Jurassic Park III

Infobox Film
name = Jurassic Park III


director = Joe Johnston
producer = Larry J. Franco
Kathleen Kennedy
Steven Spielberg
writer = Michael Crichton
Peter Buchman
Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
narrator =
starring = Sam Neill
William H. Macy
Tea Leoni
Alessandro Nivola
Trevor Morgan
Michael Jeter
Laura Dern
music = Don Davis
Theme:
John Williams
cinematography = Shelly Johnson
editing = Robert Dalva
distributor = Universal Pictures
United International Pictures

released = July 18, 2001
runtime = 94 minutes
country = filmUS
language = English
budget = $90,000,000
gross = $369 million
preceded_by = ""
followed_by = "Jurassic Park IV"
website =
amg_id = 1:247386
imdb_id = 0163025

"Jurassic Park III" is a 2001 and the third film of the "Jurassic Park" film series. "Jurassic Park III" is the sequel to "", and is the first in the series that is neither based on a book by Michael Crichton nor directed by Steven Spielberg. It takes place on Isla Sorna, the island from the second film, after a couple hires Dr. Alan Grant to help them find their son.

After the success of the first "Jurassic Park", Joe Johnston asked Steven Spielberg if he could direct the film adaptation of "The Lost World", the sequel to "Jurassic Park". While Spielberg wanted to do the project, he promised to give the helm of the second sequel to Johnston. Spielberg stayed involved with the film by becoming the executive producer. Three years after the release of "The Lost World", production of a third film began in August 2000.

Plot

Four years after the events of the second film, "The Lost World", doctors Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) have continued their paleontological careers but are working independently. Ellie is married with two children and Grant is still digging with his protégé, Billy Brennan (Alessandro Nivola). He is approached by Paul (William H. Macy) and Amanda Kirby (Téa Leoni), who say they are wealthy thrill-seekers who want Grant to give them a tour of Isla Sorna. Grant is reluctant at first, but eventually agree after the Kirbys promise to fund his dig.

Grant suspects that something is not quite right when the plane carrying him, Billy, the Kirbys, and some mercenaries, lands. After Amanda uses a megaphone to try to call out to her son in the jungle, they are attacked by a "Spinosaurus". As they attempt to escape in the plane, they accidentally run into the "Spinosaurus" and crash, resulting in the deaths of two of the mercenaries (John Diehl, Bruce A. Young) and stranding them on the island. The group then run into a "Tyrannosaurus Rex", which follows them into the forest. They soon run into the Spinosaurus. The two predators engage in battle, with the "Spinosaurus" killing the "Tyrannosaurus" by snapping its neck. Grant finds out that the Kirbys are actually searching for their son, Eric (Trevor Morgan), who was stranded on the island along with family friend, Ben Hilderbrand, in a parasailing accident. He decides to lead them to the coast, increasing their chances of getting rescued. Along the way, they discover the parasail as well as Ben's skeletal remains. Billy salvages the parasail and the Kirbys discover several nearby "Velociraptor" nests.

The group then explores an abandoned compound (the same facility from the end of The Lost World), where they are attacked by a "Velociraptor". As they flee, they are ambushed by its raptor inhabitants, resulting in the death of the last mercenary (Michael Jeter). When Grant separates from the group, he is rescued from several raptors by young Eric Kirby, who has been living on the island for eight weeks in an abandoned supply truck. Eric lived off of the supplies and food from the truck. When the group reunites, they are attacked again by the "Spinosaurus". After they find shelter in another building, Grant finds out that Billy has stolen two "Velociraptor" eggs, which provoked the earlier attack. Appalled, Grant tells Billy he is "no better than the people that built this place".

To reach a boat docked in a nearby river, the group must pass through a massive aviary where they are attacked by numerous "Pteranodons". Using the parasail he salvaged, Billy tries to rescue Eric from a nest of "Pteranodon" infants, but is attacked by several adults, seemingly killing him. Amanda and Eric fail to lock the "Pteranodon"s inside. Grant and the Kirbys board the boat, and while floating down the river, they hear a phone ringing. This leads them to dung containing a satellite phone the "Spinosaurus" had eaten from the plane, which they are forced to sift through to find the phone (though it proves useful in discouraging a passing Ceratosaurus from attacking them). Grant attempts to contact Ellie, but only communicates "The river... Site B! The river!" as they are again attacked by the "Spinosaurus". Paul is briefly thought to have been killed in the attack but manages to survive, and the "Spinosaurus" finally flees.

The group is close to the shore when the raptors reappear, wanting their eggs back. Grant manages to alleviate the situation by imitating a "Velociraptor" call for help, which almost causes some of the raptors to attack in order to silence him. Suddenly, a helicopter can be heard overhead. The eggs are given back to the raptors, and they retreat. The group arrive at the beach to see a United States Marine Corps detachment sent by Ellie's diplomat husband. As they board a helicopter, Grant finds Billy who is injured during the "Pteranodon" attack but is still alive. He tells Grant that he has "rescued" his hat, to which Grant jokingly replies "that's the important thing." As the helicopter flies off, three "Pteranodons" fly into the distance. Eric asks Grant where they might be going he replies "I don't know. Maybe just looking for new nesting grounds. It's a whole new world for them.", Amanda jokingly says "I dare 'em to nest in Enid, Oklahoma.", referring to her, Paul and Eric's home-town. The pteranadons fly far out of sight, through the clouds, past the horizon and far away.

