You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.
This story originally ran in the June 16, 1993, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.
The story has been updated for current basic AP style, but the wording in the story has not changed. Any ideas, perspectives or opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Sidelines.
After several million years of extinction, dinosaurs make a dramatic comeback in “Jurassic Park” (PG-13). Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldbloom and Sir Richard Attenborough star in the Stephen Speilberg film based on Roger Chrichton’s novel.
Off the coast of Costa Rica a new amusement park is opening. The theme of the park is the Jurassic Era, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Somehow, the scientists on this island have discovered a way to clone prehistoric animals using blood from ancient mosquitos fossilized in tree sap. They seem to have this whole situation under control through the use electrified fences and genetic engineering. However, when a combination of tropical storm and sabotage sets the animals free, how will the humans escape with their lives?
Let’s start with the problems of this movie: the characters aren’t developed well enough for the audience to care about them; the dialogue is scarce, except for screaming. Speilberg’s attempt at a comment on the commercialization of this movie (a shot of the gift shop displaying merchandise that has the same design that is being used to sell the movie) is one of the cheesiest movie moments I have ever seen.
The good things about this movie far outweigh the bad. The first time the audience sees the dinosaurs, the thought is that Speilberg has actually learned how to clone so he could feature dinosaurs in the movie. The action is fast and furious. The film will have you clutching the armrests for the duration of the movie. Some of the lines are humorous and the children are great.
This is the first movie I have seen in a long time when I didn’t feel ripped off paying the $5.50 admission. This movie is not for children; there are some fairly intense scenes.
“Jurassic Park” is now showing at Stones River Cinema (890-8272). Get there early or be willing to wait; the lines are long and the show sells out quick.
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