Classic 90s Movie: “Jurassic Park”
May is Classic 90s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Abdullah AL-Twaijri.
Movie Title: Jurassic Park
Year: 1993
Writers: Michael Crichton (novel), Michael Crichton & David Koepp (screenplay)
Lead Actors: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum
Director: Steven Spielberg.
IMDB Plot Summary: A family struggles to escape a remote island park whose main attractions — genetically restored dinosaurs — have been set loose by a power failure.
Why I Think This Is A Classic 90s Movie: Many reasons. The movie creates a sense of nostalgia, hearkening back to classic boys adventure stories with mysterious new lands and strange creatures, yet also features central female roles. The film is baked with science fiction yet the science is presented in an accessible manner. The unconventional family dynamic — man, woman, and two kids — provides a point of emotional connection. The special effects represented a significant technological advance in terms of what was possible on screen. Then there is the iconic music which creates its own memorable character that contributes to the nostalgic feeling of the film. Finally the what if kind of high concept story is a compelling one.
My Favorite Moment In The Movie: There are many favorite parts, but I’ll pick two. The first is when the egg hatches for the in the lab and Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) excitedly examines at it. The excitement on the part of the characters lures in the audience: we want to be in the lab with them. My second favorite moment in the movie when Dr. Grant, Lex ( Ariana Richards), and Tim (Joseph Mazzello) run in the field with two species of dinosaur, then after the chase rest in a tree. What makes this part a favorite is the balance between the tension of the action and thrill of the chase with the relaxed atmosphere on the tree with Tim’s silly jokes.
My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie: Even though the dialogue may not compare to the visual spectacle of the movie, there are still some memorable lines.
Dr. Ian Malcolm: God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs.
Dr. Ellie Sattler: Dinosaurs eat man. Woman inherits the earth.
John Hammond: All major theme parks have delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked!
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but, John, if The Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don’t eat the tourists.
Lex: I’m a hacker!
Tim: That’s what I said: you’re a nerd.
Lex: I am not a computer nerd. I prefer to be called a hacker!
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie:
- How the story unfolds from presenting characters to the story structure.
- How the action is driven and the forces that move the plot to the climax.
- The comic relief that balances the tension between the characters.
- Two transitional events: arriving on the island and the dinosaurs running wild.
Thanks, Abdullah! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
We already have a set of 80s Movies. This month we cover 90s movies. So thanks to all of you for your participation in this project, creating a resource for writers, movies they should watch to help learn the craft of screenwriting!
Comment Archive