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Jurassic Park
(***)
On a small island outside of Costa Rica, eccentric billionaire John Hammond (Attenborough) has done what seems to be impossible. He has used sophisticated genetic engineering to bring dinosaurs back to life. It's part of a theme park, and after an accident early on in the film, he needs experts to sign off on the island; otherwise the park will never open.
So begins Jurassic Park, which has turned out to be pretty much the ultimate popcorn movie. Sam Neill and Laura Dern play a paleontologist and a paleobotonist, respectively, and it's to them that Hammond goes to when he gets in trouble. After less than 15 minutes, we're given exactly what we were waiting for; a giant living dinosaur. It moves so realistically it seems like a nature video more than a special effects movie.
But there's the problem. Spielberg has built this into such an action film that he's picked up a few of the plot points from the 1989 novel, but he only follows through with the "man in peril" aspect. Jeff Goldblum is both good and very entertaining as chaotician Ian Malcolm, but in the end it seems like he's not there for any reason other than to get hurt. He starts off spewing that life finds a way; it's impossible to contain it. Then suddenly we turn all the problems onto a disgruntled employee. Why bother?
It's here that I have to wonder why he even bothered. My suggestion is that Spielberg had picked up the basic concept of the novel, and then adapt the main ideas of the book to fit the screen. Here he does it only half way. It seems like he should have either been faithful or have just let his imagination go wild.
Another problem is the awe. Sure, it's amazing to see a giant Brachiasaur lumbering across the landscape, and it's exhilirating to see the Tyrannasaur. But why so soon? I remember a young man who refused to show the shark until the end.
Despite all my grumblings, Jurassic Park is a good movie. Had I written this 3 years or more ago, I probably would have given Jurassic Park a glowing review. However, I've given my ideas time to ferment, and it just seems like it could have been more.
Ah well, such is life.