Dinosaurs are reintroduced to the world and meet humanity for the first time thanks to the efforts of a misguided, wealthy philanthropist, John Hammond(Richard Attenborough, "Miracle on 34th Street" 1994)' an eccentric man at best. His fate differs from the book's character as depicted by author Michael Crighton and frankly the book was better.

That was one of many points in which the book was better but such is the reality of movie making. Jeff Goldblum ("Cats And Dogs") was highly entertaining as the goofy Dr. Ian Malcolm with his Chaos Theory. The best performed role was that of Dennis Knight, played by Wayne Nedry ("Seinfeld"), who is a park computer expert hired by the competition to steal dinosaur DNA.

Sam Neil ("Merlin") and Laura Dern ("Afterburn") are billed as the main characters Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Satler, the dinosaur experts for both animal and vegetables of that age. Frankly their performances were simply okay and nothing more (although Dern does prove to be a really excellent screamer). The only other notable performer is Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) as Ray Arnold, the park's chief engineer but it was a small role.

The stars of the film are the dinosaurs and the behind the scene workers that made them happen. Easily the best T-rex the movie world has ever seen and the rest of the dinos were awe inspiring. However, the top of the heap displays the velociraptors which this movie introduced to dino fans everywhere. They made for the most suspenseful scenes in the movie.

All in all it is one of the greatest films ever with box office receipts to prove it. If it had been truer to the book it would be the best. Very few movies can match it for action and tension especially when the velociraptors are acting up. No one would should miss this flick and it's worth quite a view extra viewings.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12