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Steven Spielberg has gotten pretty serious lately. In recent years, he’s directed heavy award season releases like Lincoln and War Horse. Twenty years ago, though, before he started making movies like Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, he brought dinosaurs back to life in Jurassic Park. And now, for the film’s 20th anniversary, fans can experience the action and adventure all over again on the big screen—in 3D.
The classic prehistoric adventure travels to an island off Costa Rica, where John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has created an extraordinary new theme park filled with real, living dinosaurs. Before Jurassic Park can open, though, his investors are calling for a thorough inspection by a number of experts—including slick mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and archaeologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern).
Together with a watchful lawyer and Hammond’s two eager young grandchildren, they set out on a tour of the island. But, with a storm approaching and a disgruntled employee out for revenge, the tour soon takes a dangerous turn.
Spielberg’s recent films have certainly been noteworthy. In fact, Lincoln topped my list of 2012’s best pictures. But Jurassic Park is classic Spielberg—and some might say the real Spielberg. It’s action-packed and playful, with likable characters, astonishing dinosaur effects, and a bold and adventurous score. Jurassic Park embodies the fun-loving personality of the guy who entertained my generation with movies like E.T. and the Indiana Jones films—while producing quirky TV favorites like Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain.
So, for those of us who grew up with that Steven Spielberg, it’s a treat to see Jurassic Park back in theaters. Though it has an undeniably ‘90s feel to it, the story holds up well—and its subtle message is just as timely now as it was in 1993. Most of the characters, meanwhile, are as entertaining as ever—especially Goldblum’s arrogant, fast-talking Dr. Malcolm, whose cheesy one-liners will still make audiences chuckle. The action is absolutely thrilling, too—and it’s all the more terrifying now that those massive, life-like monsters are back on the big screen (and coming at you in 3D, no less!) Even if you’ve seen it over and over again, it’s still tense and suspenseful—not to mention just plain fun.
It doesn’t matter what you think about the new trend of converting old movies to 3D. Love it or hate it, at least it gives audiences the opportunity to relive a couple of hours of their childhood while seeing this classic Spielberg adventure back in all of its action-packed, fun-filled, big-screen glory. And that alone makes it well worth the price of admission.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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