"Jurassic Park 3D" - directed by Steven Spielberg
This is a different kind of a review.
As I have already written one for the first release movie (see here) this is less a review and more an addendum.
This is exactly the same movie in terms of content - it is just re-done in 3D.
So the 3D aspect is what I will be focusing on.
Movies not shot in 3D have been re-released in 3D before of course.
James Cameron's "Titanic" received a 3D makeover with considerable success.
When I look at the 3D movies recently that have had 3D that impressed me, more often than not they turn out to be post processed.
"The Avengers", "Titanic" and "GI Joe: Retaliation" in my opinion have better realised 3D through post processing than natively 3D shot movies "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", "Jack the Giant Slayer" and "Resident Evil: Retribution".
I wonder if good quality post processing isn't the better option?
It gives greater control than natively shot material albeit at a hefty price- eighty to a hundred thousand dollars per minute.
There are exceptions and some terrible work was done on the likes of "Clash of the Titans" and "Star Wars: Episode One".
The formers abysmal 3D re-skin is attributable to the rushed ten week schedule whilst George Lucas's apparent desire to use the 3D to give depth to the frame rather than to augment the action is the reason for his films dull re-release.
(When my Samsung 3D Plasma does a better job of 2D-3D conversion on the standard issue Blu-ray than the 'proper' theatrical 3D release you know it's weak)
And so we come to "Jurassic Park" - a movie that is now twenty years old.
I saw it just short of a year ago at Hoyts retro trilogy screening and it still seemed fresh.
It hasn't aged much at all.
And for the sake of this particular review thankfully the special effects still stand up.
The opening scene in which a park worker is mauled by a velociraptor during a cage transfer doesn't offer up much in the way of 3D eye candy but it isn't long before some comes along.
It quickly becomes apparent that although Steven Spielberg wasn't making the film back in the early 90's with 3D in mind he shot a film with a staggering sense of depth in the frame regardless.
The framing of scene after scene seems designed to show off the 3D effect.
Look at the images below and the one above for an example of how the shots are given depth by the positioning of the actors, scenery and elements.
I don't think anyone would disagree that the set piece highlight of "Jurassic Park" is the T Rex attack in which Tim and Lexy are terrified as the giant beast rips the car that they are in to pieces.
With the new 3D lick of paint this scene is even better.
For me however the single moment that I was most looking forward to was the velociraptor in the control room sequence.
Specifically the moment where Lexy is dangling from the ceiling and below her a raptor struggles to its feet and crouches to spring up at her.
An already tense and excitingly shot scene becomes that little bit more effective.
The raptor appears to come right at the audience in the 3D print.
This is what 3D is for.
I love what Martin Scorsese did with the format in his masterful "Hugo".
Each frame was a work of art.
But he didn't forget to have dog snouts, tools, trains, dangling keys and much more flying out of the screen at us from time to time.
3D is about making a film connect more with the audience and "Jurassic Park 3D" gets it.
A movie that was already a literal theme park ride becomes that little bit better.
It's a great way to celebrate the twenty year anniversary of the film.
Sure- there is a financial benefit.
The ten million dollar budget 3D adds up to about the expected $100,000 per minute of post processing time and it made back more than four times that in box office takings.
I like this movie and I like 3D.
It's good news that apparently many more people do too and will happily pay to enjoy a favourite movie on the big screen even though they could watch it at home on a 50 inch screen on hi-definition blu-ray with 7.1 surround sound.
It is very easy to recommend the 3D release of this film to anyone who likes the movie generally.
What you are getting is exactly the same movie that you have always enjoyed but with a little extra twist to it that makes it an even better experience.
The 3D doomsayers that keep calling fad on the technology are being proved more and more wrong with each passing year and with every quality release.
"Jurassic Park" was always one and with "Jurassic Park 3D" it continues to be.
A great film, a great couple of hours at the cinema and a must see for fans.
Oh, and "Jurassic Park IV" is due to film this year for release in 2014 and it is being filmed in 3D.
As I have already written one for the first release movie (see here) this is less a review and more an addendum.
