Plot: What’s it about?
It has been eight years since Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) came face to face with his research subjects, but he hasn’t forgotten those events. He is satisfied working with fossils and the like, but his funds have started to run low, which has him concerned. So when he is made an offer by eccentric businessman Paul Kirby (William H. Macy), he knows he should refuse it, but the cash makes him think twice about the chance. The task in front of Grant seems like a simple one, as he just has to serve as tour guide on a low flight over Isla Sorna, the island where the dinosaurs are located. The island has become overrun with the creatures these days, a sort of literal lost world and as such, thrill seekers often venture there to experience it all, sometimes with fatal results. After some though, Grant agrees and the trek starts, with Kirby, his wife Amanda (Tea Leoni), and a small group of others along for the ride. But will this trip be as simple as it seems, or will Grant end up once again confronted by his worst fears once again? His research has planted some scary ideas in his head and if he isn’t careful, he could confirm them in person, before he’s torn to shreds…
I like the idea of dinosaurs laying waste to modern society, so of course, I’ve watched and enjoyed the Jurassic Park films. I found the first to be good, but a little ham handed with the sermons and while The Lost World was hammered by most, I thought it was a fun, mindless motion picture. It had more dinosaurs, some interesting new characters, awesome new weapons & equipment, and a meaner, more vicious tone. Yes, the story was weak and some of the performances were lame, but the movie was a wild ride and offered some great moments, at least from a popcorn summer blockbuster perspective. If nothing else, the rampage through the city streets was enough to win me over, though it wasn’t as cool as it could have been. With Spielberg out of the director’s chair, I had high hopes for a meaner, sleeker Jurassic Park film here and on the whole, my expectations were surpassed in Jurassic Park III. The story is still thin and the writing is laughable at times, but it delivered in terms of dinosaur carnage and I had a lot of fun with this movie. As such, Universal’s well rounded disc gets a high recommendation from this reviewer.
As the sole returning cast member from previous Jurassic Park films, Sam Neill has a lot on his shoulders, but he never drops the load here. He skipped the second film and perhaps that was a wise choice, as his presence here is most welcome, if just to avoid seeing Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm once again. Of course, an actor like Neill isn’t going to have to work much in a movie like Jurassic Park III, but he gives another solid turn as Dr. Alan Grant. Neill is a highly skilled thespian and can take control of a movie at will, but in Jurassic Park III, he knows his place and remains back a ways, to let the visuals and atmosphere handle the ride. This won’t be one of his premier roles of course, but it got him a paycheck and I think fans were glad to see him back. Other films with Neill include Event Horizon, Restoration, Sirens, Dead Calm, and The Dish. The cast also includes William H. Macy (Boogie Nights, Mystery Men), Tea Leoni (The Family Man, Deep Impact), and Alessandro Nivola (Face/Off, Best Laid Plans).
Video: How does it look?
Jurassic Park III is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. As expected, Universal has delivered a very impressive visual effort here, although it isn’t one of their upper tier overall transfers. But while it isn’t a reference level presentation, it is a superb one and I think most people will be more than pleased with the results. The source print is near pristine and looks as clean as you’d expect from such a recent release, although I did note a few compression flaws here and there. Nothing too serious, but I think Universal might have packed in a little too much onto a single disc, as evidenced by these minor glitches. The colors look bold and never err, though the hues sometimes dull down a shade, as per the visual intent of the filmmakers. No issues with contrast either, as detail remains high at all times and black levels look smooth & refined. A few small flaws aside, this is a stupendous visual presentation and even as it stands, I doubt anyone will nitpick enough to knock the effort much.
Audio: How does it sound?
As they sometimes do, Universal has included 5.1 surround options in both Dolby Digital and DTS, so both camps should be pleased. This is a fast paced, dinosaur wrecking machine and as such, the mix has power to spare and should push your system, especially in a handful of key sequences. I do think the focus on power is a bit much at times, as the mix lacks the small touches I had hoped for, which is a let down of sorts. Even so, the basic elements come through in sharp form and I have minimal complaints to lodge there. The musical score has a broad scope and uses the front channels quite well, though it doesn’t move into the rears often, which took me a bit by surprise. The dialogue is clean and always easy to understand also, with a solid volume balance and no clarity issues to discuss. The DTS option nosed ahead at times, but in either case, Universal has supplied very impressive audio mixes here. This disc also includes a French language option, as well as English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I was pleased to see an audio commentary track included here, which features several vital members of the special effects team. Stan Winston and Michael Lanteri are the main names you should know, but they’re joined by a couple of other speakers, though the comments seem to have been recorded at different times. The session is brisk and contains a lot of information, not just on this picture either, but the entire Jurassic Park series. This disc also houses a lot of behind the scenes featurettes, but most are quite brief and as such, I wasn’t too impressed. I’d rather see one substantial documentary as opposed to endless three minute featurettes, but I suppose studios have their reasons. The main featurette is The Making of Jurassic Park, which runs about twenty-five minutes and is like your basic Universal featurette, a few interviews and lots of fluff. Some of the interviews were fun to watch of course, but this offers little insight and too much promotion. The New Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park is a six minute tour of the new beasts, while Behind-The-Scenes contains three brief creature effects pieces that combine for under ten minutes of screen time. You can also view Finding Lost Dinosaurs (5 minutes), A Visit to Stan Winston Studios (3 minutes), and A Visit to ILM (15 minutes), all chock full of dinosaur knowledge, from real life to computer graphics. This disc also includes some production notes, three storyboard-to-film comparisons, talent files, montages of production photos & promotional materials, some DVD ROM content, and of course, the film’s theatrical trailer.
