Jurassic Park!

I remember seeing Jurassic Park in theatres the first time very vividly. When you're young and go to movies, often they can be ta bit forgettable. You don't have the brain for movie quotes yet and there are so many more important things to concern yourself with, like whether you're going to be able to convince your parent to get you popcorn AND candy. That was not the case with Jurassic Park. I was 9, and as the movie was rated PG-13, my friend's dad took us. I was going through my paleontologist phase; reading everything I could about them, laughing at my dad's feeble attempts to read their name (I mean come on, Parasauralophus isn't really that tricky is it?). Needless to say, I was beside myself excited to see this movie.
It scared the pants off of me. Don't get me wrong, there were so many amazing things about the movie, but the climax of the movie, at the time, was probably the scariest thing I'd ever seen.


These velociraptors definitely gave me nightmares when I was 9.

When I found out it was coming out to theatres again, I could feel myself getting all giddy again, so I, obviously, jumped at the chance to see it on the big screen again....even though it's been re-released in 3D and I think I have well-documented my loathing for that particular format on this blog. Actually, I'll get it out of the way right now, and tell you that the 3D was useless. There was no reason for it to be in 3D, but if that's the only way for me to see it on the big screen again, well then, I guess I'll take it.
The movie overall, however, most definitely stands the test of time. I'll grant you, the technology is super dated, but it certainly doesn't distract from the general awesomeness of the movie.
I have to admit, the CGI they must have used for the dinosaurs must have been lightyears ahead of its time. Because it still looks AMAZING. The brachiosaurs in the first scene, I don't even have words, just like the paleontologists in said scene.
When I was kid I wasn't quite able to appreciate how phenomenal the cast of this movie was, but it really is amazing. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Wayne Knight (that's Newman folks!) and Samuel L. freakin' Jackson. Seeing this movie now, when I'm used to Sam Jackson being a badass all the time, I have to admit it's fairly entertaining to see him as this computer guy who can't quite figure stuff out and then *spoiler* have him devoured by one of the still terrifying velociraptors.
John Williams scored this flick, and the music is outstanding. He writes many a memorable score, and the one for Jurassic Park is definitely one more. The suite at the end of the movie as they ride away from the island in the helicopter is still one my all-time favourites.
I don't really know what else I can say about this movie. I loved it when I was a kid, and I love it now. I suppose it's a testament to good filmmaking, that a movie that's 20 years old really loses nothing in translation across the decades.
Last but not least does anyone else kind of wish they could go on the 'Mr. DNA' ride? It seems kind of random in the middle of the movie, especially after seeing REAL LIVE DINOSAURS on screen, but it honestly looks like it would be super fun.