We Rewatched The Jurassic Park Trilogy And It’s Completely Different Now

At one time or another, many of us have imagined living alongside dinosaurs or visiting an exotic zoo showcasing such creatures. These daydreams form the basis for the “Jurassic Park” franchise, encompassing six films (seven if you include the upcoming “Jurassic World Rebirth”). This series is based on the best-selling 1990 novel by Michael Crichton and the 1993 film directed by Steven Spielberg. The story revolves around a theme park on an island that brings dinosaurs back to life, closely following the original novel’s narrative. Funded by an eccentric billionaire, the park invites experts for their opinions before its opening, including two paleontologists, a mathematician (or “chaotician”), and – imprudently – his two grandchildren. As expected, chaos ensues. Regrettably, humankind doesn’t seem to learn from its mistakes, leading to the sequels. In this discussion, we will concentrate on the original “Jurassic Park” trilogy: the first film, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” and “Jurassic Park III.

The original “Jurassic Park” movie, along with its subsequent installments to some degree, offer numerous reasons for repeated viewings. They are not only entertaining action-adventure films filled with a variety of awe-inspiring dinosaurs, but they also contain intricate details that can be overlooked on the first watch and fascinating behind-the-scenes facts that enrich the viewing experience. This includes unnoticed plot inconsistencies, the debate over the scientific authenticity of the series, the groundbreaking nature of the visual effects, and even the risks involved in creating the fake dinosaurs.

There is very little CGI in the first film

As a gamer, I can tell you that Jurassic Park revolutionized my world back in the day. It wasn’t just about dinosaurs roaming around an island or the heart-stopping suspense; it was about pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible in film. You see, this movie took computer-generated imagery (CGI) to a whole new level, making it more mainstream and widely accepted than ever before.

While I’m aware that CGI had been around since 1976 with “Futureworld” and even earlier in films like “Westworld,” Michael Crichton’s work, it wasn’t until Jurassic Park that we saw CGI used to bring fully organic creatures to life. Prior to this movie, CGI was mainly used for non-biological things like ships, water, and liquid. But Jurassic Park showed us the T-Rex, the Velociraptor, and other dinosaurs in a way that felt incredibly realistic.

In short, Jurassic Park changed the game when it came to CGI, making it possible for filmmakers to create breathtakingly lifelike creatures that captivated audiences like never before.

In a second viewing, it’s truly mind-boggling to realize that less than 60 computer-generated visual effects (VFX) are scattered throughout the original “Jurassic Park.” Given technological constraints, budgetary considerations, and so on, dinosaurs were primarily animatronics or actors in suits for most of the film. Yet, considering the era, what they achieved in the early ’90s is nothing short of astonishing. This becomes even more remarkable when we look at contemporary films like the “Jurassic World” series, which use over 1500 CG VFX shots per movie as a comparison.

First digital face replacement

In addition to its stunning CGI dinosaurs, “Jurassic Park” made a significant mark by introducing a revolutionary visual effects technique: the first-ever digital face replacement on screen. This method is widely used in contemporary films, particularly action-packed blockbusters like the Marvel Universe. However, it was entirely novel and unknown to us in 1993, and we didn’t fully comprehend its groundbreaking nature at the time.

The process known as “Digital Face Swapping” is essentially what you might imagine: filmmakers utilize computer technology to swap one actor’s face with another. In the movie “Jurassic Park,” this method was employed during the scene where Lexi, John Hammond’s eldest granddaughter (played by Ariana Clarice Richards), was escaping alongside other survivors inside an air vent, and a velociraptor peeked up from below. Fortunately, the raptor was kicked and fell to the ground, but unfortunately, Lexi also fell, managing to grab the edge at the last moment. During filming, it was Richards’ stunt double who performed the fall, but the double looked up in the shot, so director Steven Spielberg requested that the digital face swapping technique be used. While modern face swaps typically involve fully 3D computer-generated models of actors’ heads, in “Jurassic Park,” they used a 2D mesh to replace the stunt double’s face with Richards’, frame by painstaking frame.