Cast

* Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant, a world-famous paleontologist who survived the incident on Isla Nublar in the "Jurassic Park" film and has since developed an extensive theory about "Velociraptor" intelligence.
* William H. Macy as Paul Kirby, the owner of a hardware store who poses as a wealthy businessman in order to lure Grant onto Isla Sorna to help the Kirbys search for their son.
* Téa Leoni as Amanda Kirby, Paul's ex-wife who accompanies the group to Site B, feeling guilty for having lost Eric.
* Alessandro Nivola as Billy Brennan, a young and overly-enthusiastic graduate student at Grant's dig site whose impulsive actions land the entire rescue party in danger.
* Trevor Morgan as Eric Kirby, the 12-year-old son of Paul and Amanda who ends up stranded on Site B for eight weeks, and must fend for himself.
* Michael Jeter as Udesky, a meek but sardonic mercenary "booking agent" who travels with his two associates to the island.
* John Diehl as Cooper, a tough and quiet mercenary who is killed by the Spinosaur on the Site B runway.
* Bruce A. Young as M. B. Nash, the Kirbys' mercenary pilot who abandons Cooper and is subsequently eaten by the Spinosaurus.
* Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler, a paleobotanist who also survived Isla Nublar and is Grant's former flame. She makes good on her promise to help him when he needs it most.

Production

Joe Johnston had been interested in directing the sequel to "Jurassic Park" and approached friend Steven Spielberg about the project. While Spielberg wanted to direct the first sequel, he agreed that if there was ever a third film, Johnston could direct.cite video|title=The Making of Jurassic Park III|format=DVD|publisher=Universal Pictures|year=2005] The third film was greenlit in August 1999 and was based on a story by Steven Spielberg, featuring Alan Grant after having lived in a tree on one of the islands and studied the dinosaur population for eight years. Craig Rosenberg was hired to write the initial script, which Johnston rejected because it was "Friends" visits "Jurassic Park", further elaborating that nobody wanted to see six college students visiting Isla Sorna. Johnston never had any concrete concept for the third installment, other than stating the film would be "more stand-alone" and feature lots of flying reptiles. [cite web|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/News/9908/06/showbuzz/|title=Spielberg dodges directing 'Jurassic 3' |publisher=CNN ]

New writers were brought in to scribe a story involving Pteranodons escaping from Site B and causing a rash of mysterious killings on the mainland, which was to be investigated by Alan Grant and a number of other characters including wealthy Paul Roby and his 12-year-old son Miles, Paul's love interest, Billy Brennan, a naturalist named Simone, and a tough Military Attache. Grant's group was to track the Pterosaurs back to Site B and crash on the island, while a parallel investigation was carried out on the mainland. Supposedly, the aviary sequence and laboratory set piece were much longer and more complex, including raptors stealthily entering the hatchery while the team spent the night. Sets, costumes, and props were built for this version, before Johnston threw out the completed script five weeks before filming in order to pursue the "rescue mission" plot, which was suggested by David Koepp. Also during the pre-production phase, concept artists created advertising for the film using a number of working titles including "Jurassic Park: Extinction" and "Jurassic Park: Breakout". [cite video|title=Jurassic Park III|date=2001|medium=DVD]

Production began on August 30, 2000 [cite web | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = British Film Institute| url = http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/674339| accessdate = 2007-07-09] without a finished script, with filming in California, Oahu, and Molokai. [cite web | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = Hollywood.com| url = http://www.hollywood.com/movie/Jurassic_Park_III/419715| accessdate = 2007-07-09] Although it is an original story, not based on a Michael Crichton novel, it does contain minor scenes from Crichton's "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World" novels that were not featured in the film versions, such as the "Pteranodon" aviary and the use of the boat. In a change from the first two films, "Spinosaurus" replaced "T. rex" as the main antagonist. [cite web | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = Variety| url = http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117798505.html?categoryid=31&cs=1| accessdate = 2007-07-09] As to why "Spinosaurus" was chosen for such a role, Johnston stated, "A lot of dinosaurs have a very similar silhouette to the T-rex... and we wanted the audience to instantly recognize this as something else."cite web|accessdate=2008-07-16|title=Production Notes |publisher=Cinema Review|url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=1429] "Baryonyx" was originally considered to be the "big bad" before "Spinosaurus" was chosen.

The special effects used for the dinosaurs are a mixture of animatronics and CGI. The portrayal of several dinosaurs differs from that of the previous two films. Due to new discoveries and theories in the field of paleontology suggesting that "Velociraptors" were feathered, the "Velociraptors" in the film have quill-like structures on the head and neck. "We've found evidence that "Velociraptors" had feathers, or feather-like structures, and we've incorporated that into the new look of the raptor," said paleontologist Jack Horner, technical adviser on the film.

