'Jurassic Park III'

Mikometer Rating: 4 of 10

This movie wins the award for the lowest score I've ever given on the Mikometer. Thumbs Down. I can't honestly recommend Jurassic Park III to anybody. The Lost World, the second movie in the "series", was basically a retread of the first with more up to date computer graphics, and larger stunts. Sam Neill opted out of that one, leaving Jeff Goldblum with the job of being leading man, but Sam's back as "Mr. Dinosaur Man" in this one. Directed for Spielberg by Joe Johnston, who did 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids', and 'Jumanjii', this is a sad excuse for entertainment. I see no need for this series anymore. I felt embarrassed for the studio and for Steven. Johnston does a credible Michael Bay impersonation with the direction. The movie stars people with actual acting talent, like William H. Macy. He didn't have a better script in his possession than this? I find that hard to believe. Tea Leoni does Fay Wray, and you just wish she'd shut up.
I very seldom write anything negative, so forgive me, but I'm just going to town. Jurassic Park III is the perfect example of what is bad with movies nowadays. This is pure marketing, devoid of imagination or intellect. The latest installment of this particular franchise reeks of manufactured entertainment. Spielberg et al are only going for the dollar here, and while the movie can be called an exciting "thrill ride", it essentially is so much Jurassic Screen Saver. I watched the first two movies on DVD before going out to see this one. Watching the original again, I was impressed at how Spielberg turned the material into his own. But besides the Spielberg strengths in evidence,his weaknesses were evident throughout as well. The awestruck humans are unable to comprehend their cosmic experience, The authorities are ineffectual. Kids get scared. This plays more like a video game than Final Fantasy. If there is software now that can digitally create a hit movie, it was used here, and it shows.
Dr. Grant is reintroduced in a kind of prologue, visiting Laura Dern's Ellie from Jurassic I, who now is married and has a child. The toddler plays Dinosaurs with the Dinosaur Man, and is fascinated by Barney. Ellie's kid is a future paleontologist, and Dr. Grant has a lot of fun playing with the tot. Flying back to his dig, the Doctor is confronted by Macy and Tea as the Kirbys, ostensibly wealthy adventurers who want Dr. Grant to be their guide on a flyover of Isla Sorna, the infamous second island of the book and first movie. Of course, faster than you can say, "plane wreck", the passengers find themselves stranded on the island. From then on, it's get away from the dinosaurs.
The dinosaurs look standard issue these days. Just more CGI dinosaurs. Yawn. The actors try to make the characters believable, but I'm actually surprised the audience didn't laugh out loud when Dr. Grant cautions: "Everybody stand still." He probably doesn't believe the words are coming out of his mouth. This is a film where believeability would have to be checked at the door anyway.
There is a scene where the stranded crew has to outrun a "spinosaurus" a particular creature I've never heard about, and they escape through a break in the fence miraculously appears just when needed.
As I said, I'm embarrassed. Jurassic Park III proves that II was too many. But of course the stage is set for IV at the final moments, when PLOT POINT ALERT, (as if you care) the pteranadons glide beautifully into the sunset, free to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting moviegoing public.
It'll make money and disappear.

Mikometer Rating: 4 of 10

'Jurassic Park III' PG-13
Sam Neill: Dr. Alan Grant
William H. Macy: Paul Kirby
Téa Leoni: Amanda Kirby
Alessandro Nivola: Billy Brennan
Trevor Morgan: Eric Kirby
Michael Jeter: Udesky
Laura Dern: Ellie

Universal Pictures presents an Amblin Entertainment production, released by Universal Pictures. Director Joe Johnston. Producers Kathleen Kennedy, Larry Franco. Executive producer Steven Spielberg. Screenplay by Peter Buchman and Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor. Cinematographer Shelly Johnson. Editor Robert Dalva. Costume designer Betsy Cox. Music Don Davis. Original themes John Williams. Production designer Ed Verreaux. Art director Doug Meerdink. Set decorator Kate Sullivan. Running time: 1 hour, 32 minutes.

Review written and copyrighted 2001 by Michael F. Nyiri