Why is cinema so magical?
The silver screen brings to life things that audiences might never see. Back at the turn of the 20th century, Georges Melies captured the imagination of the world as he took us into space with A Trip to the Moon. Victor Fleming brought a whole new world of color to life when Dorothy walked out of his home in The Wizard of Oz. Kirk Douglas rode the high seas and went deep below the waves in Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Stanley Kubrick brought humanity beyond the infinite in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Peter Jackson brought the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth to actualization in The Lord of the Rings. Magic came to life in a generational-defining franchise in Harry Potter. Disney has delivered plenty of fantasy worlds and has helped people believe in superheroes.
But what about the things that used to be or can possibly be?
Science fiction has been a pillar of the cinematic world since the dawn of film. Like Melies and Kubrick, so many directors have been able to conjure up plenty of special moments on the big screen. We have seen countless alien races on film including the Predator and Xenomorph. We have seen robots and machines take control from The Terminator and Ex Machina. The fall of humanity has been portrayed in so many ways thanks to a variety of causes. Post-apocalyptic stories from Mad Max and The Road have captured our worst nightmares. But the ability to bring back the past might be the grandest of all subgenres.
Time travel might be more common (with plenty of rousing classics) but bringing back to life something long destroyed is an incredible concept to master.
Who is the right director to take on that challenge?
Steven Spielberg. His work with science fiction is well documented. He has delivered two of the greatest alien encounter stories put to screen with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. He even updated H.G. Wells’ invasion story of War of the Worlds. He took on futuristic worlds in Minority Report, A.I., and Ready Player One. But there is one sci-fi flick that has truly defined his incredible abilities with the genre…Jurassic Park.
How did Spielberg bring this incredible story to the silver screen?
He wages an intense bidding war with others including James Cameron to get the rights to Michael Crichton’s impressive sci-fi/horror novel. Dense and horrific, Crichton delivers a thrilling and intense experience for readers. He even got the opportunity to come in and write the initial draft of the film. But with David Koepp taking on the final draft, we see the finished product that Spielberg took to screen. Crichton’s novel was horrific and brutal. There was a much darker tone. There was no sense of wonder when it came to the dinosaurs. They would have just been movie monsters. But when it all came down to it, Spielberg turned out to be a perfect choice.
But what makes his efforts such that he served up a perfect film?
First off, Spielberg captured some serious magic. Spielberg knows a thing or two about practicing restraint with the “monsters” in his film. The opening scene is frightening but we never see a dinosaur. But the scene where we do see them for the first time is something special. We see Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) see something off camera. Spielberg uses a great close-up to capture the shock and surprise of what he sees. He slowly stands up in the jeep and grabs Ellie’s head (Laura Dern). Then she is also overcome by shock and awe. While this is all occurring, John Williams is slowly building up to one of the most amazing musical queues in all of film. Spielberg finally pulls the trigger to reveal a giant dinosaur on screen. This cinematic moment is one of the most iconic in film and is a pitch-perfect example of the wonder that can be achieved. The cherry on top is Hammond (Richard Attenborough) saying the iconic line “Welcome to Jurassic Park”.
Does Spielberg get to show off his auteur skills as a director?
The technical skills that went into those films are most impressive. The opening scene is in some great direction. Spielberg makes sure to build tension and suspense by not showing off the raptors too early. The glorious lighting and shadow give a tangible and organic look to the film that stands out. This film holds up almost thirty years later because it feels tangible and the support towards. There is great camerawork throughout the film as well. One of the most iconic deaths is for Muldoon. The camera is zoomed in on his face, then his hands preparing his rifle, then it cuts to his target. But then the camera slowly pans to the left to reveal the raptor waiting for him at a perpendicular angle (perfectly set up by Dr. Grant in dialogue at the start of the film). We get the iconic “Clever girl” line and then a brutal death expertly hidden behind well-placed foliage. The avoidance of showing all the gruesome details helps build tension and suspense in a way that the gore would never accomplish. Nedry’s death at the hands of a dilophosaurus is pitch perfect with only a rocking jeep and Wayne Knight’s squeals there to sell the terror.
What is the bedrock of Spielberg’s film that helps elevate every moment?
The score was composed by the legendary John Williams. His collaborations with Spielberg are just perfection and make up some of the most iconic and memorable pieces of music ever put to film. It is unbelievable that the score for Jurassic Park somehow did not win an Oscar. Who did Williams lose to? Himself…for Schindler’s List. Go figure. But the opening sequence of a raptor attack and the introduction of Muldoon (with his other iconic line “Shot her!”) is layered with an ominous and more industrial tune that we do not expect from Williams. But the score swelling as that helicopter flies up to the park is beautiful and adventurous. We are prepared for the wonders that await us. But the most recognizable piece of music from the film is from that first reveal of the dinosaurs. Few pieces of music elicit such a response as that one. Throw in a few marches (challenging some Indiana Jones) and a moving bit of music to wrap up the film and you have one of the greatest scores of all time.
Spielberg and Williams provide so much of the magic but how do these dinosaurs come to life?
When we have the big wide shots of the dinosaurs in their habitats (or in the case of the T-Rex with it attacking people) the crew offers up some state-of-the-art computer-generated effects. The CGI is so well done that honestly, it looks more believable in the shot than in a decent number of films today. The use of real sets helps give contrast to them instead of just being giant CGI blobs on a giant CGI screen. But when the camera comes in close, that is where the real magic happens. Phil Tippet was slated to do some stop-motion animation (riding high off his work with Robocop amongst other projects) but then a radical decision was made. Animatronics. They made robotic dinosaurs…AMAZING. They look so impressive and make for a much more organic viewing experience. Watching the actor interacting with real tangible creatures is so much more engaging than them acting to a tennis ball on a stick. There is such a great variety of dinosaurs as well from the triceratops to the raptors to the T-Rex (of course). Such a magical experience (especially seeing it all for the first time).
