The The Jurassic Park/ World Franchise has become the cinematic universe for dinosaurs. But it all began thirty years ago with a book by Michael Crichton, a visionary director named Steven Spielberg, and some rogue computer geeks who went against orders and changed movie making history with what is now a household term, CGI. Jurassic Park was a paradigm shift in cinema, ideas that once were impossible practically, now could be created with computer graphics, bringing monsters that looked like men in suites into full fledge nightmares with realistic movements and design. To this day the Velociraptors in the kitchen is one of best shot suspense scenes, as the predators stalk Alex and Tim in a confined space. The use of the kitchens elements, tables, spoons, and compartments made the dinosaurs feel real, that they are there in our century, our time, and place, this was done with The Rex escape in the rain, but the raptors in the kitchen took it to another level, ensured that movie making would no longer be stuck with stop motion and clay molds again.
Now for the memories. I saw Jurassic Park when I was five years old in theaters. I already was a dino fanatic, and to have the most realistic dinosaurs on the big screen was like a gift from our Lord. I had my breath taken away by the Brontosaur at the beginning, I held my breath when the T-Rex hunted the kids in the car, and I panic breathed during Raptors in the kitchen, relishing every second! The dialogue of the stellar cast I appreciate more as an adult. Ian Malcom’s warning, “Yes, yes, but your scientists were so preoccupied with if they could they did not stop to think if they should!,” and “If I may... Um, I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here, it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could, and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, and packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now its sellimg, now its selling
[bangs on the table].” Ian’s lines were Crichton’s concerns about generic power, that if we are not careful we will create monsters. These lines are made famous in memes, but they contain a warning, I even argue the Lord is speaking through the Chaotician to tell us that oblivion is in our hubris, our insatiable desire to create and to quote Alan Grant in a sequel, “this is how you play God.” (Jurassic Park III).
Jurassic Park is a perfect blend of suspense, wonder, and lessons about trying to manipulate what belongs in purview of Almighty God. It is a classic that still holds up in thrills, chills, and the will to survive. The characters may not be Dove Studios Christians, but you can see Christian messages, Lex and Tim are children, they survive the most dangerous perils in the kitchen with the raptors and Jesus said, “And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 18:3). Alan Grant despite his initial aversion to children, steps up and puts himself in danger to protect them, showing a Christ like quality. Generro who is Catholic saying a hail Mary on the toilet is eaten by the Rex because he tries to save himself rather than protect the kids, “if you try to save your life you’ll lose it.” (Matthew 16:25). Nedry’s greed gets him eaten just like Jesus says pf the quest for wealth, “..the deceit of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful,” (Matthew 13:22), and “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10). Muldoon who trusts in the power of man, his shotgun, is devoured, called to mind, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength.” (Jeremiah 17:5). John Hammond at first is possessed of pride, until Ellie speaks to him about his illusion of control, and he becomes after that resigned to give up his dream to save those he loves, showing a repentant man who turns from his own ego to loving others.
In contrast to Generro and Nedry, Alan, Elli, Ian, John, and the Kids who risk their lives for one another are rescued at the end by the Rex or King (Christ The King?), who destroys the raptors/ demons, and everyone who risked their lives to save one another gets to fly away in a helicopter which has blades to fly in the shape of a cross, because like Jesus they picked up their crosses and loved one another.
You may say all that is a stretch, and Spielberg did not intend Christian undertones. Well Tolkien said, “we are all telling the same story, even if we are not aware of it, the stories in the Bible.” Jurassic Park is meant as a thriller, but it is also a thought provoking film that even makes a remark about how man foolishly tries to remove God, “God creates dinosaurs, God creates man, man destroys God, Man creates dinosaurs.” That may sound blasphemous, but what it means is Man tries to destroy God and take his place, just as Satan tries to (Isaiah 14:11-14). It is a comment Alan echoes later in Jurassic Park III about man trying to “play God.” If that was the only legacy of JP, that it warns us not to play God and wield his creation with hubris, that is a great legacy indeed. And to be in such a thrilling action film to boot. Amen.
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