Jurassic Park

This is one of the movie milestones of my childhood. This gave me the initial impulse (as a kid) to start looking at movies in greater detail. Spielberg’s adaptation of Crichton’s novel “Jurassic Park" appeared from out of the blue at a time when dinosaurs were my whole life. Back then this was in short "mind-blending" for me ;) . First the digital effects and second the excellent directing and great acting performances make Jurassic Park a breathtaking watch, even thirteen years later. Mainly Sam Neill put on a perfect performance. Then of course the Tyrannosaurus and not to forget Sam Jackson and his “Mr Arnold". And there’s one more name to mention. John Williams. (2006-07-16)

A flawless example of integrating CGI into the narrative. Thanks to the fact that dinosaurs also appear as attractions in the fictional world and the characters perceive them as such, they film still has a palpable “wow” effect to this day (exemplary in this respect is the scene in which the main characters first see the dinosaurs in all their glory). At the same time, it is an excellent (or reprehensible, depending on how much you despise capitalism) example of how to incorporate merchandising into the story (the uniformity of the film’s logo and the park’s logo, the “incidentally” filmed gift-shop selection). Jurassic Park is a self-assured Hollywood product that gives you your money’s worth by providing superior entertainment that works in every respect. What fascinates me the most is that its effectiveness, which only a few directors have come close to matching, comes across as simply a matter of course. 85% (2014-03-15)

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. (2007-09-19)

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. (2006-06-15)

“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." (2023-04-03)