Synopsis

«Jurassic Park» unfolds on the remote Isla Nublar, near Costa Rica, where billionaire philanthropist and entrepreneur John Hammond has used breakthrough DNA technology to clone dinosaurs. Hammond, the founder of the biotechnology firm InGen, has created a theme park featuring live dinosaurs with the help of genetic material extracted from prehistoric insects preserved in amber.

The story begins as Hammond invites a group of experts to certify the park’s safety, the group includes paleontologists Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler, mathematician and chaos theorist Dr. Ian Malcolm, and Hammond’s two grandchildren, Tim and Lex Murphy. Accompanied by park warden Robert Muldoon and lawyer Donald Gennaro, the visitors embark on a tour of the park.

Disaster strikes when Dennis Nedry, a disgruntled InGen programmer, disables the park’s security systems to steal dinosaur embryos for a rival company, his actions inadvertently allow the park’s cloned dinosaurs, including the ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex and cunning Velociraptors, to escape their enclosures.
As a tropical storm hits the island, the tour group finds themselves in mortal danger, the T-Rex attacks their vehicles, leading to a series of thrilling and terrifying encounters. Dr. Grant and the children are stranded in the park and must navigate their way back to safety through environments dominated by the now-escaped dinosaurs. Simultaneously, Dr. Sattler and Muldoon attempt to restore power to the park, while Malcolm, injured by the T-Rex, tries to remain safe, their situations grow increasingly perilous as the intelligent Velociraptors begin hunting the group, showcasing their horrifying predatory capabilities.

The climax of the film occurs in the park’s visitor center, where the survivors are hunted by the Velociraptors but find unexpected allies in the T-Rex, leading to a spectacular confrontation that allows them to escape and film concludes with the survivors being airlifted off the island, leaving the dinosaurs to roam free on Isla Nublar.

«Jurassic Park» is a thrilling adventure that blends action with groundbreaking special effects. It explores themes of scientific ethics, the unpredictability of nature, and the hubris of mankind’s attempts to control nature. The film’s success led to a series of sequels, each expanding the story of genetic experimentation and its consequences.

Trivia

• Groundbreaking Special Effects: «Jurassic Park» was a pioneer in blending CGI with animatronics. The film’s visual effects team, led by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), used groundbreaking CGI technology to create lifelike dinosaurs, setting a new standard for future films.
• Dinosaur Sounds: The sounds made by the dinosaurs were a combination of various animals. The T-Rex roar was a mix of a baby elephant’s scream, an alligator’s gurgling, and a tiger’s snarl. The Velociraptors’ calls were created from the sounds of tortoises mating.
• Use of Animatronics: Renowned creature effects expert Stan Winston created full-size animatronic dinosaurs that added realism to the close-up shots. The T-Rex animatronic was 40 feet long and weighed about 12,000 pounds, making it one of the largest ever built.
• Casting What-Ifs: Harrison Ford was initially offered the role of Dr. Alan Grant but turned it down. After seeing the finished film, he said that Sam Neill was perfect for the role and that he made the right decision.
• Filming Location: Although set on a fictional island near Costa Rica, most of the film was shot on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The location provided the lush, tropical backdrop necessary for the story but was hit by Hurricane Iniki during production, which caused some delays and damage.
• Scientific Impact: The film had a significant impact on public and scientific interest in dinosaurs, leading to increased funding for paleontological research. It also popularized the idea of extracting DNA from amber, although this remains scientifically implausible.
• Cultural Phenomenon: Upon release, «Jurassic Park» became a cultural phenomenon, breaking box office records and becoming the highest-grossing film at the time. It captivated audiences worldwide and led to a resurgence of interest in all things dinosaur-related.
• Academy Awards: The film won three Oscars: Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Visual Effects, recognizing its outstanding contributions to the use of sound and special effects in filmmaking.