Outside of the effects and technical aspects of the film, what makes this more than just a big monster romp?
The depth in the writing truly sets it apart. There is a scene with just a group of characters talking over dinner that is one of the most engaging scenes in the whole film. That is special when you are watching a film about actual dinosaurs. The challenges and perspectives that come to blows are impressive. Dr. Ian Malcolm is a walking philosophical quandary as he challenges expectations of Hammond at every turn. Hammond is so self-assured that he and his scientists have outsmarted nature and that the wonder is worth every risk (and to make the all-mighty dollar is key). Hammond’s arrogance and lack of self-awareness make him dangerous. His park is dangerous because he thinks about dollars and sees it all in black and white. Ellie points out his ignorance to choose poisonous plants because they look the part (which is an expertly constructed plant to a sad scene that will come shortly after). Hammond is so far gone that he can only convince the lawyer (Gennaro) that he is right. Malcolm is the guiding light of morality for the audience in the film (which is quite funny as he is not the most respectful and classy in his own interactions). They made every dinosaur female so they cannot possibly reproduce. Wrong. Malcolm knows that “Life finds a way”. This had a great early planted origin when they were on the copper and Dr. Grant couldn’t buckle up (he just ties the belt pieces together). But Hammond’s scientists are so smart and talented which means they can easily do it all. “They never thought about if they should” …that is Malcolm preaching the truth. Hammond argues that other extinct creatures would never get this reaction, but Malcolm’s reply is biting as he explains it was nature’s choice to destroy the dinosaurs. Humans should not be in the right to make whatever judgment call is made. The lawyer gets devoured on a toilet and Hammond’s whole park is shattered to pieces. Nature balances it all out in the end.
What really sets Jurassic Park apart from so many other films that rely on the novelty of a creature?
The human characters. The depth chart on this flick is incredible. We have Hammond who is an arrogant and self-absorbed man. His arc is realizing that his limited perspectives and end goals were misguided, and he needed to put other priorities first (like his grandchildren). These kids are resourceful with each of them having something to add to the narrative and help the group escape. Tim loves dinosaurs and has a connection to Dr. Grant (he read his book of course). But Lex can do computer things which comes in handy when Nerdy and Mr. Arnold are no longer a part of the story. Attenborough is a charming little old man with a surprising bite to him. There are moments where you can see a darker side to him especially when he screams at the thought of his priceless raptors dying.
Dr. Alan Grant is a great protagonist for us to latch onto. We can relate to the wonder he experiences in seeing dinosaurs in real life. He is so committed to his craft and profession that he is blinded to Ellie (his partner) and her desire for children. We see his discomfort with them with how he scares the child who disrespects dinosaurs at the beginning of the film (which is honestly hilarious). But spending the second half of the film with Tim and Lex. He learns to warm up to them and even has fun with them (the fake electrocution part was messed up but still funny). The care and connection that he develops with these two kids become the heart of the story and show Alan that he could potentially have that future with Ellie. Neill is so believable as this intelligent man and brings a rye presence as well. He is always bringing a gruffness to the proceedings.
Speaking of Ellie Sattler, she is a capable and endearing presence in the film. From the start, she has great chemistry with Dr. Grant which is a relationship we can get behind. She does a great job of handling the advances of Ian Malcolm. She steps up to get the power generators back on after Nerdy crippled the infrastructure. Even with a vulnerable physical state, she is willing to go out into certain danger to do what is right. Laura Dern is just so charming in the role making Ellie’s presence an absolute delight.
But Ian Malcolm certainly takes the cake for so many. He is a cool and collected scientist who just has foreign harm to him that is just infectious. Goldblum’s weird vocalizations and grunts are just iconic at this point. His confidence in the role makes him a magnetic presence with all types of weird but infectious antics. His line delivery is pitch perfect as Malcolm is the king of iconic lines it feels like half of his dialogue is just so memorable. Malcolm sticks to his guns and does not care about ruffling feathers. The perspective that he brings is biting and brutally frank. He sees through the harm and dangers of Hammond’s ideas and is willing to do whatever he wants to get the job done. Not to mention his iconic shirtless lean… which is one of the most famous shots of the film!
But it is not just the leads that grab your attention, right?
Muldoon is a stern but honorable man that actor Bob Peck fully embodies. He is a strong presence without saying much (except for two of the best lines in the film). Samuel L. Jackson is slightly understated as Mr. Arnold, but he is equally charismatic and likable. He does his best to fix things that we can get behind. Wayne Knight is a delight as the disgusting and horrible Nerdy. Such an unlikeable villain fits perfectly in the film who allows nature to take over the island.
What is the final piece that truly ties this film together?
The humans in the film and the audience get to sit back in awe of the wonders that Spielberg provided us on screen.
Tweet
The finale of the film is seeing a T-rex and raptors coming to blows. But the humans get away while these predators fight for positioning in this new ecosystem. That is what is so special about this film. Nature can just be nature and the audience appreciates its wonders of it. The dinosaurs are not villains. They just act by their nature without having to adjust for dramatic effect. This is a towering achievement in a year that just might have been his peak.
