Just watched it recently too, and was again blown away by the way Spielberg used just enough CGI to sell the top-notch puppetry and other traditional special effects. I'm reckon it totally convinced a generation (and me) that CGI looked way better than it actually did.
I just love that the classic "It's a Unix system!" bit that gets mocked today was actually a real graphical file system for IRIX. A moment of accuracy coming off as ridiculous.
As I recall I read about Spielberg needing the perfect ripple and went through a bunch of different ones until they discovered a guitar string plucked underneath did it.
When the Velociraptor almost bites Lex's leg as they're pulling her up through the panel in the ceiling, I still jump, even if I'm thinking about exactly what I know is about to happen.
The velociraptor pack leader marked Muldoon in the opening scene (where the park worker gets pulled into the enclosure). Then the next time we see him, he’s telling Grant, Ellie, Malcolm, and the bloodsucking lawyer, “they remember.” That’s all I could think of when they got him.
Probably the height, or close to it, of practical effects - Toy Story was 2 years later and studios have been trying to program their movies ever since. Great score, strong cast across the board, one of a handful of movies I still always stop on if it's on the guide
“Totally get it! Same energy as when the alien shows up behind Sigourney Weaver in Alien: Resurrection. You know it’s coming, but it still gets you every time. 90s suspense magic! #JurassicPark #90sMovies”
Nothing beats that scene.
I remember conning my parents into taking me in Grade 2 by saying it was a comedy movie because a lawyer gets eaten on a toilet, and having to hold in every bit of terror I was feeling in the theatre so I would get to see more movies like it, but that moment made me break.
Practical effects make an enormous difference in the emotional realism and impact of a film no matter how advanced CG becomes, or may ever become; at least until they invent like, hard light holodeck shit or w/e, but if anyone's still watching films by then they're beyond saving
I’ve been watching the series with my younger sibling and they really enjoy the movies. They also pointed out the gifs made from the movies. Meanwhile I’m screaming at old scenes acting like it’s my first time watching.
Hold up in what way? We’ve learned so much about extinct animals in the last 30 years that if you pay any attention to the science at all, the movie’s very premise is ridiculous.
i think that it still has legs to stand on. the point of the book/movie is that these are attractions, not actual animals. they're abominations created by a man who overstepped. they're basically chimeras of modern day animals to attract guests; likeness to actual dinosaurs was an abandoned thought
The plot of every horror movie since and including Alien:
There's a monster. There are no lights. Throw down your Uzi, Kriss Vector, PM-06, flamethrower, taser, any weapon you have. And start walking backwards down the hallway with a flashlight as your only means of defense.
This is the movie we send into space for the aliens to find. It has everything- history of life on our planet and foreshadowing of our downfall through our own arrogance. It’s perfect start to finish.
Jurassic Park is such a good movie, im glad my mother showed the movie to me when I was a kid. I always like to rewatch the original trilogy every now and then.
The pacing, the characters, the special effects, the music, the set pieces… this was the first movie I ever saw in a theater and remains my favorite of all time.
I also read the book until it literally started falling apart so I had to buy another.
Whenever I'm disgusted w/ humanity (often after too long on social media), I watch Jurassic Park movies-- where the humans lose b/c of their arrogance & greed.
It's much more satisfying than experiencing it happening in real life.
Ah but in real life the oligarch-humans are winning big time cuz of arrogance and greed. Let us hope the movie we are apparently in has redeeming moments and a stirring ending where the bad guys are defeated. (Can dream.)
Ugh JP will always reign supreme. The newer JW movies just suck. There’s something to be said for shooting on Film. There’s a realism to it that can’t be beat.
Without the DOE no one will enforce Title IX. Without this there will be few women’s sports. Without women’s sports magats won’t be able to complain about men playing them.
You made me laugh because that happens to me when I see it.
Went to see the movie by myself the first time and a young couple was sitting next to me. Me and the girlfriend shrieked at that same time. And the boyfriend was sitting between us.
I still have a scar in my arm from the only aunt/family member that was willing to take a child into a theater to see it. The soundtrack holds up pretty well too.
Such a good film. I find the best looking dinosaur momments are the ones where they use puppets and giant rigs, they look dar more life like than any CGI.
Right? I always discuss how the CGI is still so good!! I can say with confidence, arguably better than many of today’s offerings! And I love ALL the actors! So well acted! Especially Jeff Goldblum!
That's because all of the close-up shots were animatronics (aka fancy puppets), and they actually *built* a full-sized T-Rex animatronic! Only the far-away shots were CGI.
Indeed, they simply used the best tools for each shot. Animatronics, CG, guys in suits, actual puppets, just whatever made the most sense per shot is what they used and that kind of compensatory coverage elevates the entire film
Some movies are like that. I must have seen the original 1951 "Thing From Another World" 50 times, and I still jump when Kenneth Tobey opens the door and the creature is right there on the other side. Every single time.
