Jurassic Park III

Reviewed by: Joe Blenkle

Rating:

Cast: Sam Neill, William H. Macy, Téa Leoni, Alessandro Nivola, Trevor Morgan, Michael Jeter, John Diehl, Bruce A. Young

Studio: Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment

Producer: Kathleen Kennedy & Larry Franco

Director: Joe Johnston

Screenplay: Peter Buchman, Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Release Date: July 18, 2001

Running Time: 92 Minutes

	The Pteranodon's were one of the cooler new creatures in the film. Unfortunately, they didn't eat the kid. Jurassic Park III picture by ILM. © 2001 Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

    In Jurassic Park III we are introduced to a kinder and gentler Raptor. Well, yes...they still want to rip your guts out, but these raptors are intelligent, communicate with each other, and basically take on the policy - leave us alone and we'll leave you alone.
    That, of course, really isn't what this movie is about - although once again, the raptors are major characters in the film. Jurassic Park III is set on a second dinosaur island - Isla Sorna - near the original Isla Nublar. A divorced couple (William H. Macy and Téa Leoni) suspect their 14-year-old son Eric (Trevor Morgan) is trapped on the island after disappearing on a nearby para-sailing trip. Paul and Amanda trick Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and his assistant Billy Brennan (Alessandro Nivola) into taking them to the island for a sight-seeing fly-by, but only after the plane crashes do Grant and Brennan learn the truth - they are on a rescue mission to save the divorced couple's son.
    There's only one problem - Grant isn't familiar with this island and what secrets it holds. They soon meet up with a terrifying new dinosaur - a Spinosauras - which can hunt both on land and in the water (and eats T-Rex's for lunch) and also the winged Pteranodons which are looking for food to feed their young.
    If there is a flaw in this movie it's the "rescue the kid" bit. This has been overdone over the years and the outcome is way too predictable. Despite half the cast getting chomped on by one dino or another, you know the kid is going to make it out alive. This really was a weak point in an otherwise decent movie.
    The dinosaurs, of course, steal the show. They just keep getting better and better. You'll believe they really exist. And we find out in this movie that the raptors are intelligent and can communicate between themselves. They set traps for the humans and at one point hunt them relentlessly after Brennan steals two of their eggs.
    In the end, Grant saves the day (again predictable), but there are many surprises in this movie that will keep you both spellbound and on the edge of your seat. You'll love the T-Rex - Spinosauras fight, squirm in your seat when the raptors are on the prowl, and even get a few laughs along the way.
    If for no other reason, go see this one for the dinosaurs. The combination of computer graphics and mechanical creations are spectacular. The filmmakers actually built a large-size representation of the Spinosauras. "It took us 10 months to go from the 1/16 scale model to what you see on the screen, a 44-foot, 13-ton lizard that we were told would have been a medium-sized version of this creature," said Effects Supervisor John Rosengrant. This is only one of the creatures that make Jurassic Park III a visually eye-popping experience that you won't forget. Return to The Movie Corner