness of someone like Furiosa in Mad Mad: Fury Road, she’s also far from ‘weak’.)

Thematically, a lot has changed in the past twenty-two years as well. Whereas Jurassic Park stemmed from a culture just breaking the science of DNA, Jurassic World is born out of an era where people have grown accustomed to these sorts of technological advancements. Gone is the overall sense of wonder in the first film, replaced with a feeling of general malaise. Though, this is where the film dips its toe into theological territory. While Park asks whether or not man should attempt to play God, World begs the question of what happens when man gets bored of doing so? In other words, in a culture where human scientific achievement has become an everyday occurrence, Jurassic World reminds us that there is something wondrous about the very nature of life itself. In this film, the moral dilemma of the science isn’t the core problem.

The real issue is that they are no longer impressed by it.

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By arguing that their ‘triceratops is seen the same [by kids] as an elephant’, Claire constantly pushes her team to invent something new. However, in the process, she also loses sight of the astonishing nature of what they’ve accomplished, a theme that echoes our own culture of self-satisfaction and entertainment. Frequently losing sight of the miraculous and emptying our world of a spiritual connection to God’s creation, too often we break down the nature of life into one giant scientific equation. As a result, by subtracting the Divine aspect to science, we are left with little view of anything larger than ourselves. (Incidentally, Jurassic World counters this error in self-absorption through the character of Owen who recognizes that these dinosaurs ‘don’t know [they were created in a lab]’ and acknowledges that they fact that they are alive makes them more than mere experiments.)

In the end, Jurassic World delivers what it promises – a fun ride with a nostalgic feel. Most surprisingly though is the fact that it also has something new to say in a franchise that had seemed to run its course over a decade ago.

Despite the fact that we may not have learned from our mistakes, it really is a whole new World.hgxfysec5xcn2odalxro

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Colin Trevorrow, dinosaurs, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World

Jurassic Park III: When the Magic is (Almost) Missing

June 9, 2015 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

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“With the best intentions? Some of the worst things imaginable were done with the best intentions.” – Dr. Alan Grant

After years of panning from critics and fans, there are many who would argue that the above quote best sums up the entirety of Jurassic Park III.

I am not one of them.

Personally, I have always found Jurassic Park III to be an enjoyable sequel that seeks earnestly to recapture the thrills and wonder of the original film.

Well, mostly…

With Spielberg relegated to the executive producer’s chair, Jurassic Park III was directed by Joe Johnston (Captain America: The First Avenger) and sees the return of Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill). Having put the events of the first film behind him, Alan happily declares that nothing could ever get him to return. Nothing, that is, until he is tricked into leading a guided tour of Isla Sorna—the second island—by Paul and Amanda Kirby. Soon after they land, Alan realizes that he is not leading an exotic expedition but rather a search-and-rescue operation on an island that he has never seen before.

In a lot of ways, Jurassic Park III feels like the movie that should have been made instead of The Lost World. Within it, there’s little question that every effort was made to reclaim the magic of the first film. Relegated to brief predators in The Lost World, the raptors are relevant again. They manage to create a new menace in the Spinosaurus. Alan’s return gives the film a much-needed balance between professionalism and protector that (bless his heart) is missing from Goldblum’s erratic chaos theorist. Even the pterodactyls finally make an appearance, after their tease at the end of Jurassic Park. Yes, it’s hardly the perfect film. Still, JPIII does seem to undo some of the damage done by the first sequel and at least rekindles some of the magic that was missing from the franchise.

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However, my primary issue with the film isn’t with the special effects, the plot, or the sense of adventure that it offers. JPIII does bring what’s necessary to give you a fun ride. I feel the film is lacking in its lack of soul. While the first film grappled with what happens when man tries to play God and the second film attempted (ultimately failing… but attempted) to examine some issues of oppression, Jurassic Park III lacks any real effort to bring us something more. While it does manage to link the theme of parenting between the Kirbys and the raptors themselves, there isn’t much further exploration into any specific idea or theme.

