Earlier this month ‘Jurassic World’, the eagerly anticipated fourth instalment in the popular dinosaur-based franchise, arrived on DVD and Blu-ray here in the UK and with it there was plenty of nostalgia to enjoy. The sequel directed by Colin Trevorrow manages to take us on yet another thrilling ride through the newly conceived park which has finally opened its doors to the general public after a string of notable incidents mostly involving sharp teeth, running and screaming. The franchise itself has helped spawn endless merchandise, games such as the Jurassic Park slot and a whole heap of action figures, apparel and spin-off video games. So to celebrate we thought, in true nostalgic style, that we would take a look back at some of the most terrifying moments from the original ‘Jurassic Park’.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX? THE OPENING SCENE
Even before the opening credits began to roll Spielberg managed to shock audiences who were calmly awaiting the first sight of these gloriously reconstructed prehistoric beasts. No sooner had the Universal logo disappeared when we were suddenly seeing shaking trees and concerned park workers and armed personnel looking on at a forthcoming arrival. A forklift truck drops down a large mysterious box and as it gets lined up with a large adjacent paddock the gate is opened to unleash this mysterious creature. However things begin to go awry when the beast within (which turns out to be a Velociraptor being transported to his new home) knocks the container off-centre and an unfortunate worker is dragged from the floor and thrown up and down by the vicious dino.
T-REX MAKES HIS DEBUT
Much like the Jurassic Park in-movie tour itself there was a lack of dinosaurs in the early parts of the movie which when the park’s main attraction finally appeared it had to be a memorable debut. When the Tyrannosaurus Rex enters the movie it was with all guns blazing. The huge beast lit up the screen terrifying audiences and the characters trapped in the touring jeeps. Big, loud, scary and iconic, the full force of the T-Rex’s appearance still looks as good today as it did more than 22 years ago. Even more pleasingly is that he makes an appearance in the new ‘Jurassic World’ movie.
THE SPITTING DILOPHOSAURUS
Even though he had managed to play characters with a subtle notoriety previously, much like his turn in the role of Jerry Seinfeld’s arch-nemesis neighbour Newman, actor Wayne Knight took on a pivotally significant and infamous role in ‘Jurassic Park’. Knight played slimy computer nerd Dennis Nedry and boy did he get his comeuppance when he came face to face with the deadly spitting Dilophosaurus on his rather abrupt escape from the park which not only led to him losing his life (apparently) but also the stolen embryos.
WHO’S A CLEVER GIRL?
The Velociraptors are responsible for many of the original movies most terrifying moments and one such moment is of course that of park game warden Robert Muldoon moving in on the surrounding raptors as Ellie Sattler makes her way to the maintenance shed. He notices that they’re being hunted by the now unleashed raptors that end up ambushing the experienced hunter himself after he is distracted in a clever setup of misdirection that leads him to utter his final iconic line of respect to the 75 million year old species…”Clever girl”.
ELLIE SATTLER IN THE MAINTENANCE SHED
Following the untimely demise of Robert Muldoon paleobotanist Ellis Sattler was chiefly responsible for getting the power back on in the park. Trapped in the maintenance shed she found herself facing more raptor difficulties. As she backs away there is a brief moment of relief for her as she is tapped on the shoulder by who she assumes is the park’s chief engineer Ray Arnold (played by Samuel L. Jackson) who had gone missing. Unfortunately for Ellie is was just his severed arm.
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