Movie Rewatch – Jurassic Park

It’s been a long time since the first Jurassic Park graced our theaters, but it’s still the best. The CGI effects have vastly improved since 1993, but the story is what matters most — and the original still brings back the happy tears and goosebumps I felt back then, seeing beloved dinosaurs come to life. I loved Dr. Grant, Dr. Sattler, Dr. Malcolm, and Gameskeeper Muldoon.

Almost everything in this movie is perfect. I know all the lines, and still use them in current conversation. Here are an offhand few: “Must go faster”, “Clever girl”, “Spared no expense”, “Life finds a way”, “I’m fairly alarmed here”, “Dodgson, Dodgson, we’ve got Dodgson here!”, “We’re back in the car, again”, “They’re flocking this way”, and, of course: “Welcome to Jurassic Park”.

The score from John Williams doesn’t fail to make me shiver, just a bit, every time. (BTW, how does he do it? I can name a dozen major movie themes he’s done over my lifetime that have become instantly recognizable and are completely original).

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Now, in 2018, I’ve seen the newer Jurassic World three times. It’s a visual feast, with the ever-lovable Chris Pratt, amazing effects, and a nice story that harkens back to the first film (thankfully, since the immediate sequels are of varying quality). But it lacks the (carnivorous) meat the original served up. Sometimes you can keep a story going, and even do a good job, but lack the spark of the first time. Jurassic Park delivered then, and still does now.

When you see those impact tremors in the cup of water, remember how a simple visual shorthand can become iconic.

Grade: A+

Read our review of Jurassic World

Just for fun…watch the Honest Trailers video of Jurassic Park. Even these guys love the first and best dinosaur film in the series.  

Grade: A+

About The Peetimes: Wow, a mark of a great movie is when you keep finding good things to notice even after a quarter century and dozens of viewings. Anyway, Jurassic Park was a pleasure to find Peetimes for. The pacing is a textbook example of tension and release, with real stakes and heart beating intensity, mixed with levity, and then quiet scenes of reflection.

I have four Peetimes that avoid any scenes with dinosaurs, or are deeply touching, or plot necessary. I’d choose the 1st or 2nd Peetime, if you can. The last two are pretty close together, but give you two options to run pee before the big final scenes. Look at the Meta descriptions and pick one.

There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Jurassic Park. (What we mean by Anything Extra)

Tags: movie review,Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Jill Florio

Co-Creator of RunPee, Chief of Operations, Content Director, and Managing Editor. RunPee Jilly likes galaxy-spanning sci fi, superhero sagas, fantasy films, YA dystopians, action thrillers, chick flicks, and zany comedies, in that order…and possesses an inspiringly small bladder. In fact, that little bladder sparked the creation of RunPee. (Good thing she’s learned to hold it.)