1994, a year following the launch of “Jurassic Park,” saw the utilization of digital face replacement in the movie “The Crow.” This was done to incorporate the likeness of the late star Brandon Lee into several scenes, as he unfortunately passed away before completion of the film.

T-Rex animatronic would really move on its own

In contrast to what one might expect, the original “Jurassic Park” movie featured relatively fewer computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects than you’d think. In reality, the Tyrannosaurus Rex you see on screen is often a large, mechanical animatronic robot called Rexy. When it functioned properly, this puppet delivered an impressive and convincing performance.

During filming Rexy’s initial attack scene, a false downpour was used to create a torrential rain effect, but this ended up causing water to seep into the robot. Consequently, the robot malfunctioned due to the dampness affecting its internal electronics. The glitch caused the animatronic T-Rex, standing over 20 feet tall and weighing nearly 9 tons, to move unintentionally. This gave the illusion of a real wild T-Rex on set, causing quite a scare for the actors and crew whenever it moved. At one point, the robot even appeared to chomp its own jaws! To ensure safety on set, the team had to dry the rubber skin of the dinosaur between takes. Therefore, viewers can notice that the T-Rex animatronic appears either wet or dry during its rainy attack scene when rewatching it.

After his challenging experience directing the faulty shark robot, nicknamed “Bruce,” during the filming of “Jaws” in 1975, one might expect Spielberg to avoid combining mechanical devices and water due to their electronics being susceptible to damage from water.

Seat belts foreshadow life finding a way

The primary message running through the “Jurassic Park” series centers around the perils of humans meddling with nature, a theme that harks back to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and has been a recurring element in science fiction narratives. In the movie, John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), a wealthy individual, employs advanced biotechnology to resurrect dinosaurs in the present era, believing he could contain them for financial gain within Jurassic Park. Yet, this endeavor results in calamitous consequences as the scientists’ strategy for population control within the park was flawed – they made all the dinosaurs female, hoping to prevent breeding. However, later in the story, Alan Grant (Sam Neill), one of the paleontologists Hammond invited, discovers eggs in the wild, implying that life managed to find a way around the scientists’ design.

Upon rewatching the movie, it’s clear that this significant reveal is hinted at in the storyline quite early on. In the scene where Grant steps into Hammond’s personal helicopter for the first time to fly to the park, there’s a seemingly insignificant detail: he can’t fasten himself properly because there are only two female seat belt clips, and he has to improvise by tying them together. At first glance, this could appear as a casual character-developing moment showing the hardworking, blue-collar paleontologist struggling in his new high-end surroundings. However, upon closer observation after another viewing, it’s evident that this action carries deeper thematic significance.

Status bar shown on live feed video

As a devoted fan, I’d rephrase it like this: In the role of Dennis Nedry, portrayed brilliantly by Wayne Knight, I find myself working as a computer whiz at Jurassic Park. I’m in charge of maintaining the island’s crucially important systems, ensuring the park runs smoothly – but also setting the stage for its eventual collapse.

The movie opens with me having a clandestine meeting with BioSyn CEO Lewis Dodgson, a shrewd businessman who’s a rival to InGen, the company run by Hammond. Dodgson tempts me with a lucrative offer: corporate espionage against InGen for a hefty sum. Being undervalued and undercompensated by Hammond, it’s an easy decision for me to accept this proposition.

Instead of rephrasing step-by-step: In order to execute his scheme, Nedry needs to secretly enter a lab, grab some miniature dinosaur eggs, conceal them inside a deceptive shaving cream container, and then exit the island discreetly using a boat. His plan almost succeeds, as he even manages to deactivate the security system for a quiet escape during the commotion. However, the one snag is that he unwittingly transmits live footage of a massive tropical storm approaching the island, which alerts the captain of his getaway boat that he’ll be departing shortly.

Upon rewatching this scene, it becomes apparent that there’s a “status bar” at the bottom of what appears to be a live video feed – indicating that the video was actually pre-recorded. Although this detail might not stand out on first viewing, its significance might only become clear upon further watchings. Essentially, it’s like a mistake left intentionally visible in plain sight.