How interesting would it have been to really explore and compare the idea of relationships amongst humans and their similarities to other species? Or what about the sacrifices that one is willing to do as a parent in the name of love? These themes, amongst many others, were ripe for exploring and would have invited some fascinating spiritual conversation… yet JPIII falls short in this area. (Incidentally, this is also the only film in the series to include a number in the title, something that I believe is significant by revealing that it may not be much more than a sequel.)

With this in mind, though I do have a special place in my heart for Jurassic Park III, it did signify that Universal really didn’t know where else to take this franchise at the time. While still a fun ride that doesn’t deserve the flack that it often gets, the film doesn’t really offer much more that sits with you after the credits have rolled.

Even if it was made with the best of intentions.

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Filed Under: DVD, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Joe Johnston, Jurassic Park, Sam Neill, Steven Spielberg, The Lost World

Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Repeat After Me, ‘There Is No Jurassic Park II’

June 9, 2015 by Jacob Sahms Leave a Comment

lost worldAfter the explosively entertaining Jurassic Park, audiences everywhere were salivating at the prospect of more velociraptors, more comedy, and more (dare I say it?) Jeff Goldblum. But whatever the entertainment and theological value that the first film based on Michael Crichton’s ‘amusement park-with-dinosaurs’ idea had, the second one is a laughable, awful mess. The Lost World was a rushed book, and a rushed film, and a story that Steven Spielberg himself said, “I beat myself up… growing more and more impatient with myself… It made me wistful about doing a talking picture, because sometimes I got the feeling I was just making this big silent-roar movie… I found myself saying, ‘Is that all there is? It’s not enough for me.'”

And yet, they made a third film?

This third film finds Dr. Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) hellbent on ‘saving’ his girlfriend, paleontologist Dr. Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore, Still Alice). The park’s creator, John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), has sent her with a team of scientists and hunters to ‘Site B,’ the island where the dinosaurs. She’s thrilled to be interacting with animals she’s only studied in theory; Malcolm knows all too well about the real danger that the dinosaurs pose. And that has nothing to do with the dangerous agenda of Roland Tembo (Peter Postlethwaite, The Usual Suspects, The Town), a big game hunter.

lostworld2All of that is probably well and good. Until we realize that the film’s main aim is to get the dinosaurs to the main land a la Godzilla. Somehow, the incredible nature of the special effects that cause these dinosaurs to walk across the screen cannot save the lack of viable dialogue and plot points. But someone thought this film was good enough that millions of dollars piled up and the studio had to make another. Are you one of them?

Ultimately, you probably fall into two camps: you either think that Goldbum is a wonderful, sad sack of laughter or… he’s a terrible actor. Honestly, I usually fall into the first category, having devoured Independence Day and his turn following Vincent D’Onofrio on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. And the rest of the cast is reasonably awesome as well, past Moore and Postelthwaite: Richard Schiff (The West Wing) as an engineer, Vince Vaughn (in his follow-up to Swingers) as a cameraman, and Peter Stormare (everything…) So, if it’s not the cast, then it must be the story, the script, the creativity behind it, right?

Consider this selective filmography of screenwriter David Koepp. On one side, you have Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man (the first Tobey Maguire one), Angels & Demons, Men in Black 3, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. On the other side, you have Zathura, Premium Rush, Secret Window,  Mortdecai, and … Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Now, that’s a mixed bag, but it shows the general unevenness of what a script can bring (or not bring) to a movie. Obviously, it’s not all on Koepp because it’s based on Crichton’s novel – one which he was originally disinterested in writing – but the story here just isn’t as earthshaking, and the idea isn’t as earth shattering as the original.

lostworld3Still, we can learn from The Lost World. The overwhelming lesson revolves around hubris, around pride, around the belief that if it exists, that we, humanity, can control it. Better yet, it investigates the smug assurance, here by Hammond and Tembo, that not only can we control it but that we should control it. The whole idea reminds me of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11, where people got the grand idea that they could build something that reaches heaven. And yet, they fail there in the terms that the early followers of the Bible understand, because God mixes things up for them so that they can’t complete their project. It’s not that they can’t accomplish it but rather that they shouldn’t.