This is exactly the same movie in terms of content - it is just re-done in 3D.
So the 3D aspect is what I will be focusing on.
Movies not shot in 3D have been re-released in 3D before of course.
James Cameron's "Titanic" received a 3D makeover with considerable success.
When I look at the 3D movies recently that have had 3D that impressed me, more often than not they turn out to be post processed.
"The Avengers", "Titanic" and "GI Joe: Retaliation" in my opinion have better realised 3D through post processing than natively 3D shot movies "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", "Jack the Giant Slayer" and "Resident Evil: Retribution".
I wonder if good quality post processing isn't the better option?
It gives greater control than natively shot material albeit at a hefty price- eighty to a hundred thousand dollars per minute.
There are exceptions and some terrible work was done on the likes of "Clash of the Titans" and "Star Wars: Episode One".
The formers abysmal 3D re-skin is attributable to the rushed ten week schedule whilst George Lucas's apparent desire to use the 3D to give depth to the frame rather than to augment the action is the reason for his films dull re-release.
(When my Samsung 3D Plasma does a better job of 2D-3D conversion on the standard issue Blu-ray than the 'proper' theatrical 3D release you know it's weak)
I saw it just short of a year ago at Hoyts retro trilogy screening and it still seemed fresh.
It hasn't aged much at all.
And for the sake of this particular review thankfully the special effects still stand up.
The opening scene in which a park worker is mauled by a velociraptor during a cage transfer doesn't offer up much in the way of 3D eye candy but it isn't long before some comes along.
It quickly becomes apparent that although Steven Spielberg wasn't making the film back in the early 90's with 3D in mind he shot a film with a staggering sense of depth in the frame regardless.
The framing of scene after scene seems designed to show off the 3D effect.
Look at the images below and the one above for an example of how the shots are given depth by the positioning of the actors, scenery and elements.
With the new 3D lick of paint this scene is even better.
For me however the single moment that I was most looking forward to was the velociraptor in the control room sequence.
Specifically the moment where Lexy is dangling from the ceiling and below her a raptor struggles to its feet and crouches to spring up at her.
An already tense and excitingly shot scene becomes that little bit more effective.
The raptor appears to come right at the audience in the 3D print.
This is what 3D is for.
I love what Martin Scorsese did with the format in his masterful "Hugo".
Each frame was a work of art.
But he didn't forget to have dog snouts, tools, trains, dangling keys and much more flying out of the screen at us from time to time.
3D is about making a film connect more with the audience and "Jurassic Park 3D" gets it.
It's a great way to celebrate the twenty year anniversary of the film.
Sure- there is a financial benefit.
The ten million dollar budget 3D adds up to about the expected $100,000 per minute of post processing time and it made back more than four times that in box office takings.
I like this movie and I like 3D.
It's good news that apparently many more people do too and will happily pay to enjoy a favourite movie on the big screen even though they could watch it at home on a 50 inch screen on hi-definition blu-ray with 7.1 surround sound.
What you are getting is exactly the same movie that you have always enjoyed but with a little extra twist to it that makes it an even better experience.
The 3D doomsayers that keep calling fad on the technology are being proved more and more wrong with each passing year and with every quality release.
"Jurassic Park" was always one and with "Jurassic Park 3D" it continues to be.
A great film, a great couple of hours at the cinema and a must see for fans.
Oh, and "Jurassic Park IV" is due to film this year for release in 2014 and it is being filmed in 3D.
| Rated | M for violence |
| Running Time: | 127 minutes |
| Starring: |
| Sam Neill | --- Alan Grant |
| Laura Dern | --- Ellie Satler |
| Richard Attenborough | --- John Hammond |
| Jeff Goldblum | --- Ian Grant |
| Joseph Mazello | --- Tim Murphy |
| Ariana Richards | --- Lex Murphy |
| Bob Peck | --- Robert Muldoon |
| Samuel L Jackson | --- Ray Arnold |
| Wayne Knight | --- Dennis Nedry |
| Miguel Sandoval | --- Juanito Rostagno |
| Martin Ferrero | --- Donald Gennaro |
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