Subscribe in a readerI wanna talk about it all! I love franchises... ever since I was a kid I knew I was an uber nerd: it wasn't enough that I have the figurine of my favourite character; I had to keep the box it came in.
My nostalgia switch was triggered this past week with the release of the new Jurassic World trailer: (check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFinNxS5KN4 )
I remember back in 1993, sitting in that movie theater, expecting to see some stop-motion dinos that I would immediately know is fake the second I set eyes upon it. Me, like 65 million others, were disappointed in the negativity department.
Spielberg's team made living, breathing dinosaurs so real that you couldn't rip your eyes away. You were in awe when you were supposed to be in awe, and scared sh*less when the Raptor's made their appearance. It was an unforgettable 2 hours that shaped my destiny into studying 3D animation. I still have all my 'making of' annuals and trading cards.
The problem is; how come Spielberg created such an epic film when he wasn't even totally focused on the project 100%? He was split between this and Schindler's List, and according to my research, he was more focused on his major oscar winner, Schindler's List.
Now cut to 1996-97, when Spielberg is completely engrossed in the project, ditching Michael Crichton's second novel, hiring the much-overrated David Koepp to write a baffling tale of hunters vs gatherers vs fatherhood vs dishonest girlfriend vs dinosaurs vs San Diego.
It was a mess.
My theory is that Spielberg thinks in terms of "shots". Not patron or tequila, I'm talking a "Spielberg Moment". For example; the scene in Jurassic Park where the glass of water ripples, or Close Encounters of the Third Kind where Dreyfuss makes the mountain in his living room. The only Spielberg moments from Lost World were the Twin trailer and Rexes scene (which was stolen from Crichton's dissed novel) and the attack on San Diego (Godzilla much?). It appears to me that Spielberg thereafter turns to his writer David Koepp and says, "I want these scenes... I don't care whatever mumbo jumbo you write inbetween, but I want Rexes pushing a bus, and Julianne Moore to walk on cracking glass overlooking a cliff."
The worst part about Lost World; the T-Rex roar.
It wasn't up to the standard of the first film. It didn't scare you or hurt your ears. It was actors going through their set pieces. Surprise! Malcolm's daughter sneaks on to the island. Surprise! Raptors show up towards the end. Surprise! T-Rex shows up for the final act... gasp... in the city! Lame-lame-lame!
Thereafter Jurassic Park suffered with an over-the-top third film. The brightly coloured-fake-looking dinosaurs. The Spinosaurus killing Rex, the star of the first two films (need I say more?). Why did Sam Neill agree to this? A fun game to play is 'how many times does Sam Neill say "my god!" in JP3?'
That's why Jurassic World is so important to me. I need this franchise to be good. For the young guy in me that believed he wanted to make 3D this cool. For the writer that wanted to come up with an idea this awesome.
They are definitely on to something here; everyone wanted Jurassic Park to be real. Everyone wants to go see dinosaurs.
I'm happy they have Chris Pratt in this segment. I thought he was awesome in Everwood, and always underrated in his minor roles in big films (Moneyball for example). I have all faith he's going to add a fresh dimension. He's funny and natural (something I expected from Vince Vaughn in Lost World but was sorely let down.)
SO, SPIELBERG... give us natural looking dinos, a great story (not just "moments") and give me a real ear-splitting T-Rex roar.
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