Leah Schwarting
Co-Editor
I’m not a big fan of the idea of re-releasing movies in 3-D and IMAX just because you can. I didn’t go to see any of the Star Wars movies when they were re-released.
I’ll admit, I went to go see ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in IMAX, and I’ll probably go see ‘The Little Mermaid’ when it comes out too. Still, I only saw ‘Beauty in the Beast’ in 3-D, not IMAX. Besides, they’re the exceptions. Who wants to pay $15 for a movie that you’ve already seen?
As it turns out, I hadn’t seen “Jurassic Park.” Not to say that I haven’t seen the movie: I first saw it when I was six.
The story was still the same, but I just hadn’t actually seen the movie. Not like it was in 3-D and IMAX.
The surround sound helped add enough background noise to put what was going on in perspective. The sound in general was also crystal clear, and it really did put you into the movie.
When the T-Rex roars, you cover your ears along with the heroes.
That was also true of basically any time any dinosaur decided to give its vocal chords a workout. The movie’s trademark theme song only got cooler with the amazing sound system.
The larger images also helped add definition. I saw characters doing things in the back that I had never noticed before on my TV screen, and I’ve been watching “Jurassic Park” for 14 years.
The 3-D was impressive for other reasons too. I’m not a huge fan of 3-D since, to me, it’s generally only ever added to the ticket price. It rarely seems to add anything to the actual movie.
In this case, I was wrong. I never realized just how well “Jurassic Park” would translate into 3-D.
There are plenty of wide angles and zoom ups, plenty of dramatic turns and chase sequences, as well branches that the characters have to move through. It’s only added to with 3-D.
The jump scares also got quite a bit scarier. I have seen all of the “Jurassic Park” movies, with mixed results. I’ve read both books. I’m sure that, if I wanted to, I could probably quote the entire movie word for word.
However, during the scene when Dr. Sattler, played by Laura Dern, went into the maintenance shed to turn the power back on, I knew what was going to happen.
I knew that there was going to be a raptor hiding amongst the power cables that covered the wall. I knew it was going to jump out, give its little raptor scream, and then try to eat her.
For once, knowing didn’t help. I still jumped. Any time that any dinosaur sprang onto the screen, I couldn’t help but be a little startled.
Overall, I was more than happy to pay $15 to see a movie I already owned.
The 3-D and IMAX sound and picture combined to make a movie-going experience that was as adventure-filled as the movie itself.
