Usually when you see the words 'Special Edition' you can look forward to Deleted Scenes, Outtakes and behind the scenes documentaries. Well, unfortunately, there really isn't much anything 'special' about this. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the movie is outstanding. I have never seen the movie in such great sound and picture quality before. There are a few 'making of' documentaries and other related things. There are also a few trailers. However, there is some footage that is still missing from the movie, footage that was NOT cut in the theatrical release, but was cut in the transition to home video. Now on DVD you would expect some of these scenes back. That is not the case. There really isnt much making the DVD 'special' other than its incredibly high quality and behind the scenes documentaries. There are also some fun facts about the Dinosaurs on the island, but it still feels like there could have been more. All in all, a very good DVD, a must own for fans of the movie.


Interestingly spun from the novel.   April 12, 2000
 25 out of 38 found this review helpful

The novel Jurassic Park gives us a glimpse of what could happen if the human were to tamper with the DNA of extinct animals. The movie brings that glimpse to life, using state-of-the-art special effects to create the mammoth creatures and a talented cast to carry out the story. Sam Neill and Laura Dern star as Allen and Ellie Grant, two archeological diggers who are called upon by John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) to inspect and give their OK for his newest park, a park that breeds dinosaurs through advanced genetic technology. While being taken on a tour of the park, a tropical storm strikes the island, and that, combined with the shenanigans of a conniving park worker (Wayne Knight) on the take for embryos, begin to shut down the park's security systems and electrical fencing. When the monsters begin to break free of their restraints, what was supposed to be a fun tour through the park becomes a nightmarish race against death and time for Allen Grant and Hammond's two grandchildren. Special effects in this film, while they were only made in 1993, are seamless and utterly believable. The acting leaves nothing to be desired, with compelling performances from the supporting cast as well as the leads. An interesting twist on the not-so-unthinkable, this film is one of Speilberg's best. One question: where is the DVD version?


Great movie, bad soundtrack (DTS)   August 12, 2001
 24 out of 31 found this review helpful

The movie is great. What more can be said?

Well, I'll tell you. I bought this DVD to replace my aging VHS tape. The tape actually sounds BETTER! When Universal had the initial master made, the level of the bass track wasn't right. When T-Rex walks, you're supposed to FEEL it. The VHS tape (in THX) and the Digital Dolby DVD both have the bass level set properly.

What did they do? They made a new master (after six months). They did NOT recall the bad DVDs from distributors. The new DVDs are available (they sound great), but VERY hard to locate. They also didn't change the UPC on the case, so there's no way to tell which DVD you're buying, until you open it up. Finally, they didn't tell anyone that a mistake had been made, so that it could be corrected. In short, they didn't so ANYTHING that might cost them one cent.

How do you tell the difference (other than sound)? The bad DVD has a code of 'D2R1' on the inner rim of the disk. The good DVD has a code of 'D2R2' in the same place.


"This is a UNIX system. I know this"... And black leather?   July 6, 2004
 11 out of 16 found this review helpful

Jurassic Park is good entertainment, but take most of the "science" it presents with a grain of salt.

Innovative in its presentation of realistic looking dinosaurs, Jurassic Park is the name of a new dinosaur-based theme park that is sabotaged while a few scientists and kids are on a pre-opening tour. It becomes an adventure to see who will escape alive.

Mostly good acting by Laura Dern and Sam Neill as dino experts, Jeff Goldblum as the chaos theory mathematician, and Richard Attenborough as the park designer. The kids, played competently by Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello had some of the best lines.

All the characters seem to think the idea of cloning dinosaurs is a good idea except Goldblum who wonders if we should do what we (in the movie) apparently can do.

An entertaining adventure, but no big concept. Not quite the same level as Raiders of the Lost Ark, or Jaws. The movie is best when there are dinosaurs on screen.

The only nit-picks include wondering why Jeff Goldblum wears black leather to the tropics, and why a pre-teen girl can save the day on a complex computer (again - see S1m0ne) with her knowledge of UNIX.

DVD has wide-screen movie, a behind the scenes documentary, and a few other minimal goodies.


When Spielberg Ruled The World   January 2, 2001
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

It's indeed rare when a movie comes along that is so special, and has such a tremendous impact on audiences of all ages, that when it happens, it's an occasion for celebration; which is exactly what Steven Spielberg gave the world with "Jurassic Park," a film that made the impossible possible: It enabled dinosaurs to walk among us. He put these monsters from a bygone era on the screen for all to see, and the unique thing about it was that they were real; so real you could reach out and touch them it seemed. And in doing so he touched the imaginations of every child who sat there in the dark of a theater and watched his creations come to life, and he touched the child that still resides within every adult who came to see his show as well. Jaded moviegoers and those who affect cynicism as a mission statement of life may scoff, especially now, after some time has passed and the magic has worn off somewhat, but it doesn't alter the fact that with this movie, Spielberg surpassed any and all standards of the cinematic world and set the precedent for all that would follow. To borrow a line from one of his own characters, he "Spared no expense," and simply made one of the most exciting and memorable films in the history of the Silver Screen. Spielberg pulled out all the stops to make this remarkable film, and it goes without saying that the special F/X are incredible; what's easy to overlook amid all the spectacle of it, however, are the performances turned in by one and all, and most notably by Jeff Goldblum, who brings such nuance and style to the role of Dr. Ian Malcolm. It's a supporting role into which he immersed himself to create one of the more memorable characters in the film, and his performance-- with the countenance and attitude he lends to Malcolm, even the commanding, mesmerizing way he speaks-- has never received the attention it so richly deserved. Nor has the performance of Richard Attenborough, as John Hammond, the entrepreneur who makes Jurassic Park a reality. He's such a gifted performer that he makes you forget he's acting; Hammond becomes real, which makes what he's doing real, and it's just another example of the many things that add up to make this such an incredible movie. Spielberg and his cast and crew have given such care to detail that it, in effect, releases the viewer from the baggage of even having to suspend disbelief because they're given a world that is "real" from the ground up. The result of using all of the magic available, and using it wisely. Also turning in outstanding-- and entirely believable performances-- are Sam Neill, as Dr. Alan Grant, and Laura Dern, as Dr. Ellie Sattler, each creating figures central to the plot and around whom much of the action revolves. And there are a number of performances in supporting roles that are just too good to go unmentioned as well, including Bob Peck, as Muldoon, the park's head gamekeeper; Martin Ferrero, as the "blood-sucking" lawyer, Donald Gennaro; Wayne Knight, as computer hacker Dennis Nedry; Samuel L. Jackson, as computer programmer Ray Arnold; and last, but not least, Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards as Hammond's grandchildren, Tim and Lex, through whose eyes the child in all of us vicariously experiences the wonders of Jurassic Park. The wonderful thing about a movie like "Jurassic Park" is that, not only will it forever remain as a testimonial to a filmmaker of genius and vision, but that it will be there for all the generations that follow to discover anew. The world may change drastically around us, even from one day to the next, but as long as even a single spark of imagination survives, one thing will always remain constant: The fascination by children of all ages for these legendary beasts that once ruled the earth. And that is why, when all is said and done and the skeptics have become no more than shadows and dust, this film-- as well as Steven Spielberg-- will remain a cause for celebration. This is the legacy, and the true magic of the movies.