Dinosaurs featured

* "Tyrannosaurus Rex"
* "Pteranodon"
* "Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus"

* "Velociraptor"
* "Parasaurolophus"
* "Ankylosaurus"

* "Ceratosaurus"
* "Brachiosaurus"
* "Triceratops"

* "Compsognathus"
* "Corythosaurus"
* "Stegosaurus"

Release

The film earned $181 million in the United States and $369 million worldwide and was the eighth highest grossing film of the year worldwide, [cite web | title = Jurassic Park III (2001)| publisher = Box Office Mojo| url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2001&p=.htm| accessdate = 2007-07-08] but still earned less than either of its predecessors. As with the other films in the franchise, there was a large marketing push, including seven video games [cite web|title=Jurassic Park Licensees|publisher=Moby Games|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/jurassic-park-licensees/|accessdate=2007-07-06] and a novelization aimed at young children. [cite book | author = Scott Ciencin | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = Random House Books for Young Readers | date = 2001 | pages = 116 | isbn = 978-0375813184]

The film made its VHS and DVD debut on December 11, 2001. [cite news|author=IGN staff|title=Jurassic Park III|publisher=IGN|date=2001-12-12|url=http://dvd.ign.com/objects/383/383315.html|accessdate=2007-07-09] The DVD has also been re-released with both sequels on December 11, 2001 [cite web|title=Jurassic Park Trilogy|publisher=IGN|url=http://uk.dvd.ign.com/objects/791/791439.html|accessdate=2007-03-06] as the "Jurassic Park Trilogy", and as the "Jurassic Park Adventure Pack" on November 29, 2005. [cite news|author=IGN DVD|title=Jurassic Park Adventure Pack|publisher=IGN|date=2005-11-17|url=http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/667/667943p1.html|accessdate=2007-03-06] The film has also been released alongside "Hulk". [cite web|title=Jurassic Park III released with Hulk|publisher=Amazon.com|url=http://www.amazon.com/Hulk-Jurassic-Park-III-Neill/dp/B0000Y418I|accessdate=2007-03-06] The soundtrack was released on July 10, 2001. [cite web | url=http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=2788 | title="Jurassic Park III" soundtrack valued at $12.99 | publisher=Soundtrack.net | accessdate=2007-05-17 ]

Scott Ciencin wrote three children's books to tie-in with the film; the first detailed the eight weeks Eric spent alone on Isla Sorna; [cite book | author = Scott Ciencin | title = Survivor | publisher = Boxtree | date = June 2001 | pages = 116 | isbn = 0-7522-1978-2] the second had Eric and Alan returning to Isla Sorna to rescue a group of teenage filmmakers; [cite book | author = Scott Ciencin | title = Prey | publisher = Boxtree | date = October 2001 | pages = 123 | isbn = 0-375-81290-3] and the last involved Eric and Alan leading the "Pteranodons" home after they nest in a Universal theme park. [cite book | author = Scott Ciencin | title = Flyers | publisher = Boxtree | date = March 2002 | pages = 128 | isbn = 0-375-81291-1]

Reception

"Jurassic Park III" is ranked as rotten on Rotten Tomatoes with a 48% positive rating, with 72 out of 149 critics giving it positive reviews. [cite web | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = Rotten Tomatoes | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jurassic_park_iii/ | accessdate = 2007-07-08] It also has a 42% on Metacritic. [cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/jurassicpark3?q=The Lost World: Jurassic Park | title=Jurassic Park III: Reviews | publisher=Metacritic | accessdate=2007-05-15 ] Critics were split over whether the third installment of the series was better or worse than the second. Jeffrey Westhoff of the "Northwest Herald" felt that it was worse, remarking that "Johnston inherits the series one film too late." [cite news | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/click/movie-1108705/reviews.php?critic=columns&sortby=default&page=1&rid=729794 | accessdate = 2007-07-08 | author = Jeffrey Westhoff] However, Ben Varkontine called it "not as good a ride as the first", but "better than the second". [cite news | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = PopMatters | url = http://popmatters.com/film/reviews/j/jurassic-park-iii.shtml | accessdate = 2007-07-08 | author = Ben Varkontine] Much of the criticism was leveled at the plot as simply a chase movie with no character development, with some going so far as to say it was "almost the same as the first movie" with "no need for new ideas or even a script". [cite news | title = Jurassic Park III | publisher = Apollo Movie Guide | url = http://www.apolloguide.com/mov_fullrev.asp?CID=3331 | accessdate = 2007-07-08 | author = Brian Webster] There were also complaints about its short length and small cast.

The movie was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film and Best Special Effects. [cite web | title = Past Winners Database| publisher = Los Angeles Times|date= 2002-06-10 | url = http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/2001/2001sat.htm| accessdate = 2007-07-08] For its shortcomings, it was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for "Worst Remake or Sequel". [cite web | title = 2001 RAZZIE Nominees & "Winners"| publisher = Razzie Awards|date= 2005-12-05 | url = http://www.razzies.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=351&PN=1| accessdate = 2007-07-08]

References

External links

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* [http://www.jplegacy.org/ Jurassic Park Legacy]