50 greatest Jurassic Park moments
We have a T-Rex!
Flocking Hell
The Moment: A Gallimimus herd comes thundering past Grant, Tim and Lex, followed by a hungry Tyrannosaur. All together now, “they’re flocking this waaaaay!”
Dino Magic: It's nice to see a bit of variety in the Dinos Spielberg puts on screen, and it gives Dr. Grant another opportunity to show off his encyclopaedic knowledge.
Hide And Seek
The Moment: The Raptors stalk Timmy and Lex through the visitors centre, even managing to operate door-handles with their hooked claws. Clever girls indeed.
Dino Magic: The insidious cunning of the Raptors is on full display in this hair-raising finale. The fact that they’re hunting children only serves to heighten the terror!
Lunchtime Debate
The Moment: Malcolm calls out Hammond on the ethical implications of what he has set out to achieve: “Don't you see the danger, John, inherent in what you're doing here? Genetic power is the most awesome force the planet's ever seen, but you wield it like a kid that's found his dad's gun.”
Dino Magic: As cool as the dinosaurs are, Jurassic Park wouldn’t be half the movie without its superlative script. That’s some pretty weighty debate for a summer popcorn movie!
Call Of Nature
The Moment: The cowardly Donald Gennaro abandons Lex and Tim to the advances of the T-Rex by dashing from the car into a nearby toilet. Sadly for him, the giant lizard isn’t about to be put off by the smell…
Dino Magic: It’s the T-Rex’s first (human) kill, and suitably grisly it is too!
Chaos Theory
The Moment: Malcolm outlines his belief in chaos theory to the scientifically-minded and visibly irritated Dr. Grant. Dr. Sattler however, seems somewhat taken with the leather-clad maverick…
Dino Magic: Jeff Goldblum’s twitchy performance is a treat, as is the increasing impatience of San Neill. It’s not all about the dinosaurs you know!
The Journey Home
The Moment: The survivors make their way home in a helicopter, the two children safely cuddled up next to Dr. Grant. As the camera pans across the ocean, a flock of sea birds remind the viewer of their status as the dinosaurs’ nearest cousins.
Dino Magic: It’s a lovely touch that brings the whole thing full circle, John Williams’ brilliant score completing the feel-good moment.
The Miracle Of Life
The Moment: In a brilliantly innovative piece of exposition, the story of how Jurassic Park came to be is condensed into an informative video about DNA.
Dino Magic: One of the coolest parts of the film, capturing that early ’90s training-video feel perfectly. Mr DNA seems a likeable chap, doesn’t he?
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Bedtime Story
The Moment: Dr. Grant comforts the traumatised kids as they bed down for the night in their tree-top sanctuary. The visit of a herd of friendly Brachiosaurs is the icing on the cake.
Dino Magic: The Brachiosaurs are extremely cuddly fellows, and after this touching scene, it would appear that Dr. Grant is also.
Armless
The Moment: Dr. Sattler, retreating from a marauding Raptor, is reassured to feel Mr Arnold’s hand on her shoulder. Sadly, the rest of his body is somewhere else.
Dino Magic: It’s a good old-fashioned horror movie trick, and one that guarantees at least one yelp of surprise in every audience. Hold on to your butts now people…
Sick Note
The Moment: The group are introduced to a sickly triceratops, prompting a compassionate Dr. Sattler to hang back and lend her assistance.
Dino Magic: Its hardly a pivotal scene, but it does serve to put across the idea that Jurassic Park is a zoo like any other, and the inhabitants require a bit of TLC every once in a while. Plus, the Triceratops was always one of our favourites growing up…
George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.