With the first Jurassic Park movie released 27 years ago today i thought it would be a good idea to give a review to this long running, loved franchise. So what is Jurassic Park? Where have you been is the answer to that one if you do not know? Having you been hiding under that rock from the Tyrannosaurus Rex or Velociraptors? Yes Dinosaurs. We enter a world first set out by Michael Crichton in his novel 3 years prior. Steven Spielberg directed the first 2 movies. So at the moment we actually have 2 trilogies in this franchise, so 6 movies, with rumours stating that that is not all the dinosaurs that we are getting. There are other movies that are being spoke about and being developed.
Jurassic Park, the first movie of all. The film is set on a fictional island called Isla Nublar, located in the Pacific, near to Costa Rica. John Hammond (played by Richard Attenborough), is a very wealthy businessman who has funded a team of genetic scientists to create a wildlife style theme park, with the wild life, being the wildest you have seen DINOSAURS. These scientist have managed to recreate the extinct creatures, along with prehistoric plant life to form the park. The issue being that there was an accident, in which one of the workers on the park was killed by a Velociraptor. The investors insist that Hammond get in some experts to clarify that the park is safe. These specialists are paleontologist, Dr. Alan Grant (played by Sam Neill), paleo-botanist Dr. Ellie Sattler (played by Laura Dern), and mathematician, Ian Malcolm (played by Jeff Goldblum). Hammond organised a tour of the park for the 3 and his 2 Grandchildren in electric vehicles, while he stays out of the way, watching from afar in the park's control room. Without a spoiler of any description, i ask you now. Do you think this went according to plan?
The Lost World: Jurassic Park is the second movie, this again was based on a follow up novel ,by Michael Crichton and again directed by Steven Spielberg. This movie was released in 1997. This movie is set on a second island, Isla Sorna. A wealthy family docks their yacht ashore, unaware of what perils where on it. The daughter wanders off into the jungle and she is attacked by a group of Comsognathus. Hammond invites Ian Malcolm to discuss the recent incident, this is where Hammond tells Malcolm this was the place where the dinosaurs were created, then shipped into the nearby Isla Nublar. Along with the returning Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough, they are joined by Julianne Moore who is Sarah Harding (Malcolm's girlfriend), Arliss Howard who plays Peter Ludlow (Hammond's nephew), Vince Vaughn as Nick Van Owen, and Vanessa Chester as Kelly Curtis (Malcolm's daughter), who was not meant to be there.
Jurassic Park III would be next, again a 4 year gap between between movies, this the first one not to be based on a novel, and neither was it directed by Steven Spielberg. A return in this movie for Sam Neill and Laura Dern, Neill's character Dr. Grant has been doing some research on Velociraptor since his experience on Isla Nublar, the problem is that he doesn't have enough funds to complete. 2 investors come forward, but want to be taken and have an aerial view of Isla Sorna and for Dr. Grant to be their guide. While over the island, Dr. Grant learns of the couples plans to land. He protests, but is knocked out. The reason that they want to land is because a few weeks earlier, their son ends up on the island. The couple are Paul and Amanda Kirby (played by William H. Macy and Tea Leoni)
After a 14 year absence the dinosaurs are back. In 2015 the first of the Jurassic World Trilogy hits cinemas. Jurassic World is set 22 years after Jurassic Park, but we are back on familiar territory, Isla Nublar. We see a full functioning dinosaur theme park, under new ownership that has been a success for the past 10 years. The scientists at this park though, have decided that to re-spark visitors interest with numbers dropping, to genetically engineer a new hybrid dinosaur. This movie has a new cast with Chris Pratt as Owen Grady, Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire Dearing.
In 2018 we have the second Jurassic World title in our cinema. Its Called Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return in their roles, this time, they are there to rescue the dinosaurs after hearing that the island's dormant volcano is active, and ready to erupt, this killing all known life on the island.
The next movie is filming now and with all the delays that it has faced is now due to be released on 21 June 2021. This one and the last of the World Trilogy has been called Jurassic World 3 and also Jurassic World: Dominion. Which title we get is very much under wraps, as too is the plot. Apparently we have Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard returning along with the original trio of Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.
The Franchise as a whole on the 5 movies has made in the region of £5 billion and with next years release set to bring back the whole crew, expect that figure to soar.
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