In this second story, the middle one for another few days, we see that we should not create dinosaurs even if we can. We see that there are reasons why boundaries and natural laws exist, to keep us safe and make us better. Thanks to Jurassic Park: The Last World, we can see that there are some things we should leave to God. Like dinosaurs.

Filed Under: DVD, Film Tagged With: David Koepp, Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Lost World, Richard Attenborough, Steven Spielberg

Jurassic Park: 22 Years Later We Still Have Not Learned

June 8, 2015 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

Jurassic Park Logo

With Jurassic World set to be released this week, let’s take a look back at the movie that started it all. In its time, it was a remarkable film with great action sequences and incredible-looking animatronics dinosaurs. It was a film that kept you on the edge of your seat while also engulfed in the possibilites and scenarios that it brings up. One can consider it a film ahead of it’s time, something Spielberg has done plenty of times.

I’ll be honest: I can’t remember the last time I saw the film, so sitting down to watch it again brought back some nostalgia, but also let me appreciate how far we have come in technology. The film is still a wonderful film, but it no longer holds that majestic feel it did back in the early ’90s. Taking another look twenty-two years later, as a more “seasoned” movie watcher, the dinosaurs are not as scary and the acting really is sub par. Yet, through it all, I still enjoyed rewatching it, while thinking to myself, “mankind hasn’t changed in twenty-two years.”

jurassic park2When we look at a film like this, where man is attempting to play God, the first thing we think is “this won’t end well.” Why is that? Because it never does! History has told us and proven to us that nothing good comes out of man trying to take the role of God. Jurassic Park is a perfect example of it. They constantly remind us that they have loosely and irresponsibly taken control of forces they don’t understand and have no idea how to control it. How can they possibly know? There isn’t enough science in the world that tells us we can bring dinosaurs into today’s world and control them, yet here they are trying to do exactly that.

Now the concept is wonderful and the idea that one can take fossilized mosquitos and draw out strands of DNA to clone animals that lived billions of years agao is fascinating. But how smart is it? These aren’t cats and dogs we are talking about, but these are animals that will make the fiercest of lions look like a kitten.

Jurassic_Park_raptorsDr. Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) voices his concerns perfectly in the film in that they decided to play with some of the greatest scientific and genetic forces in the universe and wield them like a child that finds his dad’s loaded gun. There is no sense of responsibility in it. At the same time, they are so preoccupied with the idea of “can we do this” that they never stopped to ask “should we?”

I look at this film and these aspects and fast forward to today and we still see these things happening. Man is still attempting to play the part of God and wield the power of nature. We are so fascinated with the possiblities and so blinded with socially driven agendas that we don’t stop to ask, “Should we?” Should we mess with the natuaral order that God intended? Should we throw out morality in order to create new rules and a false morality? What power or right do we have to do all these things?

jurassic parkAs I sit back and watch this film and think of how irresponsible mankind can be, it reminds me how much we tend to be more like Satan and less like Jesus. “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Nevertheless you be thrust down to Sheol, to To the recesses of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Satan’s sin was pride and a sense of entitlement. He thught he could and had the right to ascend to the throne and replace God. Isn’t that what man is guilty of? Aren’t we a prideful bunch that feel that we are entitled to do whatever we want whenever we want? That pride and entitlement has us slowly destroying the land. Our sins are scarttered to every corner of the earth but God says, “If my people, who are called by may name, will humble themselves and pray seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (Chronicles 7:14). Our prideful and sinful ways have not been working.

And just like Jurassic Park, the “dinosaurs” are out and looking to devour anyone and anything they find. Maybe it’s time to turn away, stop trying to be God, and start following God.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Jurassic Park, Jurassic World

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