Jurassic Park (1997, VHS)

When Steven Spielberg s film version of Michael Chrichton s novel Jurassic Park was released back in 1993, Universal Studios seemed to have all the angles covered. Kids were a sure-fire draw to see the new movie, after all. What kid doesn t love dinosaurs? Parents would be dragged in by the kids, of course, but would likely be just as enthralled by the majestic behemoths traipsing across the screen, and perhaps by the big-name cast that rivaled the extinct creatures now making a cinematic return.

Universal was onto something, and though the making of Jurassic Park had to wait for the technology to portray the dinosaurs on screen, it was inevitable that the film would be made. Today, some 13 years after release as this humble reviewer puts words to electronic paper, Jurassic Park still maintains it s draw, it s charisma, it s entertainment value, and it s measure as a film the whole family can enjoy.

The story itself is fascinating enough. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) wants paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) to endorse his island theme park. But this isn t just any old thrill ride attraction-Hammond s scientists have managed to resurrect real dinosaurs for Jurassic Park.

They ve done this by extracting dinosaur DNA from blood trapped in mosquitoes that were subsequently covered in tree sap and fossilized. The DNA is reconstituted by comparing missing segments with that of frogs-et voila! Baby dinosaurs.

Hammond asks Grant, Sattler, chaos theorist Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), lawyer Donald Gennaro (Martin Ferrero), and his two grandchildren to tour the park for pre-opening impressions. But as one might expect, things soon go wrong, and people start getting hurt.

A tropical storm picks an inopportune moment to assault the island, just as computer specialist Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) has decided to shut down system power, security systems, and even communications to the mainland towards his own selfish ends.

Now, trapped inside the park, can Grant, Sattler, Malcolm and company survive the onslaught of reptilian predators as they try to return from their 65 million year slumber?

The real star of Jurassic Park, of course, is the dazzling array of special effects that brings the dinosaurs back to life. Brachiosaurs, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor and more all steal the show every time they appear in their amazingly life-like detail. To be sure, some of that wow factor is diminished on the small screen at home, and it doesn t quite grab you like it did in the theatre. But it s still fun to watch, and young children may not notice the difference at all.

The plot is extremely clever as one might expect from a novelist the caliber of Chrichton. Spielberg does an admirable job of preserving the story more or less intact, though there are some changes apparent to those who have read the book. Such is generally inevitable in any book-to-movie translation, however.

The acting is first-rate, too, with Neill, Attenborough and Dern turning in excellent performances. Bob Peck is convincing as ace hunter Robert Muldoon, who is convinced it was a mistake to bring some of these creatures back. Jeff Goldblum is, well, Jeff Goldblum, as he gets to be the conscience here as he was in Independence Day. He almost seems to be the same character he was in that blockbuster film, too. Look for an appearance by Samuel L. Jackson, too.

Spielberg should be ashamed, however, of his stereotypical portrayal of Dennis Nedry. Wayne Knight turns in a very good performance, and may well have been a perfect choice for the character. But the obligatory depiction of the fat guy constantly downing candy bars and swilling sodas, his desk covered in wrappers and trash, is a bit offensive and rather insensitive.

It s important not to miss the moral message of Jurassic Park. The ethics of science are the addressed here; mainly, just because man has certain technology, should we use it? As Malcolm argues, dinosaurs were selected for extinction by natural process, and man interfering by resurrecting them can only spell trouble. Well before cloning became a real ethical issue, it was addressed in Jurassic Park. John Hammond has a very hard time coming to terms with this dilemma, and only at the end does he see the answer clearly.

Perhaps it's a bit early to declare this a classic, but I'll do so anyway. A fine family film that's ready for a new generation to enjoy.