Years ago my gran took me to the cinema to see The Sound of Music 🎶. I’ve never forgotten our time together. Years later, my gran was in her eighties and I reciprocated by taking her to see Jurassic Park. 🦕 She was totally amazed and absolutely loved it..
(That isn’t me but it is her 💛)
Because it’s an amazingly well-made movie. Excellent choices were made throughout it. When it comes to pure, popcorn-crunching entertainment (like movies not really designed to win awards or the praise of critics), it’s pretty near the top for me.
Remember it wasn't just the feathers. Real Velociraptors were the size of chickens. These things were bigger than Utahraptora!
Hammond died to the Compys in the book. They turned out to be venomous and the venom basically numbed and paralyzed him. He was eaten alive, and never felt a thing.
Well, they weren't real raptors anyway. They were chimeras with a lot of frog in them. It's not a bad hand wave to explain their lack of feathers. Hammond wanted theme park attractions, not actual recreated dinosaurs. He got way more than he bargained for. The way he died in the book...
For no reason at all I turned this on last night and is still a blast. I’ll never forget getting scared in the theatre when the Dilophosaurus attacked Newman.
I watched it a couple of days ago after watching some clips about the animatronics. It really was a legendary film. The CGI parts don't look as good with HD on a big screen but it's still not that noticeable.
One of my favorite movie theater memories is going to see JP for the third time that summer and turning around at the Laura-Dern-raptor scene to watch everyone jump in their seats and throw their popcorn.
When we saw this in the theater, it was when reclining seats first started being a thing and my mom basically wound up in the lap of the guy behind her because she reeled back at that moment.
It’s literally one of my favorite movies of all times. No matter how far cgi and things have come the Dino reveal segment with the music swelling still gives me chills
Will never forgive the sequels for turning velociraptors from terrifying monsters who made the audience scared to even BREATHE into trained dogs loyal to Chris Pratt’s
But they've diverged tonally (kept up with modern movie conventions, really) to the point that they no longer feel like an honest part of the original series.
To me at least.
I am beginning to think there might be nothing wrong, and I'm just having an "old man yelling at clouds" moment.
I agree. This movie is iconic - from this short period when first decent CGI were just introduced, but in a smart way for well constructed movies. It is crazy how... effective it is given just mere minutes of time when we see the CGI dinos.
My favorite part of that movie is remembering that real velociraptors were about the size of a chicken, and may have bobbed their heads like one when walking. It changes the tone of a lit of scenes...
My MIL would always ask to watch this when she came over. I thought she just really loved the movie. Turns out, she just loved to watch me scream and jump.
True famous last words “when I come back I’m gonna run over you”. George and Newman are running neck and neck in the all time swell guy category. Seinfeld is still funny all the time.
That was a great book and movie! I do the same thing with Jaws, when Richard Dreyfuss is investigating the sunken boat and the guy's head pops out of the hole.
Comments
Goat Cinema. I kept rewinding scenes because of how Iconic
They were
I remember conning my parents into taking me in Grade 2 by saying it was a comedy movie because a lawyer gets eaten on a toilet, and having to hold in every bit of terror I was feeling in the theatre so I would get to see more movies like it, but that moment made me break.
STILL a classic.
I am convinced this power is due to the robots used. Not a lot of 3D but real models...
There's a monster. There are no lights. Throw down your Uzi, Kriss Vector, PM-06, flamethrower, taser, any weapon you have. And start walking backwards down the hallway with a flashlight as your only means of defense.
Really great movies and really fun movies always deliver.
I also read the book until it literally started falling apart so I had to buy another.
It's much more satisfying than experiencing it happening in real life.
Or else I just go off into my own fantasy world, like Sam in Brazil or John Savage's character in ST Voyager, Equinox.
When they treated velociraptors like pets, I said, “Fuck it, I’m out!”
https://youtu.be/W85oD8FEF78
Went to see the movie by myself the first time and a young couple was sitting next to me. Me and the girlfriend shrieked at that same time. And the boyfriend was sitting between us.
And yes "each time", as in, the rest of the movie was just so damn compelling and fun.
Good writing
Good visual effects
Good camera shots
And BAD ASS SICK COOLEST DINO IN ALL OF HISTORY OMG!!!!!!
Just like with 'The Thing'.
Though, the practical was definitely better done, considering that time that the CGI T-Rex fully flicker/vanishes for a sec lol
My gawd!
(That isn’t me but it is her 💛)
Hammond died to the Compys in the book. They turned out to be venomous and the venom basically numbed and paralyzed him. He was eaten alive, and never felt a thing.
Best thing about the sequels is when they bring back any of the OG.
They became fun monster movies that relied on an established IP (and fan service) to get the budget to be the interesting monster movies they are.
To me at least.
I am beginning to think there might be nothing wrong, and I'm just having an "old man yelling at clouds" moment.
https://youtu.be/-w-58hQ9dLk?si=yNm_knhz7H3Mr94G
A fantastic ride from beginning to end.