Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park,
which was released into cinemas in 1993, it is a film directed by Steven
Spielberg in which a dinosaur “safari” park with real dinosaurs turns lethal as
the safety mechanisms break down and ancient nature is unleashed into the
modern world. It is an adventure action film in which two archaeologists, Alan
and Ellie, get invited to the dinosaur amusement park “Jurassic Park” and in a
small group embark onto the first safari tour. All is well until a thunderstorm
arrives and all the separation fences electricity gets cut off – leaving the
cast trapped in the middle of park, which leads to having to run for their lives
from threatening T-rex and velociraptors that hunt in packs. All the while,
Alan, a man who claims to hate children looks after the 2 child cast members as
best he can while the granddad sits helpless.
Figure 1. Kissed Good
Morning By A Dinosaur (1993)
One of the interesting things in Jurassic Park seems to be the CGI supporting the story, but not being
relied on in terms of creating a good story, as Richards states: “Twenty years on, Spielberg’s dinosaur
disaster endures as a blueprint for the modern effects blockbuster. It takes
something that couldn’t otherwise be realised (a dinosaur park), fills it full
of characters with wit and depth (even the little kid is funny) and puts them
through the wringer for two hours, only using CG when it serves the story
rather than to obscure the lack of one.” (Richards, N.A.:2) This
illustrates, that as a CGI supplemented film Jurassic Park has been a fore rider, and unlike many of its
successors it has strong storytelling, which is likely key to an excellent
film. This is demonstrated throughout the film, even though the Dinosaur Park
itself is such a wonder to behold the audience is always worrying for the cast
of characters which have all got well written deep plots and storylines.
Toto also agrees that
Jurassic Park provides excellent first time viewed CG animated dinosaurs, which
seem real and do not rely on stop motion anymore, which is a milestone in
cinematic history. He states: ““Jurassic
Park” marked the moment when Hollywood could create a perfectly convincing
dinosaur. No more stop-motion theatrics or other tinny effects. Spielberg
makes that movie magic count, delivering scene after scene of “can you top
this” theatrics?” (Toto, 2015:2) Illustrating Spielberg’s attitude towards
his own film in trying to amaze the audience by never seen before technology,
which one could wonder at the time in cinemas would have captured the
imaginations of audiences everywhere.
As no human knows what dinosaurs really sound like, the
sound team had to get creative trying to envision the sounds the dinosaurs
might make and some of them went to extreme lengths: “The intelligent raptors (Velociraptors) appear to have their own
simple language, and it turns out that it's the language of love. "It's
somewhat embarrassing, but when the raptors bark at each other to communicate,
it's a tortoise having sex," said Rydstrom. "It's a mating tortoise!
I recorded that at Marine World … the people there said, 'Would you like to
record these two tortoises that are mating?' It sounded like a joke, because
tortoises mating can take a long time. You've got to have plenty of time to sit
around and watch and record them."” (Buchanan, 2013:2) Rydstrom took
the time it takes to record tortoises having intercourse and, according to
Buchanan, used them to create language-like sounds for the velociraptors, the
most intelligent seeming species in Jurassic
Park that has managed to open doors and seemingly have a hunting system
comparable to wolves living in the wild. The sound itself of the raptors
talking is a low sound almost clicking, it almost feels like they are
whispering, giving them an aura of dark intelligence which is in sharp contrast
to their screams. A sound that is instantly responsible and to the audiences
perhaps primeval self a sound that symbolises terror and danger.
Figure 2. Velociraptors
Hunting (1993)
Arguably sound is also the key to bringing the dinosaur star
of the movie to life. The T-Rex, a dinosaur of near legendary status, in sharp
contrast the raptors it has a deep bellowing roar, portraying power and danger.
Whilst not as high pitched as the raptors it gives the impression all on its
own of a giant being of immense strength and character. You could close your
eyes and hear the sound now and can almost see the final scene of the T-Rex
roaring as the party flee the island.
As Jurassic Park is science fiction that is presented as facts, a lot
of the science has to be explained on screen for the audience to understand the
occurring’s, for example when the children are inside the kitchen with a shut
door between them and a deadly velociraptor, Alan mentions that the kids will
be safe unless the raptors learn how to open doors – which the raptor achieves
in the next cut.
Also, at the beginning of the
movie the playfulness and venomous spit of another little dinosaur is explained
in detail, later the fleeing villain of the story runs into this creature and
seems too mesmerised by the peacock like fan that surrounds the head and is
easily caught by the venom it spits and is killed moments later.
Figure 3. I’m Coming To Get You (1993)
Overall, Jurassic Park is an
action film that, laying the path for CG, the use of new CG techniques,
attention for detail and truly amazing sound track truly bring the dead back to
life. You can completely believe from the deep storyline, look and feel of the
dinosaurs and truly perfect sounds they make that all-though this movie is
science fiction – anything is possible. A truly inspirational film.
Illustration List:
Figure 1. Spielberg,
S. (1993) Kissed Good Morning By A Dinosaur [Jurassic Park Still] available
from: http://cdn5.movieclips.com/universal/j/jurassic-park-1993/0252626_31165_MC_Tx360.jpg
(accessed on 9/3/2015)
Figure 2. Spielberg,
S. (1993) Velociraptors Hunting
[Jurassic Park Still] available from: http://www.nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/jurassic-park-image-4.jpg
(accessed on 9/3/2015)
Figure 3.
Spielberg, S. (1993) I’m Coming To Get
You [Jurassic Park Still] available from: http://www.nerdlikeyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/jurassic-park-gennero-on-toilet.jpg
(accessed on 9/3/2015)
Bibliography:
Buchanan, Kyle. (2013) available from: http://www.vulture.com/2013/04/how-the-dino-sounds-in-jurassic-park-were-made.html
(accessed on 9/3/2015)
Richards, Olly. (N.A.) available from: http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=138260
(accessed: 9/3/15)
Toto, Christian. (2015) available from: http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/hit-rewind-jurassic-park-1993/
(accessed: 9/3/15)
What a lovely review Mailin :) Good discussion around the use of sound.
ReplyDeleteJust one bit to pick at...you say 'which the raptor archives in the next cut.' - I assume you mean 'achieves' :)
Hi Jackie!
DeleteThanks, I really enjoyed the sounds very much in this film!
About the word archive, I think word bugged on me because it insisted on archive instead of achieve so I went with it :s