As a fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, I’ve had a little voice in the back of my mind telling me to revisit the third instalment for years. I watched this mediocre movie ages ago, probably around the time it was released, and considered it the black sheep of the series. But with so many sequels coming out over the years, the bar has gradually been lowered. And recently, the time finally came. I watched Jurassic Park III again!
And man, what a mediocre movie it is. Without Spielberg in the director’s chair, Jurassic Park III has plenty of things the original doesn’t. And not in a good way. From an incredibly flimsy plot and dull, uninspired characters to dated special effects and poorly written dialogue, this third instalment has it all!
A Disappointing Return to Isla Sorna
The special effects are particularly painful to watch. It’s been 25 years since this movie first hit the big screen, and a lot has changed since then. While the original Jurassic Park still holds up remarkably well today, thanks in part to its combination of practical effects and CGI, the third instalment looks downright ridiculous by comparison. The Spinosaurus, the film’s main antagonist, seems to follow the logic that bigger is always better, but its digital appearance is far from convincing. The numerous other dinosaurs also look as though they’ve wandered straight out of a video game. What a shame.
A Story That Fails to Live Up to Its Predecessors
Then there’s the attempt to connect this third instalment to the first two movies. Apparently, Sam Neill and Laura Dern were the only ones willing to return, because the story itself feels completely disconnected from its predecessors. Both original films were based on novels, giving them a solid foundation for an intelligent and compelling plot. Watching Jurassic Park III, on the other hand, I couldn’t help asking myself over and over again: “What am I even watching?”
Jurassic Park III Is a Major Disappointment
No, revisiting Jurassic Park III turned out to be a major disappointment. I used to be relatively forgiving of this movie, but I honestly wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Stick with the first two instalments, or perhaps the fourth and the seventh if you’re feeling generous. The rest simply doesn’t matter.
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