Dinosaurs are feathered

The versions of Jurassic Park as a book and movie were pioneers in the field of paleontological science for their respective eras, although they were based on earlier theories about dinosaurs. Since the initial discovery of dinosaur fossils in the 19th century, scientists assumed that dinosaurs were colossal, slow-moving lizards that dragged their tails. Notably, “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” translated from Latin, means “Lizard King.” This image of dinosaurs as reptilian monsters endured for a long time and is evident in numerous pop culture representations, such as the 1933 film “King Kong” and the 1966 movie “One Million Years B.C.” among others.

Before Michael Crichton released “Jurassic Park,” fresh theories about dinosaur anatomy emerged, challenging long-held beliefs that dinosaurs were slow and clumsy. These theories propose instead that dinosaurs were quick and menacing, and some even suggest they evolved into modern birds. Interestingly, Crichton incorporated these recent scientific discoveries in his book, which Steven Spielberg adapted quite accurately.

Despite the groundbreaking portrayal of dinosaurs in Jurassic Park during the early ’90s, newer findings from the 21st century overturned those theories. A new theory emerged and gained widespread acceptance in modern paleontology; it’s now commonly accepted that dinosaurs were not just scaly and reptilian, but also had feathers. This idea is so prevalent that it was addressed in Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), where Chris Pratt’s character, Owen Grady, battles a feathered Pyroraptor.

100-foot drop comes out of nowhere in first T-Rex attack

Among the most thrilling and unforgettable scenes in “Jurassic Park” is undeniably the initial T-Rex attack that takes place amidst the rain following its breakout from its advanced enclosure. It’s heart-pounding, intense, and boasts some of the movie’s best visual effects (despite often appearing as a large, motionless animatronic on screen). The attack unfolds when the main characters are touring in Jeeps to observe the park’s unique dinosaurs. When Nedry deactivates the security system for his ill-fated escape, it results in the dinosaurs – including the T-Rex – being unleashed onto the humans in the Jeeps.

Initially, it appears that during the attack, Alan Grant guides the kids into the enclosure of the T-Rex and subsequently descends a 100-foot cliff to find refuge. However, upon closer inspection, this scenario raises questions. Where did the drop come from? If they entered the Rex’s enclosure to climb down, where could the T-Rex have possibly stood? It’s highly unlikely that it would be able to climb up using its small arms or, even more implausible, fly. Fortunately, the audience overlooked this inconsistency the first time around due to the magic of cinema.

T-Rex sneaks up in the end of Jurassic Park

In the movie’s finale, the human characters who survived find themselves pursued by vicious velociraptors. However, they are trapped with no way out, seemingly doomed to be devoured by a raptor – until unexpectedly, a T-Rex emerges and takes down the attacking raptor first. This sudden intervention makes the T-Rex an unlikely savior, fending off the velociraptors and saving the day. John Williams’ powerful theme song booms as if it were the T-Rex’s entrance music for a wrestling match. The velociraptors then turn their attention to the T-Rex, attacking it though they are no match for the fearsome Rexy. Despite being outnumbered, Rexy manages to defeat them. This confrontation gives the humans the opportunity to flee to the Jeeps, drive to the helicopter pad, and leave the island forever. The scene concludes with the T-Rex triumphantly roaring as a banner reading “When Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth” dramatically drops in front of it, symbolizing the dinosaur’s dominance.

As a fan, I can’t help but be swept away by this incredible, pulse-pounding scene, yet I can’t shake off the feeling that it doesn’t quite add up logically.

It’s worth noting that the T-Rex, being a massive and clumsy creature, tends to cause the ground to tremble wherever it goes. In fact, you might remember the moment in the movie where just one step from the Rex makes the water in a glass quiver. Yet, it seems rather unrealistic that neither the raptors nor anyone else would have heard its thunderous footsteps before an attack. On rewatching the scene, it’s challenging not to see it as implausible…even though it does make for a pretty impressive sight.

