On remote Isla Nuba entrepreneur John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has built the ultimate theme-park, populated by genetically engineered dinosaurs painstakingly reconstructed from DNA extracted from prehistoric amber... and, of course, frogs! Adapted from Michael Crichton's novel, Steven Spielberg's classic blockbuster became a cultural and commercial phenomenon thanks in part to the enduring appeal of all things prehistoric. But the film's extraordinarily realistic digital dinosaurs also showcased the spectacular computer-generated effects which have since become ubiquitous in Hollywood filmmaking. Indeed, in the years since 1993 it is debatable whether any film has revolutionised special effects to such an extent, and this DVD release offers the perfect opportunity to relive its visual and aural splendour (the film was also the first to be released with a DTS soundtrack).

Given the rather insipid team of experts (including Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum) sent to approve Hammond's site, there is no doubt that the dinosaurs are the real stars of Spielberg's film. From the benign majesty of the towering brachiosaurus to the reptilian menace of the velociraptors, the inhabitants of Jurassic Park were a radical departure from their stop-motion predecessors, and remain compellingly real in their animalistic pursuit of survival at all costs. Most memorable of all is the T-rex, displaying a spine-chilling combination of physical ferocity and child-like bewilderment in the face of its reincarnation in the modern world. It was no surprise that in The Lost World sequel the T-rex once again took centre stage, but this first appearance still retains a unique power and a seminal place in film history. --Steve Napleton

As long as you expect nothing more, Jurassic Park III is a satisfying popcorn adventure. A little cheesier than the first two Jurassic blockbusters, it's a big B-movie with big B-list stars (including Laura Dern, briefly reprising her Jurassic Park role) and eight years of advancing CGI technology gives it a sharp edge over its predecessors. While adopting the jungle spirit of King Kong, the movie refines Michael Crichton’s original premise and its dinosaurs are even more realistic, their behaviour more detailed and their variety--including flying Pteronodons and a new villain, the Spinosaurus--more dazzling and threatening than ever. These advancements justify the sequel and its contrived plot--just barely spanning 90 minutes without wearing out its welcome.

Posing as wealthy tourists, an adventurous couple (William H Macy, Téa Leoni) convince palaeontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and his protégé (Allesandro Nivola) to act as tour guides on a fly-over trip to Isla Sorna, the ill-fated "Site B" where all hell broke loose in The Lost World: Jurassic Park 2. In truth, they're on a search-and-rescue mission to find their missing son (Trevor Morgan) and their plane crash is just the first of several enjoyably suspenseful sequences. Director Joe Johnston (October Sky) embraces the formulaic plot as a series of atmospheric set pieces, placing new and familiar dinosaurs in misty rainforests, fiery lakes and mysterious valleys, turning JP3 into a thrill-ride with impressive highlights (including a T-Rex vs. Spinosaurus smackdown), adequate doses of wry humour (from the cowriters of Election) and an upbeat ending that's corny but appropriate, proving that the symptoms of "sequelitis" needn't be fatal. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

On the DVD: even though the original movie introduced DTS sound in cinemas, this is the first Region 2 DVD of the Jurassic Park franchise to boast DTS on the DVD. Great sound is complemented by a splendidly crisp anamorphic picture. The extras are many but fairly brief: a quick "Visit to ILM" (earnest men with beards and/or baseball caps sitting in front of computers) shows us the CGI dinosaurs whereas the even shorter "Tour of Stan Winston's Studio" reveals the animatronics--both of which are also explored in the fairly routine "making of" documentary (22 minutes). Behind-the-scenes montages show how three key sequences were created, and the commentary has key members of the FX team (including Stan Winston) revealing all the digital and animatronic secrets. Best of all is the disc's laudable attempt at providing added educational value with in-depth guides to each new dinosaur (plus "turntable" views of them all), and palaeontologist Jack Horner on location at his dinosaur digs in Montana. --Mark Walker

If you don't know it involves dinosaurs and an island, then you probably won't be watching this one either...

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