It was back in 1993 when Jurassic Park roared onto the big screen for the first time, took us on a terrific action-packed adventure, and introduced us to that iconic music for the very first time.
Jurassic Park
Hard to believe that this movie is now over twenty years old and is just as good now as it was when I sat down to watch it as a child all of those years ago.
The movie was an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton and saw Steven Spielberg back in the director's chair; this was his first feature film since Hook two years earlier.
Jurassic Park followed dinosaur experts Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler Laura Dern) who are invited to visit John Hammond's new amusement part on an island of Costa Rica. By cloning DNA, Hammond and his team have recreated dinosaurs and now want to share them with the world.
But when the power is knocked out by a tropical storm, the park and the people on it are at the mercy of the pre-historic creatures. Grant must now battle to bring Hammond's grandchildren back to safety.
Jurassic Park was one of the standout films of the nineties and, for me, remains one of the best blockbusters of all time. It may have been over twenty years since the film was first released, but it is one of those rare films that has not dated and looks just as fantastic today as it did back in 1993.
I love the fact that Spielberg didn't just rely on special effects - even though they were cutting edge at the time - but mixed them with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. This gives them an incredibly real feel - it's as if you could reach out and touch them; I still get that feeling every time I watch this movie.
Jurassic Park is a masterclass in blockbuster filmmaking as Spielberg has you on the edge of your seat right from the very start. He has crafted a movie that not only looks fantastic but is also driven by the characters and their relationships.
Spielberg has delivered a whole host of wonderful movies during his career and Jurassic Park is up there as one of greatest achievements. I love him as a blockbuster filmmaker as this one of the most technically flawless of all of his movies. What he achieved with this movie really is astonishing.
Jurassic Park was a massive critical and commercial hit upon release and went on to gross over $900 million by the end of its first theatrical run - become the highest-grossing film ever at the time. Re-releases of the film have followed and it has now grossed over $1 billion.
Since the release of Jurassic Park back in 1993, we have seen The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, and Jurassic World hit the big screen. Sadly, they have not been able to recreate the magic of the original.
Jurassic Park is a movie that really has stood the test of time and continues to thrill audiences of all ages. Children who are coming to this movie for the first time are left totally transfixed while it still sends a shiver down the spines of those of us who have seen it many times.
This really is blockbuster filmmaking at its very best.
Tagged in Jurassic Park Stephen Spielberg