The director "must be always conscious of his obligation to the audience. He must assume that they have seen almost every movie ever made, that they have been thrilled and emotionally moved by almost every trick possible. So he must devise new tricks or a new presentation of the old ones, to keep the audience fascinated and thrilled. He must produce suprises and new effects that will give them an emotional kick worth more than the admission charged." - Joe Bonomo in his book "The Strongman"

About 45 minutes into "Jurassic Park" Director Steven Spielberg and Scriptwriters Michael Crichton and David Koepp make a fatal error. They resort to the cheapest, most shameless form of horror. They put children in immense danger. This is unforgivable. Spielberg seems to be perfectly willing to allow both of the youngsters in this film to fall into any sort of danger. And their terrorization does not cease until the films ending.

The notion of children in danger is not interesting and the depiction of children in danger is not entertainment. Plotwise, however, it is basically all that this film has to offer worth noticing. No one seems to be able to develop an original character here. Not on paper anyway. Most of the adults involved are typical science fiction/horror stereotypes - the misguided scientist, the hard nosed protagonist, his love interest - and, of course, the innocents: the kids. Luckily, for the script, it turns out that the kids are stereotypically smart, one being a dinosaur expert and the other a computer wizard. Crichton, who wrote the novel this film is based on, throws these stereotypes into the biggest action adventure plot ever brought to the screen - "Jurassic Park." At least the setting is original.

Instead of sending his characters back in time to the days "when dinosaurs ruled the earth," Crichton brings the dinosaurs into the present. This simple device, which is explained most believably, is the only original idea presented here. The rest of the themes and sub-plots are just tired re-treads of themes endlessly explored in the science fiction\fantasy genre.

But, thanks to Spielberg's technical wizardry, "Jurassic Park" is a rocker. With non-stop action (after the 30 minute set-up) and amazing special effects that will literally knock you off your seat, Spielberg takes film to the next level of thrillers. This isn't so much a movie as a roller coaster ride. And there are almost no flaws in the effects here, not even a tiny imperfection. We really continually believe that the characters are being terrorized and hunted by giant prehistoric animals. This film has to be seen to be believed. Seldom do films live up to their pre-release hype but "Jurassic" exceeds all expectations and constantly amazes and satisfies.

Spielberg's second biggest error, after the unforgivable and unsavory treatment of the children in this film, is his lousy score. Again Spielberg hires John Williams to write the score and again Williams gives us a bunch of trite sentimental slop coupled with his usual cinematic orchestral movements to punctuate the film. Isn't about time we get something different from Spielberg on a soundtrack? This is even more tiring than Woody Allen's constant use of Dixieland Jazz during his comedy sequences.

Another problem with the film is the actor's inability to enunciate the dialogue. A good 30% of this film is unintelligible. And when somebody finally does deliver a clear sentence, Spielberg mixes the monotonous Williams' musical background score so loud that it is impossible to hear what's been said. This is frustrating and infuriating.

Finally, back on the positive side, kudos must be given to the cast who manage to elevate these lousy characters into something special, even if they can't enunciate. Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum are particularly engaging as are the two child actors (Ariana Richards, Joeseph Mazzello).

On the flip-side, while Sam Neill and Sir Richard Attenborough are merely adequate in their roles, Wayne Knight actually sinks to the level of the script and gives the worst performance of his life. Luckily we know from the beginning who is doomed to die and who will endure. Knight's might as well have "horrible death" tattooed on his forehead.

"Jurassic Park" is a film worth seeing but only for the special effects. And while the inhumane treatment of the children here is reprehensible and unforgivable, it cannot negate the strength of the film's technical superiority. Spielberg will never win an Academy Award for best director, however, until he makes sure that all his scripts are full of worthy characters. And, until he discovers another musician who will do something unique to score his films.

Notes: The term "Jurassic" refers to the second period of the Mesozoic era (208-145 million years ago) when dilosophaurs and brachiosaurs thrived on earth and the earliest birds appeared. This is never explained during the film. Maybe it's because the film should have actually been called "Cretaceous Park" referring to the period 145 to 65 million years ago when dinosaurs really ruled the earth.

This film made 50 million dollars during it's first week-end of theatrical release.

The film earned 200 million dollars faster than any movie in motion picture history.

By September 9, 1993, the film had grossed $316.6 million in the U.S. Second only to Spielberg's "E.T." which had, at that time, grossed $359.8 million. In other words, Spielberg has made the two highest grossing American films of all time.

While some thought the film's proceeds eventually totalled high enough to become the highest grossing film of all time, that is not exactly true. While it grossed over 870 million worldwide - more than any other film in history, it's domestic total of 346 million falls just shy of "E.T.'s" 359 million. It was, of course, the highest grossing film of 1993. (#2: "Mrs Doubtfire, 190 million).

Spielberg has directed 4 of the top 10 highest grossing films of all time. In addition to "Jurassic Park" and "E.T.," "Jaws" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" are also on that list.

Spielberg edited "Jurassic" via satellite while making "Schindler's List" in Poland.

Topps Comics published a 4 part comic book series which followed the film line for line. They later introduced a sequel in comic form entitled "Jurassic Park: Raptor." The second series took place on the same island, 3 days later. Spielberg personally gave the project his seal of approval.

An animated TV series based on the film's theme is expected.

The T-Rex dinosaur sounds in the film were developed from a combination of elephants, alligators, penguins, tigers and dogs. the T-rex breathing sound was actually made by recording a whale's blowhole and laying them on the soundtrack in a breathing rhythm.

The part played by Sam Neill was originally offered to William Hurt who turned it down without reading the script.

The script tweaked some of Crichton's plot from the novel. In the film it is the girl and not the boy who is the computer whiz. The film also uses Made-in-the- USA Ford Explorers instead of the Toyotas Crichton describes.

The film was highly successful abroad as well domestically but it sparked a national furor in France upon it's release in fall of 93. The ballyhoo revolved around the increasing global dominance of Hollywood's product. "Jurassic Park" was released at a time where it competed head to head with the most expensive French film ever, the $29 million "Germinal." The French Culture Ministry actually paid to make 90 extra copies of "Germinal," a film about oppressed coal miners, so that it could compete equally with "Jurassic Park" at the box-office, each with about 450 screens.

After filmming, Dern and Goldblum became "an item."

Considered on of the Ten Best Films of 1993 by Joe Leydon of "The Houston Post."

Academy Award Nominations: Sound, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Academy Award Winner: Sound, Sound Editing, Visual Effects

Review written in 1993.

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