Jurassic Park III
for intense sci-fi terror and violence.
Reviewed by: Carrie Rostollan
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Average |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Teens Adults |
| Genre: | Sci-Fi Action Adventure Horror Drama Adaptation Sequel |
| Length: | 1 hr. 32 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2001 |
| USA Release: |
July 18, 2001 (wide) |
Editor’s Note: Of particular interest to Christians should be the worldview presented in this film. We caution parents to look at the underlying assumptions this film may present in terms of its possible Evolutionary teaching. Children (and adults) are constantly bombarded with such teaching, presented as fact, when they are nothing more than theories or guesses.
We also recommend the 20-minute video, “The Great Dinosaur Mystery”, which can be viewed on-line. The book version is presented in the “Discovery Trail” portion of The Great Dinosaur Mystery on-line and includes audio track portions from the video. We also list various Creation materials useful in teaching a biblical view on these issues.
| Featuring |
Sam Neill … Dr. Alan Grant William H. Macy … Paul Kirby Téa Leoni … Amanda Kirby Laura Dern … Dr. Ellie Sattler Alessandro Nivola … Billy Brennan See all » |
| Director |
Joe Johnston |
| Producer |
Universal Pictures Amblin Entertainment Steven Spielberg … executive producer See all » |
| Distributor |
“Ooh, aah. that’s how it always starts. Then later there’s running, and screaming.”
—Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), “The Lost World”“Some of the most terrible things have been done with the best of intentions.”
—Alan Grant (Sam Neill), “Jurassic Park III”
Please let this movie be something more than eye candy,” I thought as I went into “Jurassic Park III”, but my hopes turned out to be forlorn. “JPIII” falls flat, simply a vehicle for a long string of action sequences with no memorable moments.
Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Niell) reluctantly accompanies a man and his wife (divorced) on a search-and-rescue mission to Isla Sorna, the location of the second “Jurassic Park” film. Paul and the former Mrs. Amanda Kirby are trying to find their son, who has gone missing in the vicinity. Following the inevitable marooning of this group on the island, the story moves through one pulse-pounding chase after another. The final resolution made me want to remark, “So that’s it?”
I dislike writing that, but I feel justified because the film wasn’t even directed by Steven Spielberg, as I had expected. Joe Johnston (“The Rocketeer,” “Jumanji”) directed a script by debut screenwriter Peter Buchman. Michael Crichton served as one of the producers, but none of the story appears to have his touch. Also, the music uses themes from John Williams’ original score, but all additional music was done by Don Davis (“The Matrix”, “House on Haunted Hill”, “Beauty and the Beast”), another name I didn’t personally recognize. Is it really “Jurassic Park” without Spielberg at the helm and Williams at the podium? Sorry, I don’t feel it.
Unlike the first two films, which discussed the ethics of science and what some people call progress, there’s no enduring message (even a secular one) to come out of this film. The closest it comes is the portrayal of velociraptors as smarter even than humans; now they even use complex vocal patterns to actually talk to each other. Grant remarks that if the asteroid hadn’t wiped them out millions of years ago (Please don’t get me started refuting that one!), the velociraptors would have become the dominant lifeform on the Earth. Spare me! By the way, Grant seems to be very fast on picking up their language.
This film runs 1 hour and 32 minutes, and according to one Web site is scheduled to come out on video on December 11th, 2001. If you really must be the first on your block to critique ILM’s special effects work on this picture, go ahead and see it. Otherwise, I’d suggest you catch “Jurassic Park III” on video. There’s nothing objectionable as far as language is concerned. I counted two uses of “hell,” and that’s all. The rest is action, wound around a plot that struggles to find a voice. it’s less preachy about evolution, but it doesn’t find anything new to say, either.
I know the plot was contrived, but it fit as a great transition between all the action. I do not accept the theories of evolution presented, but it is one of the best action adventures this summer. I will not debate the merits of biblical creation and where dinosaurs fit into the “creation” picture. Parents and Christians should be able to reasonably discuss these topics. I do believe that there is plenty of information (even on this Web site) about dinosaurs (from a Biblical perspective) available to Christians. They can “let their conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Col. 4:6).
I do recommend the film, but not to smaller children. My age barometer would be 10 and up.
[Better than Average / 4]
[Better than Average / 4]
[Better than Average / 3½]
There’s little actual discussion of evolution, and nothing like the baloney in the first film about all vertebrates being inherently female (a denial of Genesis 1:27). Just a constant roller-coaster of terror, tempered with some really bad humor. I particularly dislike horror-comedies; I believe they desensitize us to violence even more than straightforward horror does. How is it possible to spend all these millions on special effects and come up with something this disappointing? Must be that dreaded disease, sequel-itis.
[Average / 3]
[Average / 2]
New species are also introduced that seem to dwarf the old ones. In fact, a newly introduced dinosaur fights and kills a T-Rex, the king of the jungle. On a note of caution, I do not recommend this movie to young kids. The theater setting intensified the sound and visual effects to a frightening level. In fact, I sat next to a mother who brought her children ranging from 4-10.
During one intense chase scene the child began weeping and quivering into the back of his seat. Definitely not a movie for little eyes! Although I do agree with the review that the story and memorable moments lacks substance, the movie is one to see in a theater for its intense special effects.
[Average / 3]
[Good / 3]
[Better than Average / 3½]
The plot was a tad shaky and, at times, unbelieveable. The acting was very good. Neill, Macy, and Leoni delivered. I would not see this movie if you haven’t watched the first two. Personally, I would read the bestselling books written by Michael Crichton (“Jurassic Park” and “The Lost World”) after watching the first two movies.
All in all, this movie was excellent considering Spielberg didn’t direct it and Crichton didn’t write it. I feel I got my $7 worth. Children under twelve should not see it, though.
[Better than Average / 4]
I give this movie a 5/5 because it is one of the best movies I have seen in the theater for a while!
[Better than Average / 5]
[Better than Average / 3½]
As a Christian, yes, there was some objectionable stuff in there, but I’m into suspense and action, so this was the absolute perfect movie for me! (WARNING: If you want to bring kids under 11, you might want to close their eyes when,
1. The plane takes off the second time and a guy gets in the way and says “Please.”.
2. When, the plane gets ripped in half, the dino reaches in.
3. When a guy stops, looks down, and you hear him scream from far away (guy with orange mustache) during the raptor chase. You don’t have to, just a warning. And there is always suspense every 5 minutes or so. And if you see it a second time, you won’t be in suspense so much, but you probably will jump out of you seat again.
But, I tell you what, this is the most action packed, suspense filled, “Jurassic Park” I’ve ever seen. If you’re going to see, suspense, action, and a really good dino movie, this is the movie you’re looking for. The chasing and the (”RAAA!” and “AHHH!”) scary parts are the only thing that made it PG-13. BOTTOM LINE: Suspence + action + dinosaurs + great movie = JURRASSIC PARK 3!
[Average / 4½]
And where the 1st films slowed down and sagged, this one only starts to slow down, and then ends. Bam. Now you don’t have to waste an extra hour with Jeff Goldblum trying to work chaos theory and complaining about Richard Attenborough. You can just sit and relax and then, leave. Very little mention of the origin of the dinosaurs, which is something that even Christians can’t decide on. The less said, the better, in my opinion. If you’re looking for a nice, Christian evangelistic film, go rent Bob the Tomato. If you’re looking for deep thoughts, check out Babette’s Feast. But if you’re looking for a fun, exciting film, I’d recommend this one for people over 13. There’s a couple of gory bits, but nothing too bad.
My Ratings: [Better than Average / 4]