Velociraptors in San Diego subplot of Lost World: Jurassic Park

It’s common knowledge that many movies contain cut scenes and discarded storylines, and there’s a longstanding speculation about a missing element from “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” that has puzzled fans for years. If validated, this omitted plot point could have depicted velociraptors running amok in the streets of San Diego, California, alongside the T-Rex. Regrettably, for unknown reasons, the velociraptors were excluded, leaving only the T-Rex to enjoy the city chaos.

In the movie, it’s my uncle John Hammond who loses his company, InGen, to his sneaky nephew, Peter Ludlow (Arliss Howard). Instead of learning from the chaos at Isla Nublar, Ludlow is determined to keep the Jurassic Park dream alive and even more dangerously, he’s planning to build a new one smack dab in the heart of San Diego! To make matters worse, construction on this nightmare-in-the-making has already started.

The following step involves transporting dinosaurs, specifically a T-Rex and its offspring, to a southern California setting as depicted in the movie. Interestingly, traces of raptors seem to have been included in the final version. In a scene that undeniably pushed the boundaries of PG-13, when the ship transporting the dinosaurs arrives, officials inspect it and discover bloody limbs crammed within the narrow bridge. Upon closer inspection, however, this scenario seems inconsistent; considering the size of the T-Rex, it’s implausible that it could have caused such carnage on the crew, leading us to conclude that only raptors could be responsible for the violence.

Japanese men reference Godzilla in The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Previously noted, the villain in “The Lost World” is John Hammond’s immoral nephew, harboring plans to transport a T-Rex to the newly developed Jurassic Park in San Diego. As previously explained, chaos ensues when the T-Rex breaks free from its enclosure and wreaks havoc in the city (without raptors), causing destruction during the final scenes of the movie.

Regrettably, the “T-Rex in the city” chaos isn’t as thrilling as one might anticipate, largely comprising of humorous visual gags. These include absurd movie posters flashing momentarily as the Rex collides with a Blockbuster store (remember those old video rental shops?) and a lighthearted invasion into suburban life.

In these humorous, yet insignificant scenes, the lowest point arrives when a T-Rex pursues a band of Japanese businessmen, one of them shouting in his native tongue. Since there are no subtitles, it is challenging for viewers who don’t know Japanese to comprehend what he is saying. However, even without knowing the language, it is clear that Spielberg and this scene are paying homage to Godzilla. The screenwriter later admitted that the reference was deliberate, with the businessman exclaiming, “I came from Tokyo to escape this,” a joke that, unfortunately, hasn’t aged well over time.

Foreshadow of family lying in Jurassic Park III

In 2001’s “Jurassic Park III”, the storyline is straightforward. It revolves around our beloved paleontologist, Alan Grant, who finds himself in a tight spot financially while pursuing his velociraptor research. He eventually gets lured back to the dilapidated Jurassic Park by a wealthy pair, Paul (William H. Macy) and Amanda (Téa Leoni) Kirby, who offer to fund his study if he guides them on the island. However, their intention for visiting the island initially is a mystery. It’s revealed that their son, Eric (Trevor Morgan), vanished while sailing near the unopened amusement park, and they seek Grant’s assistance in locating him. Grant hesitantly agrees, driven by both scientific curiosity and financial need.

Unfortunately, it turns out that the Kirbys aren’t wealthy as initially believed; instead, they were simply distressed and seeking Grant’s assistance. To make matters worse, Grant lacks experience on the island where their son is stranded, as his adventure took place on Isla Nublar from the first film, while this island is Isla Sorna from “The Lost World.

It’s intriguing to note that this unexpected turn is hinted at earlier in the movie, and on a second viewing, you can identify numerous signs of their deception. For instance, when Macy’s Paul hands Grant a false check in a bar, Randy Newman’s song “Big Hat, No Cattle” plays. This country tune is about a liar, fitting perfectly as the lyrics, “I lied, lied, lied,” echo in the background when Grant accepts the check.

2025-02-21 15:31