Jurassic Park (1993) is directed by Steven Spielberg and features a screenplay by David Koepp. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Wayne Knight, Samuel L. Jackson, and BD Wong. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton, the film follows paleontologist Alan Grant (Neill) and his professional as well as romantic partner, Ellie Sattler (Dern), after they’re hired by the charismatic and wealthy John Hammond (Attenborough) to work as consultants on his new dinosaur-themed amusement park. After arriving on the isolated island that hosts the park, it’s revealed that it’s no ordinary attraction; it’s a zoo made to host genetically engineered dinosaurs created by Hammond and his team. Along with mathematician Ian Malcolm (Goldblum), “the bloodsucking” lawyer Donald Gennaro (Ferrero), and Hammond’s young grandchildren, Tim (Mazzello) & Lex (Richards), the couple proceeds to explore the park and its various wonders. Unfortunately for them, one of Hammond’s disgruntled employees enacts a plan to steal the dinosaurs’ priceless genetic codes, which sees him shut down the park’s security measures. Now free from their enclosures, the dinosaurs begin wreaking violent havoc throughout the park, which forces Alan (who very much dislikes children) to become the reluctant guardian of Tim & Lex. As the situation becomes more dire, the other survivors make a desperate bid to restore the power and call for help before it’s too late. Stalked around every corner by vicious predators from a long-dead era, the group, more specifically Hammond, realizes that when humans play God, God doesn’t answer in kind. 

The cast features a lot of capable performers with recognizable names, and although none of their performances are particularly Oscar-worthy, they’re pretty close. They display distinct personalities that each provide something unique to the experience. It’s a shame that characters such as Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) don’t receive proper arcs, but that doesn’t stop them from making their mark. This is an efficient script that packs a lot into its 2-hour runtime, but it doesn’t have time for everything. It leaves the viewer wanting more but in the best way possible. Small moments of dialogue and even smaller visual hints provide subtle character exposition, giving the film endless rewatch value despite its straightforward story. 

The central character arc of the film sees Alan struggling to come to terms with the possibility of settling down and starting a family with Ellie, which is brought to the forefront when he’s forced to protect the kids. It’s simple, accessible, sweet, and feels right at home in this kind of blockbuster. This dynamic provides a lot of conflict, but it all leans on the fun side of things. I generally wish the script leaned further into the more serious tension between characters. It sets up a lot of conflict between them in the first half but abandons most of it in the second. Once the dinosaurs start attacking, nothing else really matters. I suppose that’d be the case in real life, so I mostly forgive it. 

Although the ensemble is strong, the standout performance for me (and I’ve seen the film hundreds of times) is the legendary Richard Attenborough as the park’s eccentric creator, John Hammond. From the beginning, his magnetic personality suggests that the character is someone truly one-of-a-kind, yet also dangerously reckless, despite his good nature. Throughout the film, he frustrates the viewer with his obsessive tunnel vision, constantly ignoring the warnings of the experts he personally hired to give their honest opinions about the park. As the situation devolves, Attenborough provides the character with palpably emotional yet subtle facial expressions that hint at a facade that is slowly deteriorating. We constantly see him approach emotion but hold back at the last second, the most important of which being an argument about salary with his systems specialist, Ned, played by Wayne Knight (who is masterfully annoying in the role). This is important because Ned then goes on to shut down the park, which initiates the entire disaster. If John had been willing to meet Ned on a human level, with empathy and care, he might have been able to prevent his actions (or at least see them coming). He realizes that he was so focused on creating new life that, at some point, he began to disregard the lives all around him. This all culminates in a moment where he hears his grandchildren scream over the phone as they’re attacked by raptors, which causes him to let out a scream of his own that’s so visceral and raw, it says everything it needs to, even though it’s essentially gibberish. It’s a moment you don’t realize you need until it happens, and after seeing it countless times, it still cuts pretty deep. Excellent delivery is the hallmark of a great actor, and this is top-notch.  

The film somehow features everything a person could want out of its “dinosaurs brought back to life in the modern-day” premise, effortlessly fusing elements of horror, adventure, action, and even sci-fi. After over 30 years, some of the CGI doesn’t exactly hold up, but Spielberg was wise to use it only when necessary. Close-ups mostly rely on practical effects, which are a little goofy but hold up a lot better than anything generated by CGI. That being said, even when the visuals falter, it’s clear that Spielberg understands how to create a sense of awe that extends beyond what we see. He understands how to build up to moments to the specific emotion(s) a particular scene requires, which includes giving the audience a clear understanding of who these characters are beforehand, thus providing us with the tools not just to understand what’s happening but also what it all means. There’s also a lot of strong, subtle foreshadowing for moments both big and small, adding yet another layer to the film’s impressive rewatch value. 

Overall, this is one of the best action blockbusters ever made, but it’s also one of the best monster movies ever made (not surprising from the guy who also made Jaws). There isn’t a single dull moment in the script, and although the visuals are a tad dated, this still looks miles better than anything created around the same time. The characters are more memorable than what the genre typically provides, and the dinosaur mayhem is varied and thrilling. The midpoint bridge sequence alone is a prime example of tension-fueled sequence design. The locations and sets are also wonderfully transportive, which is yet another element that supports the film’s ability to generate a sense of heartwarming wonder and awe. Most people have seen it – it’s a bonafide classic, but if you somehow haven’t, I’m guessing you are either not a fan of dinosaurs or simply don’t watch many movies. This is popcorn cinema at its absolute best and is still one of the most consistently entertaining films ever produced. Even with its minor flaws, I consider it a movie that stands out as one of the best of its kind. A