Film Review: Jurassic Park III

IT WAS getting to be a while — you kind of started missing those pre-historic creatures— the prototypes of which are flooding the toy market and other kids' accessories. Ever since Michael Crichton created them in his book and they were further re-created on celluloid as the denizens of Jurassic Park, these dinosaurs and other genetically engineered animals have been the subject of interest and morbid curiosity. Not satisfied with just "Jurassic Park I and II", the third one has come to keep this unique theme going. Even as you settle down to a chills thrills kind of a film you know what is going to happen. The storyline (Peter Buchman, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor) is thin— naturally, how long can you keep the chase going and having people being eaten up alive by these horrors — and the visualisation of these supposedly intelligent velociraptors, spinosaurus, pteranodons make it a study in the realm of the unreal. All for that edge-of-the-seat experience when monsters jump out of trees, bushes, well practically out of everywhere. And don't forget they are enormous, perpetually hungry for human flesh, with jaws the size of ships. It's been eight years since the debacle at the unique tourist attraction created at Isla Nublar, a remote jungle island off Costa Rica. Jurassic Park it is and

Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) one of the world's leading paleontologists, accepts the invitation of industrialist John Hammond for a preview of the park and its chief attraction— genetically engineered dinosaurs. Initially sceptical the experience turns out to be a nightmare as these pre-historic creatures claim the park and a few of the guests. A narrow escape and Dr. Grant wants to put the experience out of his mind and life. However his commitment to the study of these fossils, remains.Years later funds for such studies peter out and Dr.Grant makes brave efforts to keep the interest in the subject going. This is when he is enticed by an industrial couple to accompany him on an aerial tour of the island. However once in the aircraft Grant is appalled to find that there are plans to land. And then out of nowhere a huge creature comes crashing into the aircraft forcing them to land on the jungle treetops. Once again stranded on an island inhabited by cloned animals Grant discovers the true reason for the invitation to the island. It was a search mission for the divorced couples's son who had disappeared while para gliding and they hoped that such an experienced man would be able to guide them through the islands and to the missing boy. But unfortunately they landed on Isla Sorna and not the one Grant had earlier been to.

And so the saga meanders through biting animals, marshes, rivers and lush green foliage to a dizzying end. At the end of it all you wonder if humans are dumber than those they created? Directed by Joe Johnston, the film also has William Macy, Alessandro Nivola and Trevor Morgan in the cast.Visual effects (Jim Mitchell) and photography (Shelly Johnson) do not leave much to imagination — in fact in parts it is too fast to even react but then if it had slowed down the feeling of terror would not have come across effectively. Dinosaur lovers, this is right up your alley.

CHITRA MAHESH

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