Hey all, it’s Kern here, coming at you with another classic movie review. It’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these, but I suppose it’s better to write one now than never. I chose Jurassic Park because it’s such a beloved 90’s classic and the franchise is still ongoing. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the “World” era of the Jurassic Park plot line, but it is what it is, I suppose.

Why Jurassic Park Is Still a Masterpiece (And Always Will Be)

Let’s get this out of the way before we do anything else. Yes, yes and more YES! Jurassic Park (1993) isn’t just a “good” movie. It’s a legendary one, flat out. Whether you’re a die-hard film buff, the average movie goer, or someone who gets hyped over perfect storytelling in games or film, Jurassic Park just hits differently. It did back in the day, and it still does now.

On a rainy afternoon with nothing better to do I recently re-watched this Steven Spielberg classic… and you know what? Yeah, I so often forget how good this movie is. Let’s call Jurassic Park what it really is; cinematic lightning in a bottle.

The movie is partially a science fiction with dashes of philosophy for good measure. It’s also part thriller, part jungle adventure, and all heart. The story isn’t just about dinosaurs. Honestly, I’d say it’s way more about the awe of discovery, the terror of nature, forced imbalance, and the hubris of mankind. Jurassic Park is just the raw beauty of film making done right… but, let’s dive into why that is.

The Plot in a Nutshell

Do I really need to do this? I highly doubt it, so get ready for a rapid fire acknowledgement about the plot. If you’re somehow new to this prehistoric party, here’s a quick summary of the Jurassic Park story:

It all starts with a hunk of amber, and a dead mosquito inside, right along with a blood sucking lawyer complaining about legal disputes. It seems a billionaire with more money than common sense, John Hammond, uses cloning technology to bring dinosaurs back to life and opens a theme park on a remote island. He invites a team of experts including paleontologists Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and the smart-ass chaotician Dr. Ian Malcolm to tour the park before it opens.

Of course, as one might expect when you decide to play God; things go horribly wrong. The park, a mix of zoo and amusement park, with the issues of both, fails critically on several levels. Exactly what you assume happens, happens. Yeah, everything goes to hell in a hand-bag..

The reasons why are numerous. For Hammond to have “spared no expense” it seems as though a few key bits of infrastructure isn’t up to the task. At the start, this only shows as safety rails that don’t stay in place, but the cracks show quickly. Security systems fail, dinosaurs escape, and what starts as a scientific marvel turns into a full-blown thriller bent escape from the island.

Cinematography That Stuns: Jurassic Park Is a Visual Masterclass

The cinematography is still really good despite the age of the film. The movie is hauntingly gorgeous. Cinematographer Dean Cundey (the same guy who did Apollo 13 Back to the Future), and director Spielberg delivered shot after shot of pure visual poetry.

From the first reveal of the Brachiosaurus and that upward camera pan? Yeah, that’s a moment of film history right there. Another standout moment; The rain-soaked T. Rex let out his first roar on screen. Still terrifying. Still a masterclass in tension and lighting. A mix of practical effects, puppets and CGI were used. Some of the puppets STILL look better in the original movie than the new CGI ones do in later films.

Plus, I mean… Raptors in the kitchen, anyone? That entire sequence is pretty famous. Why shouldn’t it be? The reflections in the metal, how the shadows move, how tension melds with the tapping of raptor toes and the communication between the creatures themselves. Every frame feels carefully crafted to sell the illusion that this world is real. You’re not just watching dinosaurs running amok, you’re witnessing them acting exactly as they would in the wild…

At least, that’s what Hammond wants visitors of the park to believe. The cold hard truth is that we’re not watching dinosaurs, we’re watching abominations of science roam free. It’s at this time I should mention, this movie is based on the book of the same name; Jurassic Park, written by Michael Crichton. The book was much darker than the film, but the general themes are the same more or less.

