This was such a fun movie to see in the theater. It really surprised me. At the time, I thought of Spielberg as being in his grandfather phase where everything was just sweet and this film was unexpectedly terrifying like I'd imagine Jaws had been to those audiences though now tame for us who never remember a time before it. It's not a deep film, though is deep for a popcorn film.
I think you got it all in terms of the excellence of the score (I personally would place it below Jaws, but when you're talking gradations of genius, there is no bad placement....). I remember hearing the score on CD before seeing the movie, and expecting a scary, Jaws-type theme I was truly taken aback by hearing a theme of joy and wonderment - I mean, what the heck?? Wasn't this going to be a scary movie? I loved the music, but didn't understand at all how it would fit in with the visuals. Of course, seeing it in a theatre I again learned that in Williams/Spielberg I should trust - that first scene with them seeing the Brachiosaurus was (and is), one the most incredible movie/music moment I'd ever encountered - I got literal chills in the theatre, and it still gives me chills every time I see it, to this day (and as it turns out, the scary moments were in there just fine, thank you very much....). I will admit I love the score for The Lost World too - it's like Jaws 2 in that Williams came up with a fantastic, tonally different score for a mediocre (at best) sequel. In particular I find "The Hunt" track to be one of his hidden all time gems of Williams action music - left out of the movie itself, but a propulsive banger of a track that always gets the blood pumping. Last note: the score for Jurassic Park is so strong that talented, Oscar winning composers like Michael Giachinno and Alexandre Desplat can bring their A-games to Jurassic sequels...and for me, the only moments that resonate are the quotes of William's themes. You just can't compete with it, trying is a fool's errand. On to the top three!!
Lost World is a truly, staggeringly incredible score—I love Williams in monster stomping mode. But yeah, the sequel scores are 6-foot turkeys next to JW's dinosaurs.
Jurassic Park is my education, my first love, my home away from all homes. It is timeless and perfect and the apex of 1970s - 1990s blockbuster cinema. And it is the single, most defining event that steered my life in the direction of making Music and Film central to it. (And I’m far from the only one.) I’ll never be grateful enough to Spielberg and Williams for creating this masterpiece of storytelling and sharing it with all of us.
I should also share that ever since first seeing the scene when they first encounter the Brachiosaurus, that entire scene makes me shed a few tears, both the scene and the music really compliment each other. That cue alone, with the choir, is just… I can’t describe it, save for one word: majestic.
I also agree that, with the only exception being The Lost World for clear reasons, there should have been no other sequel to Jurassic Park, and all those “sequels” really are awful.
Aside from a typo (Malcolm quote should be, “Remind me to THANK John for a lovely weekend.”), this is a great reflection. Jurassic Park was the first live-action film I ever saw, and I was captivated (it also helped that I already had a fascination for dinosaurs as a kid). It was also the Maestro’s score that introduced me to my love orchestral music, period. Truly one of the greatest films (and scores) of all time.
This was such a fun movie to see in the theater. It really surprised me. At the time, I thought of Spielberg as being in his grandfather phase where everything was just sweet and this film was unexpectedly terrifying like I'd imagine Jaws had been to those audiences though now tame for us who never remember a time before it. It's not a deep film, though is deep for a popcorn film.
Deeply buttery and deeply delicious!
I think you got it all in terms of the excellence of the score (I personally would place it below Jaws, but when you're talking gradations of genius, there is no bad placement....). I remember hearing the score on CD before seeing the movie, and expecting a scary, Jaws-type theme I was truly taken aback by hearing a theme of joy and wonderment - I mean, what the heck?? Wasn't this going to be a scary movie? I loved the music, but didn't understand at all how it would fit in with the visuals. Of course, seeing it in a theatre I again learned that in Williams/Spielberg I should trust - that first scene with them seeing the Brachiosaurus was (and is), one the most incredible movie/music moment I'd ever encountered - I got literal chills in the theatre, and it still gives me chills every time I see it, to this day (and as it turns out, the scary moments were in there just fine, thank you very much....). I will admit I love the score for The Lost World too - it's like Jaws 2 in that Williams came up with a fantastic, tonally different score for a mediocre (at best) sequel. In particular I find "The Hunt" track to be one of his hidden all time gems of Williams action music - left out of the movie itself, but a propulsive banger of a track that always gets the blood pumping. Last note: the score for Jurassic Park is so strong that talented, Oscar winning composers like Michael Giachinno and Alexandre Desplat can bring their A-games to Jurassic sequels...and for me, the only moments that resonate are the quotes of William's themes. You just can't compete with it, trying is a fool's errand. On to the top three!!
Lost World is a truly, staggeringly incredible score—I love Williams in monster stomping mode. But yeah, the sequel scores are 6-foot turkeys next to JW's dinosaurs.
Jurassic Park is my education, my first love, my home away from all homes. It is timeless and perfect and the apex of 1970s - 1990s blockbuster cinema. And it is the single, most defining event that steered my life in the direction of making Music and Film central to it. (And I’m far from the only one.) I’ll never be grateful enough to Spielberg and Williams for creating this masterpiece of storytelling and sharing it with all of us.
Beautiful words!
I should also share that ever since first seeing the scene when they first encounter the Brachiosaurus, that entire scene makes me shed a few tears, both the scene and the music really compliment each other. That cue alone, with the choir, is just… I can’t describe it, save for one word: majestic.
It is a wonderful film and score. The lost world film is not that good but I adore the score some of his best action music ever.
I also agree that, with the only exception being The Lost World for clear reasons, there should have been no other sequel to Jurassic Park, and all those “sequels” really are awful.
I loved Lost World when it was new, and I am glad it exists, but it hasn't ripened with age (for me).
Aside from a typo (Malcolm quote should be, “Remind me to THANK John for a lovely weekend.”), this is a great reflection. Jurassic Park was the first live-action film I ever saw, and I was captivated (it also helped that I already had a fascination for dinosaurs as a kid). It was also the Maestro’s score that introduced me to my love orchestral music, period. Truly one of the greatest films (and scores) of all time.
Good catch! (It's fixed now.) How embarrassing...
What a gateway to the orchestra, huh?