Jurassic Park III
Jurassic Park III
In need of funds for research, Dr. Alan Grant accepts a large sum of money to accompany Paul and Amanda Kirby on an aerial tour of the infamous Isla Sorna. It isn't long before all hell breaks loose and the stranded wayfarers must fight for survival as a host of new -- and even more deadly -- dinosaurs try to make snacks of them.
匚卂尺ㄥ reviewedJanuary 26, 2025
*2 and a half out of 5*
The final instalment of the Jurassic Park trilogy and the last film the franchise saw for 15 years between 2001 to Jurassic World in 2016. Jurassic Park III sees a couple with ulterior motives (William H. Macy & Tea Leoni) convince Dr. Grant (Sam Neill) to go to Isla Sorna for a holiday, when in fact it’s a search and rescue mission to find their son. However their unexpected landing startles the island's new inhabitants.
I have noticed a lot of people say that this instalment was one of (if not) their favourites as a kid, which was the same for me as well, due to its shorter fast paced runtime and the fact that the Spinosaurus looked cool. Watching it again for the first time in over 10 years I can safely say the film isn’t good, aside from a few scenes, the film lacks any substance, character development, thrilling action sequences.
Once again Dr. Grant agrees to go to the island for an unspecified amount of money, despite him a few minutes prior stating nothing on Earth could get him to go back and when it’s revealed that the couple that hire him’s son is missing on the island which is the goal for the narrative. However at a very short (for a blockbuster) runtime of 90 minutes, means that this resolved fairly quickly and the film rushes along with barely any time for character development or depth. From a tonal perspective the film leans more into the schlock and B-Movie style, which works at times, with the phone in the Spinosaurus stomach gag, but also comes off as laughable with an English speaking Raptor in Grant’s dream and the rushed and over-the-top end scene.
The action scenes aren’t that memorable at all and there really isn’t many of them, there’s a quick visceral battle between a T-Rex and the Spinosaurus and the Pterodactyl cage sequence is definitely the highlight here. Visually the CGI has improved from the last two films and looks genuinely excellent at times, especially the Velociraptors, who quite possibly look their most menacing here. The practical and animatronic effects are also still solid, but at times quite simply aren’t as well crafted in the previous two films.
Spielberg doesn’t return to direct here and it instantly shows. Not that Joe Johnston does a bad job at all, the film just lacks the creative and varied approach to the techniques and the quick cutting ruins some of the dinosaur attacks at times. I do like the bleak, forgotten and empty feel of the island, the land is desolate and empty and the fog filled Pterodactyl cage really does a good job.
The performances are fine, Sam Neill returns as Dr. Grant, though his character hasn’t changed at all and times he does feel like he might be phoning it in a bit, it’s also odd that the Laura Dern returns as an extended cameo as Ellie, and the fact that she and Grant aren’t together anymore is awkward and just brushed over. William H. Macy & Tea Leoni’s characters dialogue mainly consists of just shouting “Eric!” and being a generic and predictable divorced couple and Alessandro Nivola plays one of Grant’s dig team and that’s basically all the character he has.
Jurassic Park III is a just above average action adventure that really doesn’t live up to its first instalment and lacks the scale and directorial techniques of the second film. The visual effects are impressive throughout and there are some visually engaging scenes and set design. However the film lacks atmosphere, depth, interesting action scenes and a satisfying conclusion.