So I just finished (re)watching "Jurassic Park", the original film from 1993. Surprisingly enough, it still works after all these years. In fact, I considered it more cringey the first few times I watched it! Not sure what changed. The nostalgia factor? Hormone levels, or what?
The fabolous special effects (ahem, those raptors *are* fake, right?) are the main reason why the production still looks state-of-the-art. A funny detail is that the toys and other merch shown in "Jurassic Park" are real. Some angry reviewers even complained about it at the time! I assume this was the first time film-related merchandize was shown as part of the actual film? Perhaps it´s ironic that a commercial production has an anti-corporate message, but there you go. And speaking of that message...
While liberal Green anti-science/anti-capitalism is an old trope, it doesn´t feel *as* tired today as it may have done back in 1993 (when all of us, except maybe Dave Foreman, still believed in Progress, be it Capitalist or Real Socialism). Today, I must say that the quasi-philosophy of "Jurassic Park" suddenly felt more relevant than ever. No, we can´t control Nature, Life or a pack of de-extinct jumbo-sized Sauropsida. Heck, we can hardly control ourselves! The "Jurassic" theme park at Isla Nublar is a good metaphor for our megalomaniacal hopes and dreams that of course we can solve everything by gene manipulation, fusion power, "electrification", vaccines or what have you. The raptors are coming home to roost.
That being said, "Jurassic Park" also has its problems. The most obvious is the typical Hollywood hypocrisy concerning gender issues. Sure, the film contains a few attacks on sexism, while actually being extremely sexist. Why does the female scientist show skin all the time? And why is the geeky girl hysterically screaming about as often? Right.
And yes, the raptors are really Deinonychi, but you knew that already.
It´s been an interesting 28 years...
No comments:
Post a Comment