One of the hallmarks of Steven Spielberg’s career is the vast wonderment and awe he created with “Jurassic Park.” The visual realism and attention to aesthetic detail that was paid in every element in this cinematic adaptation is staggering. Combining different dinosaurs, landscapes, and instances of pure terror, “Jurassic Park” remains a classic and staple within Spielberg’s filmography.
In this vintage documentary from 1995 hosted by James Earl Jones, we are taken on a ride through the making of Spielberg’s picture. The director and his effects team worked for three years to breathe life into these extinct creatures. Ushering filmmaking into the 21st century by combining new means of technology with old techniques, the project was a journey of discovery. Paleontology, artistry, and technology came together as Spielberg set out to give audiences the most realistic version of these dinosaurs. Showing their graceful gait, how they hunted, how they sounded, and how they ate, the dinosaurs became the real stars of the film.
Spielberg’s precedent for this literary and seemingly mythical adaptation was 1933’s “King Kong.” A staggering achievement in visual effects for the time, this was where he would begin to build upon the old ideas and push the boundaries of technology used to build something new. Though Spielberg does not suggest “Jurassic Park” is a classic in the same vein as “King Kong,” the film has undeniably shaped how filmmakers use technology. Complex and stunning, we always return to this film, hold our breath, and freeze, hoping the Tyrannosaurus Rex does not see us as our eyes gaze and marvel.
