WEEEKEND MOVIE: JURASSIC PARK

Ninetoes wants to honor the late actor Sam Neill by suggesting one of his best for your weekend viewing, Jurassic Park.

An industrialist invites some experts to visit his theme park of cloned dinosaurs. After a power failure, the creatures run loose, putting everyone’s lives, including his grandchildren’s, in danger.

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Written by David Koepp based on the novel Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum

Run Time 2 hours 7 minutes

Hey there, movie lovers! It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today I am taking a look at Steven Spielberg’s classic, Jurassic Park. I have popcorn in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

In 1977, we were told with a wildly popular movie, “You will believe a man can fly.” Well, in 1993, we should have been tol:d “You will believe dinosaurs are real!” Yes, that is the impact Spielberg’s movie Jurassic Park had on EVERYONE!

The writing was as sharp as a velociraptor’s claw. Sure, people were upset that events in the book were left out, but that is what sequels are for, right (I’m looking at you, Jurassic Park III). The story flowed effortlessly, and we went from one thrill ride to the next until the climax “When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth” … that shot lives in my memory forever, and my fervent wish was to share it with the five-year-old me. But I did one better; I shared it with my nephews.

The acting was off the charts good. Sure, we had exceptional special effects, but the acting by all concerned made us believe the dinosaurs were real! Everyone was on board, understood the assignment, and made us fear the dinosaur. To them it was real, and it made it real for us!

It was Sam Neill that sold the show! Here we have a curmudgeonly paleontologist who thinks kids smell, and gets sidled with kids through a majority of the movie. Hell, the man made us laugh by threatening a kid with a velociraptor claw to prove a point about an “Oversized Turkey”. Yes, we did laugh. He had it coming. Sure, his performance melted our hearts, but his performance also sold a whole bunch of books about dinosaurs and made kids follow in his footsteps. He was a hero’s hero in every sense of the word.

Sam Neill reprised his role in Jurassic Park III (which made the movie palatable) and in Jurassic World: Dominion, which brought the franchises together. Jurassic World Dominion also brought Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum back…ain’t it great when the band gets back together?

This movie is a classic for a reason. It has everything: action, adventure, a touch of romance, and an indelible sense of wonder. It is not a movie you watch. It is one you experience!

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.