Acting That Grounds the Chaos

One of the most underrated aspects of this film is the stellar acting. Yes, the dinosaurs steal the spotlight (they should), but the raw human performances are what make you care. The kids actually do a good job acting alongside their much more seasoned and experienced adult counterparts. We’re just going to bullet point the most important characters but, uh, here it goes:

• Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant): His gruff-but-lovable energy anchors the emotional journey.
• Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler): Smart, capable, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. She owns every scene she’s in.
• Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm): The perfect mix of swagger, sarcasm, and “I told you so” vibes.
• Richard Attenborough (John Hammond): A dreamer with good intentions and blind optimism. So tragically believable.

There are more than these major players in the movie, like the lawyer that famously gets eaten off of a toilet by good ole Rexy, but I wouldn’t say they’re as compelling to watch. That being said though, that’s being said in contract to the acting and characters above… nobody gave a bad performance.

Even the kids pull their weight surprisingly. The characters of Lex and Tim are believable and sympathetic. They’re also capable, as shown by the kitchen scene to be resourceful, without feeling as though they retained “plot armor” simply for being kids. they do act their respective ages, but they’re not overly annoying. They’re not the sort of kids to complain unless there is something worth complaining about, like oh… say; falling from a tree in a mangled car or getting electrocuted? The character of Tim is a real trooper in this movie, and there’s no denying it.

John Williams’ Score: A Symphony of Awe and Dread

What’s a Spielberg film without a legendary John Williams soundtrack? These two have worked together on a lot of films; Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler’s List… I could go on and on. Anyway it goes without saying. The Jurassic Park theme is instantly iconic—majestic, sweeping, and full of childlike wonder. If you hear this thing, you know exactly what it is.

Over time, the deeper you go into the film, the more the music shifts into eerie tension and dread. From soaring melodies during dino reveals to those near-silent moments during suspense scenes, the soundtrack guides your emotions like a roller coaster and it doesn’t let go.

Themes That Hit Harder Than Ever

Oh sure, dinosaurs eating people, high speed chase scenes, moments of baited breath and stealth, Jurassic Park has it all. Even though this is a popcorn blockbuster, the themes of Jurassic Park are shockingly deep. The main focus is primarily about respecting one’s place in the universe. It’s about human arrogance vs. nature’s unpredictability.

Hubris is the ultimate downfall of the park. Those who decided to use a lack of scientific ethics when designing it suffer the worst. The danger of playing God is woven through the film, with stern warnings from the resident chaotician, not that anyone listens. The least of the issues, although certainly problematic in its own right is the downright levels of corporate greed overriding common sense and caution.

Perhaps the most iconic Ian Malcolm one-liner depicts all of the above themes the best. “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Ultimately the scene around the table is perhaps the one most fundamental to the entire movie, and if you haven’t seen at least that one movie clip, you should. It’s an interesting moral debate if little else, and it leaves a lot of interesting points to ponder. In a way the scene is more topical today than it ever was way back in the 90’s.

Is Jurassic Park Still Worth Watching in 2025? YES.

If you’re wondering, “Does Jurassic Park still hold up in 2025?” The answer is a T. rex-sized YES. Here’s why… you’re not going to find another Jurassic Park story quite like it. It’s plenty dark while balancing action and adventure. It’s also a fairly intelligent film. The scientific and moral dilemmas aren’t just surface level. That said, if that’s the part of the movie you love the most you should probably read or listen to the original book too to get the full experience of the philosophical debate.

I don’t think it’s too over-the-top to say that Jurassic Park defined a generation with lunch boxes, clothes, hats and toys. Children and adults alike loved this movie, and it’s certainly a huge part of media history.

This isn’t a children’s movie, but families flocked to it all the same, myself included. When I saw this movie, I was five and this movie was most certainly not for a five years old… but, I loved dinosaurs, my other families were going to see it anyway. My father took me with them to see it too. I think that’s a pretty common story surrounding Jurassic Park and just how many people loved it.

So yeah, this movie is certainly worth a watch. I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t give it a try if they like the general premise.

On that note, I love the movie so much that I made a fan song for it, and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

This has been Kern from The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at it’s finest and level grinds are par for the course. Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel, like and subscribe! We’re on Twitch too, if you like gaming content.

What’s your favorite scene in Jurassic Park? Let me know in the comments!