Throwback Thrusday: Jurassic Park

 This being the year of Jurassic Park's 25th anniversary and with another Jurassic June upon us, let's explore the making of one of the greatest dinosaur stories ever told. First released in 1993 with at least 2 official re-releases it's safe to say that audiences love it and so do I. My biggest childhood obsession was dinosaurs and to see them in all their big screen glory really blew my mind as a kid( and still does). So join me as I explore how this epic film was made.

 Jurassic Park is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton though it does vary significantly from the novel. Michael Crichton was actually hired to adapt his own book into the screenplay so in a way we get two similar yet distinct versions of what happened on that weekend get away to a small island off Costa Rica. Stephen Spielberg agreed to make the movie in exchange for the greenlight on his next project Schindler's List. He said that he really enjoyed the way Crichton had used science to bring back the animals and that another monster movie would give him the chance to try "Jaws on land". Spielberg originally intenteded to use stop motion dinosaurs ( or more accurately a highly advanced form called "Go-Motion") and animatronic dinosaurs designed by Stan Winston for the close-ups. After seeing the results of some Go-Motion dinosaurs he was not satisfied and gave the go ahead to a couple of ILM animators( Steve Williams and Mark Dippé) to try and make CGI dinosaurs for the long-shots. After seeing the amazing work they accomplished he said "You're out of a job" to Go-Motion effects maker Phil Tippet, to which he replied " Don't you mean extinct?". Spielberg would later add this line to the script in an exchange between Dr. Grant and Ian Malcolm about the future of paleontology. Phil Tippet and his staff were retrained as computer animators and kept on to do storyboard animatics and consult on making the large CGI creatures move realistically. The effects of Jurassic Park would herald the beginning of the age of CGI and were done with care and attention to detail lacking in many modern CGI creations. After watching the 25th anniversary 4k remaster this weekend I can confidently say the effects still hold up. And let's not sell Stan Winston short, his animatronic dinosaurs are amazing and the life size T-Rex he made for the movie is a special effects masterpiece unmatched to this day. While the effects steal the show in a lot of places they aren't the only great things about this movie.

 Lets talk score. John Williams delivers another fantastic score that drives the emotion and tension of the movie to new heights. Not to mention the main theme which quickly became an iconic track known around the world. The first time I heard that epic theme it instantly had my attention and I've loved it ever since. The score served to magnify the reactions of the actors to the dinosaurs and elevated the movie to truly great status.

 The cast of the Jurassic Park fluctuated wildly before it began filming. William Hurt was offered the role of Dr. Grant but turned it down without even reading the script. Harrison Ford was offered the role but declined. Eventually Sam Neil was cast just a couple weeks before filming began. Jeff Goldblum was the first choice to play Ian Malcolm but Jim Carrey also auditioned and was "terrific" according to casting director Janet Hirshenson but they ultimately decided to go with Goldblum. Laura Dern was the first choice of Spielberg for Dr. Sattler, though Robin Wright was also offered the role. The iconic Richard Attenborough does a great job as John Hammond, and even the child actors Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards do a good job. With B.D. Wong and Samuel L. Jackson rounding out the cast along with Robert Peck and Wayne Knight the movie really has no bad performances.

 Much of Jurassic Park was filmed in Hawaii and California, though some of the movie was shot in the Dominican Republic. Filming was pretty uneventful until Hurricane Iniki passed over the Hawaiian Islands and destroyed the set intended to be used for Samuel L. Jackson's hunting and subsequent death by raptors. Many of the storm scenes in the movie are actual shots of the hurricane as it passed over the sets. One other notable difficulty was that the foam rubber skin of the T-Rex would retain water and constantly have to be dried off or the strain on the mechanical parts would cause it to shake while moving. All in all it wasn't nearly as bad as some off the other movies whose productions we've discussed but it wasn't exactly a cake-walk either.

 I love Jurassic Park and I love dinosaurs. I have loved this movie since the first time I saw it with my parents and I don't think I will ever stop watching it. It is definitely in my top 10 movies of all time and a movie I can watch again and again without getting tired of it. Jurassic Park captures the spirit of child-like wonder and fascination with dinosaurs while at the same time bringing plenty of action and adult ideas to keep you on the edge of your seat. Not to mention the chaos theory of Dr. Malcolm and all of the philosophical questions that raises. If you haven't seen it go watch it now, and if you have watch it again, it's one of those movies you don't need much convincing to pick up again and again. You are never too busy to watch Jurassic Park, and if you think you are remember, life finds a way.