Jurassic Park 3D - B+

Rated PG-13, 125 minutes

 

Dinos just as scary, thrilling in 3D "Jurassic Park" re-release

Sam Neill

Well, it's about time. It took long enough for Steven Spielberg's blockbuster "Jurassic Park" to finally be re-released in 3D, timed well for its 20th Anniversary and the announcement of the 4th edition of the now hit franchise series (Spielberg's not directing the 4th installment, if you want to know). "Jurassic Park" is a thrilling, tense ride, made all the more spectacular by the addition of decent 3D. In case you forgot, the film follows two dinosaur experts -- Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler Laura Dern) -- as they are invited by eccentric millionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) to preview his new amusement park on an island off Costa Rica. On what is perhaps the scariest theme park ride ever, Spielberg takes you on an unforgettable journey in "Jurassic Park" and reminds you of some of its impressive sights. The film's clear strengths are the stellar visual effects, groundbreaking at the time, and its energetic pacing. The flimsy storytelling and dialogue, based on the late Michael Crichton's best-seller and also scripted by Crichton himself, are the film's chief flaws, but what it lacks in character is made up in the action scenes and the excellent, Oscar-winning visual effects, which still have held up well 20 years later, only enhanced by the serviceable 3D. Famed Academy Award-winning director Attenborough ("Gandhi") was always an interesting casting choice, but it works remarkably well (and for those curious, Attenborough is still alive and kicking at age 89 today), paired with the hammy Jeff Goldblum, who steals the best scenes and lines and makes me long to see him in more films. I also forgot that is was one of Samuel L. Jackson's first big roles, and he adds a sense of squirrelly fun to the tense film, which becomes scarier in its final chapters. You won't want to miss all the 3D thrills and chills of the vastly entertaining "Jurassic Park," which is definitely worth a look after all these years.

Wes's Grade: B+